Rumor here in Rhode Island is that a cigarette was being extinguished in the beach sand. (The women was known to have been smoking earlier in the day.) So that's one potential ignition source. Here is a link to a pdf of a short power point with more chemistry and good photos of the suspicious cable. (I haven't been able to locate the actual report)
http://www.dem.ri.gov/news/2015/pdf/saltyinc.pdf
Now, back to the beach!!
Charlotte J. Head, P.E.
industrial environmental consultant
Six Prospect Avenue
North Kingstown, RI 02852
(401) 294-1205
-----Original Message-----
From: Ernest Lippert <ernielippert**At_Symbol_Here**TOAST.NET>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Mon, Jul 27, 2015 12:43 pm
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Beach Explosion
BUILT UP GAS LIKELY CAUSED MYSTERIOUS R.I. BEACH EXPLOSION
Tags: us_RI, public, follow-up, injury, hydrogen
Question: How does sand, seawater, copper, and goo produce enough hydrogen to create an explosion? What is the normal concentration of hydrogen one might expect to find in a sandy beach? The LEL and HEL for hydrogen are 4.0 and 45.0 %. Then, there is always the need for an ignition source. Interesting problem!
Regards,
Ernie Lippert