understand what the substance is that fell into the river and left Joinville in an emergency situation

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What is sulfonic acid?

Sulfonic acid is used as a base for manufacturing, mainly, of powder or liquid detergent. It is efficient at removing dirt and reacts well with grease. The substance also forms a lot of foam when exposed, which explains the images taken by residents and the city hall itself in Rio Seco, where the waters immediately turned white and foamy.

According to the police, the exact identification of the material that was carried in the truck and ended up dumped in the water is alkylbenzenesulfonic acid. Its identification is possible through the UN number (as it is established by the United Nations) 2586. It is considered a corrosive product and capable of mixing with water.

According to the São Paulo Environmental Company’s (Cetesb) chemical emergency system, based on the Chemical Product Safety Data Sheet (Fispq), people should avoid contact with the acid. In case of poisoning through liquid contact, according to the manual, it can cause skin and eye irritation and, if ingested, will cause nausea. In terms of safety measures, the sheet states that one should “avoid contact with the liquid, keep people away, call the fire department, stop the leak, if possible, isolate and remove the spilled material.” All with the use of PPE.

The high concentration can affect some types of algae and, consequently, cause reactions in certain species of fish. The manual also informs that sulfonic acid decomposes over time, a fact that converges with the information that has been shared by Joinville city hall. In the last update, on Monday night, the municipality stated that “the concentration index levels of the chemical compound are decreasing, but have not yet reached a level sufficient for the Cubatão Water Treatment Station (ETA) to be able to return operating normally.” The guidance is for people to continue saving water.

In the first measurement carried out by city hall teams, shortly after the dumping caused by the accident, the tests showed that, at around 10am, the contamination rate was 0.19mg/L of the substance in the waters close to the Cubatão Treatment Station. The acceptable level for the presence of the component is 0.5mg/L. At 2:30 pm, the index reached its peak: 1.09mg/L. At the 4:30 pm measurement, however, the rate had already decreased to 0.63mg/L, which indicates a downward bias.

A driver caught the moment when the truck loaded with the substance appears to lose control, traveling between the two lanes, until it hits the embankment. The collision was so strong that the vehicle caught fire. The driver, according to the Military Police, only had minor injuries. To the police, the driver stated that the accident happened “due to a lack of brakes on the vehicle”.