From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (15 articles)
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 07:40:16 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 062EBA79-B566-4EF4-8B7D-58637D16C9D8**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, July 29, 2013 7:40:03 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 (15 articles)

BROOKDALE EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL VAPORS SPREAD
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical

DRUG LAB FOUND IN ST MARYS
Tags: Australia, public, release, injury, meth_lab

NANOPARTICLES KEEP IMMUNE CELLS FROM DOING THEIR JOB?
Tags: other, discovery, environmental, nanotech

TENNESSEE STATE FIRE MARSHAL?S OFFICE REMINDS TENNESSEANS TO STORE RESIDENTIAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFELY
Tags: us_TN, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

JOE SCHWARCZ: DANGEROUS CHEMICAL PARAXYLENE HAS A WIDE ARRAY OF USES
Tags: China, industrial, discovery, environmental, xylene

E CHINA CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE EXTINGUISHED
Tags: China, industrial, fire, response, toxics

WANDTV.COM, NEWSCENTER17, STORMCENTER17, CENTRAL ILLINOIS NEWS-
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, injury, ag_chems

EVACUATION ORDER REDUCED WHILE HAZMAT CREWS CLEAN UP TANKER SPILL
Tags: Canada, transportation, release, response, jet_fuel

ROOF COLLAPSE SPARKS FIRE AT HISTORIC TACOMA FOUNDRY
Tags: us_WA, industrial, fire, response, metals

CHEMICAL LEAK LEADS TO COURT ACTION AGAINST EXXONMOBIL
Tags: us_IL, industrial, follow-up, response, hydrogen_sulfide, petroleum

GAS SPILL CLEANUP: HAZMAT TEAM CLEANS UP CONVENIENCE CENTER SITE
Tags: us_TN, transportation, release, response, gasoline

EPA IRIS WORKSHOP
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

EVALUATION OF THE INHALATION CARCINOGENICITY OF ETHYLENE OXIDE (REVISED EXTERNAL REVIEW DRAFT 2013)
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, ethylene_oxide

CAUSTIC SPILL AFFECTS KENNEWICK TRAFFIC
Tags: us_WA, transportation, release, injury, corrosives

RECYCLER EVACUATED AFTER WORKER OPENS TEAR GAS CANISTER
Tags: us_TN, industrial, release, injury, tear_gas


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BROOKDALE EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL VAPORS SPREAD
http://middletown-nj.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/brookdale-evacuated-after-chemical-vapors-spread
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical

Brookdale Community College was evacuated Monday night after unsealed containers in a lab resulted in chemical vapors spreading Main Academic South building, the college announced on its Facebook page.

"As a result of the odor, the building was evacuated and the Lincroft Fire Department, which included Hazmat certified individuals, was notified," the announcement said.

The cans containing the chemicals were discarded and the air quality was tested Tuesday morning and found to be safe. Classes were held as scheduled

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DRUG LAB FOUND IN ST MARYS
http://www.penrithstar.com.au/story/1668104/drug-lab-found-in-st-marys/?cs=12
Tags: Australia, public, release, injury, meth_lab

Three people have been treated for chemical smoke inhalation after police found a sophisticated clandestine drug laboratory in St Marys.

Police were called to the premises after Fire Rescue NSW responded to reports of smoke coming from an industrial premises about 6.45pm on Sunday.

Investigations revealed that the smoke was caused by the clandestine drug set up inside.

There were no occupants inside the premises; however, three workers from a neighbouring unit were treated by paramedics for chemical smoke inhalation.

None needed hospital treatment.

St Marys police established a crime scene, while specialist officers from the State Crime Command?s Chemical Operations Unit and the FRNSW Hazard Materials Response Unit made sure that the scene was safe.

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

NANOPARTICLES KEEP IMMUNE CELLS FROM DOING THEIR JOB?
http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i30/Nanoparticles-Keep-Immune-Cells-Doing.html
Tags: other, discovery, environmental, nanotech

In studying the potential health effects of nanoparticle exposure, scientists rely on cell death as a key indicator. But new research suggests that nanoparticles might require additional safety testing. Brian D. Thrall of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and his colleagues treated immune cells with iron oxide nanoparticles and showed that although the cells appeared healthy in standard toxicology tests, they struggled to perform one of their key jobs: engulfing pathogenic bacteria (ACS Nano 2013, DOI: 10.1021/nn402145t). The researchers exposed macrophages from mouse bone marrow to superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. They then added a lipopolysaccharide to the culture, which the macrophages treat as bacteria, and measured the cells? gene expression with a micro-array chip device. The nanoparticles altered the expression of 1,044 genes by at least 50%. The most troubling changes, Thrall says, took place in oxidative stress and inflammation pathways, which play si!
gnificant roles in macrophages? ability to detect and clear bacteria. Indeed, when the researchers mixed the macrophages with Streptococcus pneumoniae, macrophages exposed to nanoparticles struggled to take up the pathogen, ingesting just half as much as unexposed cells.

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

TENNESSEE STATE FIRE MARSHAL?S OFFICE REMINDS TENNESSEANS TO STORE RESIDENTIAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFELY
http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2013/07/27/tennessee-state-fire-marshals-office-reminds-tennesseans-to-store-residential-hazardous-materials-safely/
Tags: us_TN, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

Nashville, TN ? Hazardous materials are not reserved for chemical factories; households across Tennessee are full of these items.
Automotive fluids, barbecue products, household cleaners, oil-based paint, paint thinners, and medical equipment such as oxygen tanks can all be considered hazardous materials.
These materials can pose serious fire, health or environmental risks to residents.
?Whether it?s a can of hairspray or a cylinder of propane, items around the house can pose risks for improper use or even injury,? said State Fire Marshal Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. ?It?s important to properly store, use and dispose of these items to protect yourself and your family from potential injuries.?
The State Fire Marshal?s Office offers the following tips to help Tennesseans minimize exposure to unnecessary risks:

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

JOE SCHWARCZ: DANGEROUS CHEMICAL PARAXYLENE HAS A WIDE ARRAY OF USES
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/Schwarcz+Dangerous+chemical+paraxylene+wide+array+uses/8702097/story.html
Tags: China, industrial, discovery, environmental, xylene

Chinese cities don?t often see demonstrations. But the proposed building of a new chemical plant in the city of Kunming did manage to drive thousands of people into the streets in protest. Kunming may be small by Chinese standards, but it has a population of six million, many of whom don?t want a giant paraxylene plant in their backyard. They?re worried about the release of toxic chemicals, which is understandable given that a recent analysis by the Health Effects Institute in Boston found that every year more than one million people die prematurely in China because of air pollution. The concern is that the new chemical plant, on track to process 10 million tons of crude oil and produce half a million tons of paraxylene (PX for short) every year, will contribute to pollution.

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

E CHINA CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE EXTINGUISHED
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/799541.shtml#.UfUWPNIce5I
Tags: China, industrial, fire, response, toxics

The fire that raged at a chemical plant in east China's Shandong Province for about 11 hours was put out on Sunday morning. No casualties or toxic gas leaks have been reported, local authorities said.

The fire started at 4:45 pm Saturday in the Luxi Chemical Plant in Liaocheng City. It was extinguished by 3:36 am on Sunday, fire fighters said.

After monitoring of air quality, local environmental protection authorities said the accident did not cause any toxic gas leakages.

The fire-fighting foam and water used to extinguish the fire have been directed into a pool inside the plant for environmental emergency disposal, and environmental protection authorities are testing for toxic chemicals.

Authorities said no toxic substances have been detected in the air so far.

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

WANDTV.COM, NEWSCENTER17, STORMCENTER17, CENTRAL ILLINOIS NEWS-
http://www.wandtv.com/story/22936057/teen-workers-accidentally-sprayed-with-fungicide
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, injury, ag_chems

PESOTUM -- A farm chemical accident in Champaign County sent 70 teens to the hospital Thursday.

According to Pesotum firefighters, workers were detasseling corn in a field when a Monsanto crop-dusting plane accidentally sprayed them with chemicals.

A hazardous materials crew was called to the scene to decontaminate, and the teens were rushed to Carle Hospital in Urbana.

Brad Rollings of Villa Grove was at Carle checking on his 13-year-old son.

"He was in great spirits," said Rollings. "He called and kept telling me over and over 'I'm fine.'"

The teen workers were released to their parents. No serious injuries were reported, just skin irritation.

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

EVACUATION ORDER REDUCED WHILE HAZMAT CREWS CLEAN UP TANKER SPILL
http://castlegarsource.com/news/evacuation-order-reduced-while-hazmat-crews-clean-tanker-spill-25756#.UfRLk9Ice5I
Tags: Canada, transportation, release, response, jet_fuel

Regional District of Central Kootenay Emergency Operations Centre spokesman Bill Macpherson has confirmed the evacuation order for the geographic area surrounding the truck tanker spill in Lemon Creek Friday has been reduced.

?The north and south evacuation order boundaries remain unchanged,? Macpherson said in a statement released this morning to the media.

?Residents living further than 800 metres from water courses will not be under an order; if they have gone to a reception centre they can return when able to do so.?

?For now, those evacuated are asked to remain in place until Highway 6 is reopened.?

The evacuation order was lifted at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Macpherson said all 35,000 litres of jet fuel bound for helicopters battling an isolated wildfire in the mountains 4.5 kilometres from Winlaw was released into Lemon Creek.

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

ROOF COLLAPSE SPARKS FIRE AT HISTORIC TACOMA FOUNDRY
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Roof-collapses-as-fire-rips-through-historic-Tacoma-foundry-217041661.html
Tags: us_WA, industrial, fire, response, metals

TACOMA, Wash. -- Firefighters were still putting out hot spots Friday morning from a two-alarm fire at Tacoma's historic Atlas Foundry and sent thick plumes black smoke into the air.

The fire started Thursday evening when a portion of the roof gave way and landed in a molten metal casting operation, according to Joe Meinecke with the Tacoma Fire Department.

Everyone from the foundry is accounted for and there are no reports of injuries, but Meinecke said the building's structural instability kept firefighters from entering the building.

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

CHEMICAL LEAK LEADS TO COURT ACTION AGAINST EXXONMOBIL
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/07/25/chemical-leak-leads-to-court-action-against-exxonmobil/
Tags: us_IL, industrial, follow-up, response, hydrogen_sulfide, petroleum

(STMW) ? A hydrogen sulfide leak at a southwest suburban oil refinery in March was the subject of a complaint filed in court by state and Will County officials hoping to prevent a recurrence.

The complaint was filed in Will County Court on Thursday against ExxonMobil Oil Corp., where the alleged air pollution violations occurred March 1 at a refinery near Interstate 55 and Arsenal Road in unincorporated Channahon, according to AG?s office spokesman Scott Mulford.

An equipment malfunction at the Channahon Township facility caused an ?uncontrolled release of hydrogen sulfide that lasted more than 9 1/2 hours,? the complaint, filed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Will County State?s Attorney James Glasgow, charges.

It seeks to force ExxonMobil to take immediate corrective actions to prevent a similar occurrence, and asks for civil penalties of more than $50,000.

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

GAS SPILL CLEANUP: HAZMAT TEAM CLEANS UP CONVENIENCE CENTER SITE
http://newportplaintalk.com/story/40535
Tags: us_TN, transportation, release, response, gasoline

NEWPORT-A Hazmat team finished cleaning up a large gas spill at the Marathon convenience center on Cosby Highway on Tuesday afternoon, July 23, after a tanker truck spilled the gas close to midnight on Monday.

A call on a leak of gas coming from a Coffman Oil Company tanker came into 911 around 11:35 p.m. on Monday, July 22, according to the Newport Fire Department.

Mike Ottinger, battalion chief and incident commander, said when driver Derek Young of Morristown started to "off-load" the gasoline from his tanker truck at Marathon, "something" in the valve or mechanism caused gas to leak out around the valve area.

Ottinger estimated 100-150 gallons of the gasoline ended up on the ground, almost all of it contained to the Marathon property, which is located at 779 Cosby Highway.

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

EPA IRIS WORKSHOP
http://epa.gov/iris/irisworkshops/systematicreview/wrk_agenda.htm
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

EPA is developing and implementing approaches to enhance its scientific assessments, particularly in the area of increasing transparency and clarity related to evaluating evidence and drawing conclusions. To inform these efforts, EPA will hold a public workshop to provide scientific input on issues related to the use of a systematic review process for evaluating potential health hazards of chemical exposures.

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

EVALUATION OF THE INHALATION CARCINOGENICITY OF ETHYLENE OXIDE (REVISED EXTERNAL REVIEW DRAFT 2013)
http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris_drafts/recordisplay.cfm?deid=239586
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, ethylene_oxide

EPA is announcing the release of the draft IRIS Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (Revised External Review Draft) for a 45-day public review and comment period. The deadline for comments is September 5, 2013. Following the public comment period it will undergo a public peer review meeting with the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB). SAB will announce the dates and details for this meeting on their web site. [Federal Register Notice July 23, 2013]

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

CAUSTIC SPILL AFFECTS KENNEWICK TRAFFIC
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/07/25/2696479/caustic-spill-affects-kennewick.html
Tags: us_WA, transportation, release, injury, corrosives

A Richland woman didn't see the two containers in the middle of Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick as she drove to work in the dark at 3:45 a.m Thursday until it was too late.

Shana Grosclaude said she heard a "horrible sound" as she crossed through the intersection of Columbia Center and West Quinault Avenue and drove about a block to her destination at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store where she works as a freight coordinator.

That's when she noticed an orange five-gallon bucket stuck under the front of her 2012 Nissan Juke.

"I pulled it out and felt that it was wet and then started to feel a burning sensation on my fingers," Grosclaude said.

"Then I saw the red plastic gas can stuck under the car and tried pulling on it but couldn't get it out."

She called 911 to report what happened and to be checked by emergency medical technicians.

"They gave me some wipes to clean my hands. The EMTs later told me it was a caustic material," she said. "They stayed with me for about two hours to make sure I was OK."

About seven hours later the paint on her car appeared to be speckled with the dried chemicals. "It's already eating away the paint," she said.

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

RECYCLER EVACUATED AFTER WORKER OPENS TEAR GAS CANISTER
http://www.wate.com/story/22932140/workers-burned-in-east-knox-chemical-spill
Tags: us_TN, industrial, release, injury, tear_gas

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - About 25 employees of an East Knoxville recycling plant were evacuated Thursday afternoon after exposure to tear gas.

As many as eight workers were exposed to the non-lethal chemical at Scott Recycling, 5049 S. National Drive, in the Forks of the River Industrial Park.

Two emergency responders were also treated for exposure to the chemicals.

The leak happened when a worker opened an unmarked jar containing a yellow powder.

Scott Recycling owner Dan Scott told 6 News a customer mistakenly sent the tear gas canister with some electronic equipment intended for recycling.

"Apparently this was just a small jar and that's the reason we don't think this is probably anything serious," Scott said. "We are going to take all the precautions to make sure us and our community remain safe."

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

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