Link 2 Trailer Incident: Monitor Closely To Protect Public Safety, Ecosystems - Expert

JOHOR BAHRU, July 26 (Bernama) -- Two chemicals involved in the trailer incident on the Second Link bridge are classified as less hazardous in a controlled form, but have the potential to affect the marine ecosystem and public safety if accidentally released into the environment.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry senior lecturer Ts. ChM. Dr. Faizuan Abdullah said the risk should be taken seriously even though no pollution has been detected so far following the accident involving two trailers carrying chemicals at Kilometre 0.8 of the Plus highway's Second Link stretch.

He said one of the trailers was carrying propylene glycol, a water-soluble organic compound commonly used in the food, pharmaceutical and refrigeration industries 

"Propylene glycol is generally low in toxicity to humans and animals, but if spilled into the sea in large quantities, it can reduce dissolved oxygen through biodegradation, thus triggering hypoxia that is harmful to marine life," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Another substance involved is sodium hypochlorite, a bleaching agent and disinfectant that is highly oxidative and can have a direct toxic effect on aquatic life.

"More concerningly, sodium hypochlorite can interact with natural organic matter in water to form trihalomethanes (THMs), which are toxic compounds with potential long-term carcinogenic effects," he said.

Dr. Faizuan said direct exposure to the material can also cause irritation to the skin, eye and respiratory tract, especially for rescue workers, road users, or nearby communities if it is not properly controlled.

Therefore, he proposed that the area around the incident be immediately isolated, periodic monitoring of water and sediment quality be carried out, and a comprehensive environmental risk assessment (ERA) be conducted by the relevant authorities.

"In addition, fishing communities and coastal residents should be given early warning, while personnel at the site need to be equipped with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE)," he said.

He also praised the preparedness of agencies such as the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), the Malaysian Chemistry Department, the Department of Environment (DOE), and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), which are equipped with high-tech chemical detection assets.

Additionally, he suggested utilising other assets, including the mobile laboratory owned by the Chemistry Department equipped with a TD-GC-MS system, as well as assets like the Gasmet FTIR and Scanning Infrared Gas Imaging System (SIGIS 2), which can detect gases from a distance and quickly assess the risk of chemical spread at the incident site.

In the incident at 5.41 pm yesterday, two trailers carrying the chemicals propylene glycol and sodium hypochlorite were involved in an accident at the Second Link bridge, causing one of the trailers to plunge into the sea.

-- BERNAMA