From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (12 articles)
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2017 07:53:13 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: EE741EAB-60E7-4B68-8C3B-5F693F05ECA3**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, August 25, 2017 at 7:52:25 AM

A membership benefit of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas

Table of Contents (12 articles)

A127 BLOCKED AFTER 25 LITRES OF FLAMMABLE AND CORROSIVE CHEMCIALS SPILL ONTO ROAD
Tags: United_Kingdom, transportation, release, response, corrosives

CAUSE OF FIRE AT TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR NOT YET KNOWN
Tags: us_OK, industrial, fire, response, ag_chems

VA. BEACH MAN MIXED CHEMICALS CAUSING EXPLOSION, SENT TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_VA, public, explosion, injury, bleach, cleaners, nitric_acid

'HOBBY CHEMIST' BURNED IN OVERNIGHT EXPLOSION IN LONGMONT
Tags: us_CO, public, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

TESTS FOR HARMFUL CHEMICALS TO BE CONDUCTED ON THOMAS STREET
Tags: us_WI, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

THREE CONN. COMPANIES PROVIDE PUBLIC WITH CHEMICAL INFORMATION UNDER EPA SETTLEMENTS
Tags: us_CT, industrial, follow-up, environmental, toxics

DR. MARTENS RECALLS BOOTS DUE TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
Tags: public, discovery, response, other_chemical

RUBBERTOWN PLANT WANTS TO INCREASE CHEMICAL EMISSIONS
Tags: us_KY, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

KALIHI LONGS DRUGS REOPENED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_HI, public, release, injury, hvac_chemicals

LAND OWNER CITED FOR IMPROPER CHEMICAL STORAGE; NO DIRECT THREAT TO COMMUNITY
Tags: us_NC, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

11 COMPLAINING OF DIZZINESS AFTER COPS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL ODOR IN ST. CLOUD
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD OFFICIALS SEEK COLLABORATION WITH ACS
Tags: public, follow-up, response


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A127 BLOCKED AFTER 25 LITRES OF FLAMMABLE AND CORROSIVE CHEMCIALS SPILL ONTO ROAD
Tags: United_Kingdom, transportation, release, response, corrosives

The A127 is partially blocked after a lorry spilt 25 litres of corrosive chemicals across the road.

It is understood that the incident happened between the A129 Rayleigh Road (Rayleigh Weir) and the A1245 Chelmsford Road (Fairglen Interchange) at around 10am this morning (Friday, August 25).

The lorry involved was carrying large drums of sodium hypochlorite, one of which tipped over and spilt inside the lorry, causing the liquid to leak onto the roadway.

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

CAUSE OF FIRE AT TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR NOT YET KNOWN
Tags: us_OK, industrial, fire, response, ag_chems

CATOOSA ‰?? A fire melted a large hole in the vinyl roof of a Tulsa Port of Catoosa fertilizer distributor early Thursday.

Tulsa firefighters responded about 1:30 a.m. Thursday to Agri-Nutrients Inc., located in the 5200 block of Bird Creek Avenue near Catoosa, after the fertilizer business caught fire.

Fire Capt. Stan May said firefighters had the flames contained about 4:30 a.m. but remained throughout the morning to contain hot spots.

Firefighters initially were held back while the Tulsa Fire Department‰??s Hazardous Materials team established what chemicals were where in the warehouse.

The Tulsa Fire Department‰??s HazMat team set up at the fertilizer distributor ‰??to make sure none of it got into the (McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System) waterway,‰?? May said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. May said the investigation would be turned over to the State Fire Marshal‰??s Office.

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

VA. BEACH MAN MIXED CHEMICALS CAUSING EXPLOSION, SENT TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_VA, public, explosion, injury, bleach, cleaners, nitric_acid

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- A chemical explosion sent one man to the hospital, and hazmat crews are investigating Thursday morning.

Dispatch received reports of a pressure washer explosion, and injuries around 7:00 a.m. at 2744 Dam Neck Road.

When crews arrived no one was there, but a locked storage unit with the smell of chlorine coming from inside.

After further investigation, officials learned a man mixed chlorine bleach with nitric acid, common in cleaners, which caused an explosion.

The man suffered injuries to his right hand and arm and drove himself to the hospital, but locked the storage unit before leaving.

Hazmat was able to open the storage unit to further investigate.

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

'HOBBY CHEMIST' BURNED IN OVERNIGHT EXPLOSION IN LONGMONT
Tags: us_CO, public, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

Longmont police are investigating an explosion after a man describing himself as a "hobby chemist" mixed unknown chemicals in an apartment bathroom.

Cmdr. Joel Post said officers were dispatched at 12:19 a.m. Thursday to Longmont United Hospital, where a 54-year-old man was being treated for chemical burns.

Post said officers learned the man was injured in an explosion that occurred about 35 minutes earlier in an apartment in the 1600 block of 16th Avenue.

Three men were in the apartment, two of whom were drinking, including the 54-year-old man who described himself as a "hobby chemist." The man went into a bathroom and mixed unknown chemicals, resulting in the explosion.

"There is no indication this was a narcotics related event, nor is there deemed to be any danger to the public," Post said.

The 54-year-old has not being identified. A 24-year-old man and a 63-year-old man also at the apartment did not sustain any injuries, Post said.

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

TESTS FOR HARMFUL CHEMICALS TO BE CONDUCTED ON THOMAS STREET
Tags: us_WI, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

WAUSAU - The city has commissioned testing for potentially lethal chemical compounds that lie beneath the surface of Thomas Street before an ongoing road project moves farther east.

Mayor Robert Mielke ordered the testing to find out if the second phase of the street's reconstruction will stir up chemicals that were released into the soil and groundwater in the 1980s by Crestline Windows. Crestline had operated near the 3M plant at the time. Most buildings were torn down in the 1990s, according to Wausau Daily Herald archives.


The compound in question, pentachlorophenol or "Penta," is a preservative that was used by Crestline to treat the wood used in its windows and doors, according to documents detailing the use of the chemical. The documents also note that dioxins, which are known to be carcinogens, may be present. The use of Penta was stopped in 1986 at Crestline.

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

THREE CONN. COMPANIES PROVIDE PUBLIC WITH CHEMICAL INFORMATION UNDER EPA SETTLEMENTS
Tags: us_CT, industrial, follow-up, environmental, toxics

BOSTON - Three Connecticut companies will report publically on their use of required toxic chemicals, creating a safer environment for the public, under the terms of three separate recent settlements with the US Environmental Protection Agency. All three settlements involve facilities thoroughly evaluating the toxic chemicals present at their facility.
In an agreement with EPA, Redland Brick Inc. of South Windsor has agreed to properly report its use of barium compounds, which was not done in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Proper reporting of chemical data aids the comprehensive planning done by federal, state, and local authorities to clean up industrial pollution or safely and effectively respond to emergency situations.
In a second agreement, Scapa Tapes North America of Windsor agreed to pay a penalty to resolve claims that it failed to properly report its use of ethylbenzene in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and vinyl acetate in 2014 and 2015.
And in the third agreement, O.F. Mossberg & Sons of North Haven agreed to properly file reports by the required deadline identifying the amount of copper it used and has improved its method for future reporting.
Companies and facilities are required to report annually on their use under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Complying with EPCRA and TRI helps ensure that communities are not deprived of their right to know about chemical releases that may affect public health and the environment. Now that these facilities are providing data about their use of chemicals, the local communities have access to information about the presence of chemicals in the area.

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

DR. MARTENS RECALLS BOOTS DUE TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
Tags: public, discovery, response, other_chemical

(MEREDITH) -- More than 30,000 pairs of Dr. Martens Vegan Boots are being recalled due to a threat of chemical exposure. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says direct contact with the boot's tongue can expose the wearer to benzidine, which has been cited to be a carcinogen.

Recent studies show years of exposure has led to cancer. As of the initial recall, no reports of injuries from wearers.

The recall involves Dr. Martens unisex Vegan 1460 boots sold in cherry red, all sizes.

The boots were sold at Dr. Martens and other retailers, including online at Amazon.com, DrMartens.com and Shoebuy.com from 2015 through July of this year.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled boots and contact Dr. Martens for a full refund or free replacement product.

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

RUBBERTOWN PLANT WANTS TO INCREASE CHEMICAL EMISSIONS
Tags: us_KY, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The Louisville Metro Council approved a resolution aimed at keeping a plant in Rubbertown from modifying emissions standards.

American Synthetic Rubber wants to release a higher amount of 1.3 Butadiene than is currently allowed.

It is a cancer-causing chemical.

Neighbors have been outspoken at several Air Pollution Control Board hearings.

With a unanimous vote, the city council approved the resolution asking the Board to deny the company's request.

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

KALIHI LONGS DRUGS REOPENED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_HI, public, release, injury, hvac_chemicals

KALIHI (HawaiiNewsNow) -
The Longs Drugs at the Kamehameha Shopping Center reopened Wednesday morning after a chemical spill forced an evacuation the night before.

Crews responded to the store on North School Street around 7:45 p.m.

Honolulu Fire Department officials say at least three people felt sick, while one woman needed further medical attention. It‰??s still unclear what condition she is in.

Investigators confirm it was refrigerant leaking from a 125-pound tank.

Photos from inside the store show a thick white haze lingering in the air. HFD says the cloud was emanating from the store's air conditioning unit.

Witnesses tell Hawaii News Now the vapor was odorless, but they immediately felt ill.

The store was evacuated about 30 minutes prior to crews arriving on scene, HFD said.

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

LAND OWNER CITED FOR IMPROPER CHEMICAL STORAGE; NO DIRECT THREAT TO COMMUNITY
Tags: us_NC, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

The owner of a former chemical plant on Piney Road was issued citations for improperly disposing hazardous material at the facility, according to a Burke County press release.

Representatives from both state and local departments conducted a site visit Monday after a deputy with the Burke County Sheriff‰??s Office became sick after coming onto the property Aug. 15.

The Burke County Fire Marshal‰??s Office and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has given the owner 30 days to fix the violations, the release said.

Fire Marshal Michael Willis said that after 30 days, the owner would be issued monetary penalties if the storage was not brought up to compliance.

The other option for the owner is to remove the chemicals from the site, Willis said. Doing so requires using a licensed transporter and providing documentation showing where the chemicals were moved and why they were moved there, he said.

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

11 COMPLAINING OF DIZZINESS AFTER COPS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL ODOR IN ST. CLOUD
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

Authorities are working to identify a chemical odor that led to eleven people complaining of dizziness Wednesday in St. Cloud, police said.

St. Cloud police say they responded sometime about 2 p.m. to a strip mall in between Neptune Road and U.S. Highway 192 after reports about a chemical odor.

Police say it appears the odor originated from people who were working on the roof of Greenberg Dental & Orthodontics.

Eleven people reported feeling dizzy but no one was transported to the hospital. No businesses were evacuated or closed due to the incident.

The roofing company workers stopped their repairs and plan to continue once businesses in the area are closed.

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

CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD OFFICIALS SEEK COLLABORATION WITH ACS
Tags: public, follow-up, response

Two top officials with the Chemical Safety Board, a federal agency that investigates chemical-related accidents, said they are exploring the potential for a collaboration with the American Chemical Society.

In separate presentations at the ACS national meeting in Washington, D.C., on Monday, CSB Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland and Kristen Kulinowski, a CSB board member and longtime ACS member, applauded the society‰??s recent efforts to elevate the importance of safety among chemists. Particularly, they pointed to policies that call for authors to address and emphasize safety concerns associated with work reported in ACS journals and the inclusion this year of safety as a core value in the society‰??s strategic plan. ACS publishes C&EN.

In introducing Sutherland during a Presidential Events talk, ACS President Allison A. Campbell stressed CSB‰??s importance as an independent investigator of chemical-related accidents.

‰??They do not shame or blame. They are not there to punish but to get the facts,‰?? Campbell said. The board investigates the cause of accidents and makes recommendations to regulatory agencies, facilities, and others to improve safety, she continued.

Sutherland said that in the two years since she took over CSB leadership, much of her emphasis has been on building relationships with industry, academia, and others over safety, works she wants to expand with ACS.

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