Rhode Island Port Adds Chemical Threat Detectors

Rhode Island homeland security officials have beefed up security at the Port of Providence by placing three chemical detectors to sample the air for potential chemical threats. The detectors can tell security officials if an accidental or intentional release of dangerous chemicals has occurred, the Providence Journal reports. The devices can detect 15 industrial chemical compounds, including ammonia, and can identify seven bioterrorist chemical agents, including sarin and mustard gas. Providence Homeland Security officials staged a simulated emergency this week to demonstrate the capability of the chemical detectors. The simulated emergency involved an accident that involved a truck hitting a moving railroad train which, in turn, caused a chlorine release, the Providence Journal reports. The chemical detectors will mainly be monitored by the Enforcement Division of the state Department of Environmental Management.

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