Coalinga, Calif.-A fertilizer tanker truck carrying 4,000 gallons of calcium ammonium nitrate rolled over west of Coalinga on Oct. 30 and spilled approximately 1,000 gallons of the load, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The driver was reported to have suffered minor injuries, but reports of his being airlifted from the scene were incorrect, stated CHP spokesman Chris Webber. Webber said first responders worked to contain the fertilizer, which is considered non-flammable but in some cases could be explosive if mixed with fuel. A cleanup crew was brought in afterwards to finish the work, Webber reported. He said the cause of the accident is still under investigation, but the damage wasn’t serious to the tanker, which was uprighted by heavy-duty tow trucks and removed from the scene. Highway 198 was closed in both directions for nearly five hours. According to the MSDS, CAN17 is non-hazardous in normal industrial use but can cause systemic ammonia poisoning and nitrate poisoning if ingested. While there are no problems caused by inhaling the compound, it can cause irritation if it comes in contact with the eyes and the skin.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain