Freak accident turns vending machine into WMD

[dArKeR]

Houston - An exploding vending machine turned the coolant freon into phosgene, a poisonous gas used as a chemical weapon in World War One, and forced the evacuation of 10 people from a Texas hospital, officials said on Thursday.

A food service employee was working on the refrigerated soft drink machine at the Park Place Medical Centre in Port Arthur, Texas, when a small explosion and fire occurred inside it on Wednesday morning, Port Arthur Fire Marshal Mark Mulliner said.

"When freon gas from the cooling system came into contact with the heat from the fire, it changed composition to a phosgene gas," Mulliner said.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1088168580816B231

[boobooday]

1. Oh no

Now we're going to hear about all Saddam's Vending Machines of Mass Destruction. That's right, he had vending machines, and plans to build more.

The whole project was overseen by the evil Dr. Pepper!



http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Columbia]

3. I never saw any vending machines in Iraq

n/t

[JayS]

8. They were kept in secret underground bunkers. n/t

n/t

[Columbia]

9. Nope

I checked those too. No vendos to be found.

[Massacure]

2. Terra Terra Terra! Send that mechanic to Gitmo!

:eyes:

[StClone]

4. Phosgene is nasty

That's what they use in some rodent baits -- oh well it was just Texas.

[JayS]

5. It was very nice of the media...

...to point every nut case and their dog in the right direction for making their own phosgene gas. Hopefully, for an encore, they will explain how T. McVeigh made his bomb with stuff you can mostly get at Home Depot and a service station.

[Kinkistyle]

6. Ooooo, I'm so sorry Houstonites. We're gonna hafta bomb ya

According to current prevailing U.S. foreign policy, we're going to have to bomb you Houstonites "back to the stone age". Sorry, rules is rules.

[mike1963]

7. Oh shit. Every time some CHEMICAL gets loose, everybody freaks...

I can't believe enough phosgene could be produced from a small fire and a couple pounds of F22 to be any significant hazard. These 'hazmat' people are so fucking paranoid...the other day there was a HUGE EMERGENCY because a truck overturned and spilled a drum of laquer thinner. 99% of it evaporated before the idiots with their space suits even got on the scene, and a few months ago there was 'breaking news' when some Calcium Chloride got dumped on the road (oh, the horror!!!)
:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: