From: "Ralph Stuart, CIH" <ras2047**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (16 articles)
Date: March 30, 2012 10:16:55 AM EDT
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <B5C53E8C-8708-46E7-A76F-6F1D742D116F**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu>

Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, March 30, 2012 10:16:33 AM

A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas

Table of Contents (16 articles)

HAZMAT SCARE AT CARROLL COLLEGE WAS AMMONIA
Tags: us_MT, education, release, injury, ammonia

HAZMAT RESPONSE AFTER SCHOOL BUS GETS SPRAYED WITH PESTICIDE
Tags: us_CA, education, release, response, pesticides

POLICE: WHITE POWDER IN UVA HAZMAT SCARE TURNS OUT TO BE COCAINE
Tags: us_VA, education, discovery, response, drugs

CORROSIVE CHEMICAL CLEANED FROM ESCONDIDO HORSE ARENA
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, environmental, sodium_hydroxide

FARMER TILING HITS OLD OIL WELL
Tags: us_OH, public, discovery, environmental, petroleum

NARCOTICS TASK FORCE FINDS METH LABS AT LANDFILL
Tags: us_CA, public, follow-up, response, meth_lab

CHEMICAL SCARE IN EAST PEORIA EARNS CALLER CHASTISEMENT FROM 911 OPERATOR
Tags: us_IL, public, discovery, response, dust

SUSSEX TECH REVISES CALENDAR AFTER FIRE
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, follow-up, response

FIRE CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL SPILL AT WETHERILL
Tags: us_IN, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical

THREAT OF CHEMICAL LEAK INTO LITTLE ELKHART RIVER AFTER TRAIN DERAILS
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, sulphur

TWO-DOZEN VEHICLES VANDALIZED IN W. PHILLY
Tags: us_PA, public, discovery, response, corrosives

HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL SPILL IN FRESNO
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL BLAZE TRAPS VILLAGERS IN THEIR HOMES
Tags: United_Kingdom, transportation, fire, response, calcium_carbonate

OREM FUEL COMPANY ENGULFED IN CHEMICAL FIRE
Tags: us_UT, industrial, fire, response, flammables

FIRE IN CZECH CHEMICAL PLANT, DAMAGE PUT AT CZK 25 MILLION
Tags: Czech_Republic, transportation, fire, response, oils

DUMPED CHEMICAL WASTE TURNS OUT TO BE CHIP FAT
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, environmental, waste


---------------------------------------------

HAZMAT SCARE AT CARROLL COLLEGE WAS AMMONIA
http://www.krtv.com/news/hazmat-scare-at-carroll-college-was-ammonia/
Tags: us_MT, education, release, injury, ammonia

The Helena Fire Department was dispatched to the Carroll College campus on Wednesday afternoon after a member of the college janitorial staff found a bottle with an unknown substance and opened it.

The person then reportedly smelled the substance, and sustained "unspecified injuries" and sought treatment at St. Peter's Hospital.

The bottle was then closed and removed to the Fortin Science Building to be identified by staff.

Hazardous materials technicians from the Helena Fire Department assisted staff in attempting to identify the substance.

The substance was identified on Wednesday night as a commercial-grade ammonia that is typically used as a cleaning agent.

A press release from the Helena Fire Department on Thursday morning states that there was no danger to the students, staff, or the general public after the initial incident took place.

---------------------------------------------

HAZMAT RESPONSE AFTER SCHOOL BUS GETS SPRAYED WITH PESTICIDE
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/HAZMAT-response-after-school-bus-gets-sprayed/yYcb6poT5Ue_q1DeDSw8sA.cspx
Tags: us_CA, education, release, response, pesticides

Police, fire, ambulance and HAZMAT crews are at Rio Bravo-Greeley School in the 6600 block of Enos Ln. for reports of a school bus that was sprayed with pesticides.

So far, there are no reports of injuries, but some students have complained of itchy skin or being nauseated. Firefighters on scene reported it may have been the chemical Lorsban, an insecticide that interferes with an insect's nervous system.

It appears the bus may have driven through a drift and was not sprayed directly while children from the elementary and junior high school were on the bus. Then,the kids were dropped off at school.

---------------------------------------------

POLICE: WHITE POWDER IN UVA HAZMAT SCARE TURNS OUT TO BE COCAINE
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/mar/29/police-white-powder-uva-hazmat-scare-turns-out-be--ar-1803822/
Tags: us_VA, education, discovery, response, drugs

The bag of white powder that kicked off a hazmat scare after being found in a University of Virginia bathroom Thursday morning turned out to be cocaine, said Sgt. Darrell Byers of the Albemarle County police.

Dispatch records indicate the cocaine was found in a second floor women's restroom in the Sheridan G. Snyder Translational Research Building and Fontaine Research Park.

The Charlottesville Fire Department's regional hazmat team responded after the powder was found, confirmed Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles Werner in an email. After determining the substance wasn't hazardous, fire officials turned the case over to the county police, according to Werner.

The amount of cocaine was relatively small, consistent with personal use rather than distribution, Byers said. He said investigators will have a tough time figuring out who left behind the cocaine.

---------------------------------------------

CORROSIVE CHEMICAL CLEANED FROM ESCONDIDO HORSE ARENA
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Corrosive-Chemical-Cleaned-from-Escondido-Horse-Arena-144732255.html
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, environmental, sodium_hydroxide

A cleanup crew has entered phase two of a massive clean-up effort in Escondido after 20,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide spilled from a water filtration plant Monday afternoon.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Monday, a breach in one of the tanks caused the corrosive chemical to spill from a water filtration plant in the 3400 block of Valley Pkwy on by Dixon Lake, according to authorities.

At about 5 p.m., the Hazmat crews entered the plant to evaluate the extent of the spill. According to authorities, the liquid had traveled down a paved roadway and then onto a dirt area where it was contained.

On Tuesday, the City of Escondido reported that the NRC Environmental Services began to remove the sodium hydroxide that was released into the containment area, as well as the removal of the remaining solution left in the failed tanks.

---------------------------------------------

FARMER TILING HITS OLD OIL WELL
http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/local/farmer-tiling-hits-old-oil-well
Tags: us_OH, public, discovery, environmental, petroleum

VILLAGE OF WOODVILLE, Ohio (WUPW) - A Sandusky County farmer tiling his field Wednesday afternoon hit an old underground well, causing it to spill into a ditch.

The incident took place at around 5:30 p.m. in the Village of Woodville.

EPA and Hazmat officials who were dispatched to assist in recapping the well. They said it's fairly common for underground wells to crack and spill during farming.

Crews have put absorbents out to hopefully suck up the oil.

The oil leak is not a risk to the public, the EPA said.

---------------------------------------------

NARCOTICS TASK FORCE FINDS METH LABS AT LANDFILL
http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24308:narcotics-task-force-finds-meth-labs-at-landfill&catid=1:latest&Itemid=197
Tags: us_CA, public, follow-up, response, meth_lab

CLEARLAKE, Calif. - A hazmat call last week at the East Lake Landfill in Clearlake led to the discovery of four methamphetamine labs.

Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said that on Thursday, March 22, at approximately 12:30 p.m. the Lake County Narcotics Task Force responded to the landfill at the request of the Lake County Fire Protection District HAZMAT Team.

Brooks said the Lake County Fire HAZMAT team had responded to the landfill after the operator of a bulldozer had run over a black plastic garbage bag as he was moving garbage.

The contents of the bag began to off gas, which produced a large visible chemical cloud, Brooks said.

The narcotics detectives located several two liter bottles containing both solid and liquid materials, according to Brooks.

---------------------------------------------

CHEMICAL SCARE IN EAST PEORIA EARNS CALLER CHASTISEMENT FROM 911 OPERATOR
http://www.eastpeoriatimescourier.com/news/x1184537645/Chemical-scare-in-East-Peoria-earns-caller-chastisement-from-911-operator
Tags: us_IL, public, discovery, response, dust

East Peoria, Ill. Ñ

Robby Owens found more than he bargained for when he went to retrieve his mail at 10 a.m. March 21. He was greeted by a layer of yellow powder inside his mailbox.

Owens was not alone. Four of his Fauber Lane neighbors had the same powder in their mailboxes. One neighbor also found his mail torn up and thrown in his yard.

911 clash
In this day and age of terrorism Owens took no chances. He dialed 911.

"The lady on the other end of the phone was quite upset with me," Owens said. "She said we had called for a Ônon-emergency.' How does she know?"

After calling a non-emergency number a Tazewell County Sheriff's deputy was dispatched. He came out and looked at the chemical in the mailboxes, Owens said.

"The deputy said he thought it was fire extinguisher material," Owens said, but admitted he was not sure. The deputy, he said, called the Spring Bay Fire Department and then East Peoria. Both departments said they were not equipped to handle the situation.

The Peoria Fire Department Hazmat Team was dispatched to the scene. The East Peoria Fire Department then responded, as well.

The hazmat team swabbed the material. It was found to be a caustic food processing material called Calcium hydrogenphosphate dihydrate.

"The hazmat team told us to rinse it out with water," Owens said, and left.

Aftermath
When Owens looked up the chemical on Google he found the following listed under safety precautions:

¥ In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice

---------------------------------------------

SUSSEX TECH REVISES CALENDAR AFTER FIRE
http://www.njherald.com/story/17291644/sussex-tech-revises-calendar-after-fire
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, follow-up, response

SPARTA -- The Sussex County Technical School Board of Education took several steps at Thursday's meeting to move forward from a science lab fire that closed the school for seven days.

The board unanimously voted to revise the school calendar to tack these seven days on to the end of the school year rather than interrupting the spring recess. The last day for students will now be June 21, and the third marking period will be extended to April 18.

"(The fire aftermath) was handled beautifully. Even the decision on what to do with those school days (was done well)," board member Susan Shake said. She said the administration talked to parents and teachers to reach a decision on the school calendar revision.

---------------------------------------------

FIRE CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL SPILL AT WETHERILL
http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/community/the_exponent/fire-crews-respond-to-chemical-spill-at-wetherill
Tags: us_IN, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Exponent) -

The Purdue fire department responded to a chemical spill that occurred just after 9 p.m. Tuesday night at the Wetherill Hall of Chemistry.

Kevin Ply, chief of the Purdue Fire Department, said the chemical was "water-reactive."

"We had a spill in one of the labs," Ply said. "For precautionary purposes we evacuated the fourth floor."

You can read the rest of this story at the Purdue Exponent website .

---------------------------------------------

THREAT OF CHEMICAL LEAK INTO LITTLE ELKHART RIVER AFTER TRAIN DERAILS
http://articles.wsbt.com/2012-03-28/train-derails_31246616
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, sulphur

LIGONIER Ñ Nearly 200,000 pounds of molten sulfur leaking from a derailed Norfolk Southern train car threaten a wetland area that empties into the Little Elkhart River. As of right now, officials say the impact on waterways appears to be minimal.

Around 4:40 a.m. 21 cars of the 59-car train derailed in the area of 1100 West 900 North, northwest of Ligonier. There were no injuries. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

Dave Pigeon, Norfolk Southern spokesman at the scene, told WSBT the eastbound train left Elkhart en route to Bellevue, Ohio.

---------------------------------------------

TWO-DOZEN VEHICLES VANDALIZED IN W. PHILLY
http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-29/news/31254999_1_cars-gas-tanks-tires
Tags: us_PA, public, discovery, response, corrosives

About two dozen passenger vehicles were damaged this morning by vandals who slashed tires, doused cars with a corrosive chemical and dumped sugar in gas tanks in the Overbrook section, police said.

Capt. Melvin Singleton, commander of the 19th Police District, said tires were slashed on 17 cars and the paint on seven other passengers vehicles had been stripped away by an acid-like substance.

Some cars also had sugar in the gas tanks, he said.

A Fire Department Hazmat Unit was called to the scene to scrape off some of the corrosive chemical for testing.

---------------------------------------------

HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL SPILL IN FRESNO
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id&hellip;99679
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno Fire Department, along with hazardous materials crews, responded to a small chemical spill at an anodizing company in Central Fresno.

The incident happened just after 3 a.m. Thursday morning at Pacific Coast Anodizing on Pine near West -- just south of McKinley Avenue. Firefighters say a heater caused some chemicals to overheat causing two fire sprinklers to turn on.

Hazmat crews worked with the fire department to make sure there no other leaks or spills of hazardous materials.

---------------------------------------------

CHEMICAL BLAZE TRAPS VILLAGERS IN THEIR HOMES
http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/chemical-blaze-traps-villagers-in-their-homes-1-4399281#
Tags: United_Kingdom, transportation, fire, response, calcium_carbonate

VILLAGERS in Annesley Woodhouse were told to stay in their homes for several hours after a large blaze involving a chemical-filled container.

The fire started at the Collins Earthworks firm on an industrial estate off Park Lane, Kirkby on Friday March 23.

A tanker containing calcium carbonate (quicklime) is thought to have overheated and caught fire.

Residents were told to keep their windows and doors shut until lunchtime on Saturday March 24 because of fears surrounding fumes from the blaze.

A section of the MI between junction 27 at Annesley and junction 28 at Mansfield was closed from 5.30 pm last Friday, causing chaos during the rush hour. The road re-opened at 8.15 pm.

---------------------------------------------

OREM FUEL COMPANY ENGULFED IN CHEMICAL FIRE
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/orem/orem-fuel-company-engulfed-in-chemical-fire/article_8f8e22f6-79d0-11e1-bcfa-0019bb2963f4.html
Tags: us_UT, industrial, fire, response, flammables

OREM -- A comb of black smoke arched above Utah County early Thursday afternoon after a chemical fire burst out at an Orem fuel company.

The fire started around 12:36 p.m. at the cinder block warehouse occupied by 801 Racing. Orem fire inspector Casy Vorwaller said the company makes Ferox fuel additives designed to increase a vehicle's mileage. Workers were pumping fuel Thursday, Vorwaller said, when malfunctioning equipment sprayed flammable liquid on a hot pump. The liquid then ignited.

"Once a flammable liquid goes, it goes fast," Vorwaller added.

Crews from Orem and Provo responded to the blaze and had it under control quickly. Vorwaller said firefighters fought offensively, meaning they were able to get inside the building to extinguish the flames. Damage to the building was limited due to its cinder block construction, Vorwaller said, though the fire did spread to the wooden roof and rafters.

---------------------------------------------

FIRE IN CZECH CHEMICAL PLANT, DAMAGE PUT AT CZK 25 MILLION
http://praguemonitor.com/2012/03/30/fire-czech-chemical-plant-damage-put-czk-25-million
Tags: Czech_Republic, transportation, fire, response, oils

Pardubice, East Bohemia, March 29 (CTK) - The extensive fire that burst out in the Synthesia chemical plant complex early this morning fortunately injured no one but it caused an estimated damage worth up to 25 million crowns, local firefighters and police spokespersons told CTK.

The fire started around 4:00 in consequence of an accident in the premises belonging to Rekla, a company that handles mineral oils and is seated in the Synthesia complex.

Fifteen firefighter units, professional and voluntary, tackled the fire and its aftermath for about three hours, Synthesia spokeswoman Jaroslava Dolezalova told CTK.

The police and firemen will now start enquiring into the cause of the accident.

The fire injured no one, nor did it endanger the environment, Dolezalova said.

The firefighters originally said poisonous substances had leaked in the air and called on the residents of Pardubice, the regional centre with a population of 90,000, not to open the windows and not to leave their homes unless urgently necessary.

Dismissing the information, Dolezalova said expert measurements have not registered any leak of poisonous fumes.

The fire started at an oil processing line and spread to two halls that serve as oils store, causing several explosions and destroying two lorries, said Vendula Horakova, regional fire squad's spokeswoman.

---------------------------------------------

DUMPED CHEMICAL WASTE TURNS OUT TO BE CHIP FAT
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Dumped-chemical-waste-turns-chip-fat/story-15667441-detail/story.html
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, environmental, waste

Two specially trained officers were among 17 firefighters to attend reports of dumped chemical waste - which turned out to be used chip fat.

Police received reports of a mystery smell and a leak coming from ten plastic containers left in the Co-Op car park on Barras Street, Liskeard, at 9.15pm on Tuesday.

They contacted Cornwall Fire Service, who sent out two fire crews, plus an environment support vehicle and two officers specially trained to handle hazardous materials.

The area was cordoned off and firefighters wore specialist clothing to inspect the contents of the containers, only to find it was used cooking oil.

But yesterday, Lee Griffin, the fire services group manager for service delivery, said the service had to "err on the side of caution", but said the response was scaled-down because of "common sense". It could have cost up to £10,000 if protocol had been followed blindly. As it was, it cost about £1,500, he said.

Mr Griffin called whoever dumped the waste "totally irresponsible", and urged any witnesses to contact Cornwall Council's environmental services department.

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