From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (13 articles)
Date: January 11, 2013 7:49:50 AM EST
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <0406D484-ADA5-407B-9628-0CB069F6AB39**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org>

Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, January 11, 2013 7:49:17 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 (13 articles)

HAZMAT FORCES DIETZ & WATSON PLANT EVACUATION
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, ammonia

HAZMAT SITUATION CLOSES PINE COUNTY REST AREA
Tags: us_MN, public, release, injury, suicide

ORIGIN OF DON RIVER FUEL SPILL UNKNOWN
Tags: Canada, public, release, environmental, petroleum

CMR CHEMICAL SPILL HAPPENED DURING SKIT IN ENGLISH CLASS
Tags: us_MT, education, release, injury, fire_extinguisher, carbon_tetrachloride

CHINESE COAL COMPANY UNDER FIRE OVER CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: China, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

DEQ, STATE POLICE NOTIFIED OF CHEMICAL ODOR IN ST. BERNARD PARISH
Tags: us_LA, industrial, release, environmental, hydrogen_sulfide, sulfur_dioxide

KRONOSPAN EMPLOYEE RECOVERING AFTER DUST EXPLOSION
Tags: us_AL, industrial, explosion, injury, dust

TWO TREATED AFTER CORDELE CHEMICAL SPILL SPREADS ODOR
Tags: us_GA, public, release, injury, other_chemical

ALBANY AREA DOCTORS RECEIVE CALLS ABOUT CHEMICAL "SMELL"
Tags: us_GA, public, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

WSAZ INVESTIGATES: CHEMICAL CONCERNS FOLLOWING FIRE AT TECH PARK
Tags: us_WV, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

PASADENA CHEMICAL SPILL AND EVACUATION AT LIOX POWER AS BURBANK, GLENDALE HAZMAT, & PASADENA FIRE SOUTH PASADENA FIRE RESPONDS -
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, response, acetonitrile, batteries

CHEMICAL SPILL REPORTED AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Tags: us_WI, laboratory, release, response, acetic_acid

CRISP COUNTY CHEMICAL EXPLOSION CAUSES A MORNING STINK
Tags: us_GA, industrial, explosion, injury, solvent


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HAZMAT FORCES DIETZ & WATSON PLANT EVACUATION
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8949812
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, ammonia

BRIDESBURG - January 10, 2013 (WPVI) -- Workers at the Dietz & Watson plant in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia had to be evacuated after a hazmat situation Thursday night.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m. officials say there was a strong odor of ammonia detected at the plant on the 5700 block of Tacony Street.

Fire and hazmat crews arrived and traced the source to one room of the building.

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

HAZMAT SITUATION CLOSES PINE COUNTY REST AREA
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/01/10/hazmat-situation-closes-pine-county-rest-area/
Tags: us_MN, public, release, injury, suicide

PINE COUNTY, Minn. (WCCO) - A rest area in Pine County was closed Thursday so that emergency crews could clean up hazardous chemicals.

A man had committed suicide inside his car at the General Andrews State Forest rest area near Sturgeon Lake, and left a note warning people to stay away.

Emergency responders found a bucket containing bubbling white foam next to the victim.

Five people were treated for exposure to chemical vapors and a hazmat crew cleaned up the site.

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

ORIGIN OF DON RIVER FUEL SPILL UNKNOWN
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1313131--unknown-chemical-floating-in-don-river
Tags: Canada, public, release, environmental, petroleum

Toronto Water staff is investigating the origin of the fuel spill floating on the Don River's surface near the Gerrard St. overpass.

The spill was first brought to City's attention when a construction worker walking along Dundas St. E. overlooking the river spotted an oily sheen on the water. He immediately reported it to emergency services Thursday morning, a Toronto Fire spokesperson said.

According to Toronto Water business operations director Richard Noehammer, his staff found the 5-10 foot wide spill seeping from a storm outfall - a drainage that discharges storm water onto the river. The outfall is in the Bloor St. E.-Bayview area.

The substance has yet to be determined but it appears to be a type of petroleum-based fuel.

Crews on scene waded into the waters to collect samples, which were brought to shore for testing in an on-site mobile lab.

Large Styrofoam pads called "booms" were also deployed to soak up the slick and prevent it from spreading. They will continually be replaced as required.

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

CMR CHEMICAL SPILL HAPPENED DURING SKIT IN ENGLISH CLASS
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20130110/NEWS01/301100039/CMR-chemical-spill-happened-during-skit-English-class?nclick_check=1
Tags: us_MT, education, release, injury, fire_extinguisher, carbon_tetrachloride

An antique fire extinguisher accidentally dropped in an English classroom at C.M. Russell High School on Thursday morning set off a flurry of activity with a hazardous materials team responding to the school to clean up the spilled chemical.

About 28 students were exposed to what is likely carbon tetrachloride that came from a container inside an antique fire extinguisher, said CMR Principal Dick Kloppel, but no injuries were reported. Great Falls Fire/Rescue was called to the school around 11 a.m. and began evacuating students from that portion of the building while they tried to contain and examine the substance that leaked.

As a precaution, Kloppel sent a letter home to the parents of the students in the English classroom where the vial was dropped, encouraging them to keep an eye on their children and be watching for symptoms, including a headache, nausea, blurry vision, difficulty breathing or, if the chemical came in contact with skin, a rash. If these symptoms appear, Kloppel asked parents to contact a physician.

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

CHINESE COAL COMPANY UNDER FIRE OVER CHEMICAL SPILL
http://www.ooskanews.com/daily-water-briefing/chinese-coal-company-under-fire-over-chemical-spill_25814
Tags: China, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

CHINA, CHANGZHI Ñ Provincial officials in China's Shanxi province on January 8 ordered the Tianji Coal Chemical Industry Group to shut down production at its facility in Changzhi City until it can meet safety requir

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

DEQ, STATE POLICE NOTIFIED OF CHEMICAL ODOR IN ST. BERNARD PARISH
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2013/01/deq_state_police_notified_of_c.html
Tags: us_LA, industrial, release, environmental, hydrogen_sulfide, sulfur_dioxide

Residents in St. Bernard Parish and Terrytown have reported smelling a chemical odor Thursday evening, a St. Bernard Fire Department spokesman said. The state Department of Environmental Quality and State Police have been notified of the reported odor.

Chalmette and Terrytown residents have reported burning eyes and shortness of breath, according to a report on WWL-TV. The report says the official cause has not yet been confirmed but the St. Bernard Fire Department says the chemical "appears" to be originating from the Rain CII Plant in St. Bernard Parish.

St. Bernard Fire Chief Thomas Stone said one of his units passed by the Rain CII facility around 7 p.m. and reported the odor and smoke coming out of one of the plant's stacks. The Terrytown Fire Department also received reports of odor, Stone said.

Hazmat crews have been notified.

According to air quality reports on the DEQ website, levels of hydrogen sulfide and sulphur dioxide were abnormal around 6 p.m. on Thursday in the area.

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

KRONOSPAN EMPLOYEE RECOVERING AFTER DUST EXPLOSION
http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/21361633/article-Kronospan-employee-recovering-after-dust-explosion-
Tags: us_AL, industrial, explosion, injury, dust

A worker was recovering Wednesday at a Birmingham hospital from injuries caused by an explosion last week at a Bynum manufacturing plant.
....
"The employee was working in the finishing line area on a sander," Sparks said. A spark from an unknown source ignited airborne dust creating the explosion, he said.

The explosion caused damage to the sander and ductwork overhead, and activated the plant's sprinkler system, Sparks said. Firefighters ensured all the dust was removed from the area to prevent another explosion, he said, and had left the scene by 7:45 p.m.

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

TWO TREATED AFTER CORDELE CHEMICAL SPILL SPREADS ODOR
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/article/211544/153/Cordele-Chemical-Spill-Spreads-Odor
Tags: us_GA, public, release, injury, other_chemical

An accidental chemical spill at a Cordele plant caused a strong odor that's spread around several counties Wednesday morning.

Cordele police say it happened around 1 a.m. at the Drexel Chemical Company at 120 Cape Road.

They say about 40 thirty-gallon drums of dimethoate were spilled after the chemical overheated.

Police said that the chemical is not hazardous, but that the smell may affect people with respiratory problems.

Two people were treated at Crisp Regional Hospital for dizziness and nausea from the smell, but have since been released.

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

ALBANY AREA DOCTORS RECEIVE CALLS ABOUT CHEMICAL "SMELL"
http://www.walb.com/story/20547715/albany-area-doctors-receive-calls-about-chemical-smell
Tags: us_GA, public, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

LEE COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
Albany area physicians, the health department, and emergency management officials received lots of phone calls from people Wednesday morning concerned that "smell" might be harmful.

Lee County Asthma specialist Dr. Tracy Bridges says their office answered questions from many concerned patients who suffer from respiratory problems.

Doctors quickly researched the chemical involved in the Cordele spill and got health department reports that the spill should not concern most people outside Crisp County.

But they told asthma patients who are worried to stay indoors. "Be sure to continue the asthmal or respiratory medications and keep their rescue inhalers close by," said Dr. Bridges. "Such that if this chemical does cause some problems with their lungs they can be covered."

Dr. Bridges says people who think the chemical caused them to have respiratory problems should contact their physician.

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

WSAZ INVESTIGATES: CHEMICAL CONCERNS FOLLOWING FIRE AT TECH PARK
http://www.wsaz.com/news/charlestonnews/headlines/BREAKING-NEWS-Fire-Reported-at-Tech-Park-in-South-Charleston-184091071.html
Tags: us_WV, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A chemical emergency had crews responding to a fire at a research and development facility and sparked a WSAZ investigation into chemical incidents.

Fire officials tell WSAZ.com they were called to the West Virginia Regional Technology Park just before 9 a.m. Wednesday. They say flames broke out near a chemical storage tank.

No one was hurt, and the fire was contained in less than 10 minutes, according to investigators.

WSAZ.com's Brooks Jarosz launched an investigation to find out how often these incidents happen and what plans are in place to prevent them from becoming more hazardous.

South Charleston Fire Chief John Taylor says the campus at the tech park and the surrounding community was never in any danger.

With Kanawha County often called the "Chemical Valley," Deputy Emergency Manager C.W. Sigman tells WSAZ.com on any given week, there's one or more alerts of a potential problem at Kanawha chemical plants -- most unfounded or minor.

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

PASADENA CHEMICAL SPILL AND EVACUATION AT LIOX POWER AS BURBANK, GLENDALE HAZMAT, & PASADENA FIRE SOUTH PASADENA FIRE RESPONDS -
http://photos.pasadenastarnews.com/2013/01/09/photos-pasadena-chemical-spill-and-evacuation-at-liox-power-as-burbank-glendale-hazmat-pasadena-fire-south-pasadena-fire-responds/
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, response, acetonitrile, batteries

Burbank Hazardous Fire Material and Glendale Fire Hazardous Material team with Pasadena Fire and South Pasadena Fire assisting, at a chemical spill at 2:10 p.m. at Liox Power, 129 N. Hill Avenue in Pasadena Wednesday, January 9, 2013. Liox Power is developing rechargeable lithium air batteries for next generation energy storage. A small amount of two chemicals, Acetonitrile and Dimetylactamide spilled and an estimated 40 people were evacuated from the business and other nearby businesses.

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

CHEMICAL SPILL REPORTED AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/chemical-spill-reported-at-childrens-hospital-ar8ade2-186164101.html
Tags: us_WI, laboratory, release, response, acetic_acid

The Wauwatosa Fire Department responded to a spill of acetic acid inside a Children's Hospital of Wisconsin laboratory at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

No more than one quart of acetic acid, commonly known as vinegar, was spilled in a laboratory on the third floor of the hospital.

The spill was contained and cleaned up Wednesday morning. No evacuation of hospital staff, patients or visitors was necessary and no injuries were reported, the spokeswoman said.

The acid is used in some routine laboratory tests.

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

CRISP COUNTY CHEMICAL EXPLOSION CAUSES A MORNING STINK
http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/story.aspx?list=196423&id=845640#.UO2arORi548
Tags: us_GA, industrial, explosion, injury, solvent

ORDELE, GA --
The Crisp County Fire Department responded to a chemical explosion at Drexel Chemical Company, located at 120 Cape Road, early Wednesday morning.

Approximately twelve, 55-gallon drums, containing the chemical Dimethoate Technical, a non-toxic, industrial strength solvent, exploded and released fumes into the atmosphere.

Fumes were transported to multiple cities across Southwest Georgia due to a wind shift.

The incident report says that the explosion was caused when a bath shorted out, overheating the chemical.

As a result of this explosion, a few people were brought to area hospitals with respiratory issues; none are considered to be serious.

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


Ralph Stuart
secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Secretary
Division of Chemical Health and Safety
American Chemical Society

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