From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (14 articles)
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2017 07:42:27 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: C89AD661-F5D9-4D7F-B667-CE2B53587979**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 7:42:13 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 (14 articles)

FIRE OFFICIALS: 5 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER 'EXPOSED TO UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE' AT MD. HIGHSCHOOL
Tags: us_MD, education, release, response, unknown_chemical

EXPLOSIVE CHEMICALS WERE STORED AT CRACKER GODOWN: LAB REPORT
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, death, fireworks, sulphur

TRAILER CARRYING POOL CHEMICALS OVERTURNS ON U.S. 1 IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, injury, chlorine

RIDLEY‰??S MARKET IN GYPSUM EVACUATED BECAUSE OF ‰??HAZMAT‰?? SITUATION
Tags: us_CO, public, release, response, other_chemical

STATE POLICE BOMB SQUAD CALLED TO JAFFREY FOR ‰??SODA BOTTLE BOMB‰??
Tags: us_NH, public, discovery, response, bomb

2 INJURED IN BLAST AT VODKA DISTILLERY IN NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, injury, other_chemical

PUB OWNER AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL AFTER MIXED CHEMICAL 'EXPLOSION' IN TOILETS
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, explosion, injury, corrosives

LAWSUIT FILED ALLEGING CHEMICALLY TAINTED TENNESSEE RIVER WATER CAUSED CANCER, OTHER DISEASES
Tags: us_AL, public, discovery, response, other_chemical

TRUCK CRASH, CHEMICAL SPILL CLOSES I-84 FOR 8 HOURS
Tags: us_OR, transportation, release, response, ammonia, corrosives

‰??CHEMICAL SPILLS NOW UNDER CONTROL‰??
Tags: Liberia, industrial, release, response, cyanide

CHEMICAL LEFT ON PLAYING FIELD LEAVES CHILDS SKIN BLUE
Tags: us_GA, public, release, response, dye

NEW LIMITS THREATEN EPA‰??S ASBESTOS REVIEW
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, asbestos

CHAPEL HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO EXPLOSION ON MCCORKLE PLACE
Tags: us_NC, public, explosion, injury, bomb

STERILIZATION CHEMICAL SPILLED IN ROOM AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, other_chemical, cleaner


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FIRE OFFICIALS: 5 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER 'EXPOSED TO UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE' AT MD. HIGHSCHOOL
Tags: us_MD, education, release, response, unknown_chemical

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (ABC7) ‰?? Five people were taken to a hospital after they were exposed to an unknown substance at a high school in Silver Spring Tuesday, fire officials said. As of 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, three of those people have reportedly been released while two individuals remain in the hospital.
According to Pete Piringer with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, the hazmat situation took place at the Kennedy High School located at 1901 Randolph Road.
At around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, it was discovered that a student at Kennedy High School had a "white powdery substance", according to Montgomery County Public Schools.
Officials say the student was taken into a conference room where five staff members were and that's when the substance spilled. The five staffers were taken to the hospital, according to MCPS, but testing on the substance has come back negative for fetanyl.

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

EXPLOSIVE CHEMICALS WERE STORED AT CRACKER GODOWN: LAB REPORT
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, death, fireworks, sulphur

A report of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Mohali, has confirmed the presence of dangerous chemicals in samples taken from Sullar Gharat firecracker godown, where a blast had killed seven persons on September 19.
Sources said after blast on September 19, the Sangrur police had sent samples to the FSL. A team of the FSL took samples from all five cracker godowns in the vicinity of Sullar Gharat warehouse on October 11.
The report reads, ‰??Samples contained chemicals and other material generally used to prepare crackers and, on explosion, it can cause loss to people and property.‰??
Apart from confirming the presence of potassium, nitrate, sulphur, carbon and chlorate, the report has confirmed the presence of pressure-sensitive explosive material.

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

TRAILER CARRYING POOL CHEMICALS OVERTURNS ON U.S. 1 IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, injury, chlorine

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ‰?? A spill of potentially hazardous pool chlorine and acid on U.S. 1 north of Vero Beach, shut down the highway in both directions during morning rush hours Tuesday.

Three people were transported to a hospital because of exposure to the fumes, according to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office.

That includes the driver of the truck and two people who stopped to help, said Lt. Thom Raulen.

Meanwhile hundreds of vehicles backed up on the highway.

As a precaution, motorists were diverted onto other roads including two-lane Old Dixie Highway. Winds were blowing south and U.S. 1 was closed from the scene of the accident, at 57th Street, south to Indian River Boulevard.

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RIDLEY‰??S MARKET IN GYPSUM EVACUATED BECAUSE OF ‰??HAZMAT‰?? SITUATION
Tags: us_CO, public, release, response, other_chemical

Emergency responders were called to Ridley‰??s Market in Gypsum on Tuesday morning because of a suspected hazardous materials leak.

According to fire officials on the scene, there was a ‰??significant leak‰?? in the store‰??s refrigeration unit. Store employees noticed the leak Tuesday morning and called a repairman who subsequently located the source of the leak and called 911 because of the scope of the problem.

Officials said there was no immediate danger to public health or to nearby businesses. No injures were reported in connection with the incident.

The store was likely to be closed through the end of the day.

‰??We need to work to contain the product and figure out how to remove it,‰?? Gypsum Fire Chief Justin Kirkland said from the scene.

The exposure risk for the refrigeration chemical that leaked at the store is that it can cause suffocation if people are in close contact, Kirkland said.

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

STATE POLICE BOMB SQUAD CALLED TO JAFFREY FOR ‰??SODA BOTTLE BOMB‰??
Tags: us_NH, public, discovery, response, bomb

The New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad was called to Jaffrey on Monday afternoon to detonate a ‰??soda bottle bomb‰?? found on Community Field.

The bomb ‰?? also known as a chemical reaction bomb ‰?? was safely detonated with the use of a bomb squad tool, according to Bomb Squad Sergeant Jeff Dade, in an interview on scene Monday.

‰??These bombs are extremely unpredictable,‰?? said Dade, who said the bombs are typically constructed by juveniles seeking thrills. ‰??The motivation is typically not to hurt anyone, but oftentimes there are unintended consequences.‰??

Bombs of this nature are made by placing aluminum foil and a mixture of chemicals into a soda bottle or other type of plastic bottle with a lid, according to Dade. The plastic bottle eventually explodes due to a pressure build up caused by a chemical reaction between the chemicals and aluminum foil in the bottle.

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

2 INJURED IN BLAST AT VODKA DISTILLERY IN NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, injury, other_chemical

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Two people were injured in an explosion at a vodka distillery in northeast Harris County Monday morning.

The blast was initially reported at about 10 a.m. at BJ Hookers Distillery on Richey Road.

"One victim was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Herman, and one victim was transported via ambulance to Houston Northwest Medical Center," said Chief Investigator Dean Hensley with the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office. "The cause of the explosion and fire is accidental. An employee was blending vodka with an electric immersion blender when the fumes ignited, causing an explosion and fire."

Investigators have determined earlier reports of a propane tank explosion at the facility are unsubstantiated. Damage was limited to a single metal warehouse.

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

PUB OWNER AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL AFTER MIXED CHEMICAL 'EXPLOSION' IN TOILETS
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, explosion, injury, corrosives

An "explosion" involving mixed cleaning products has left the owner of a Bideford pub in hospital.

It is understood Antonio Rodrigues, owner and manager of the Heavitree Arms pub on Mill Street, spilled a "corrosive" liquid on his face and clothing while cleaning the toilets at the bar.

He had to be airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital via the Devon Air Ambulance helicopter.

Fire, police and ambulance crews were called to the pub just after 11am this morning and reported that someone "had been trying to unblock drains but had mixed two chemicals together".

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

LAWSUIT FILED ALLEGING CHEMICALLY TAINTED TENNESSEE RIVER WATER CAUSED CANCER, OTHER DISEASES
Tags: us_AL, public, discovery, response, other_chemical

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. ‰?? A new lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 23 plaintiffs who say their illnesses are due to consumption of water contaminated by area chemical companies and sold by the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority.

The lawsuit filed in federal court involves residents of Lawrence and Morgan counties who contend they have either kidney cancer or thyroid disease, or ulcerative colitis, conditions linked to the PFC family of chemicals.

The companies named in the lawsuit include 3M, which used the chemicals PFOA and PFOS for a number of years at its Decatur plant. Particles from the chemicals were discharged into the Tennessee River. Other defendants include companies that either made or used the PFCs, Daikin America and 3M subsidiary Dyneon. It also names the water authority that sold the drinking water.

The chemicals were widely used to make surfaces impervious, such as Scotchguard.

The lawsuit argues the intake source from the authority‰??s drinking water is 13 miles from 3M‰??s plant.

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

TRUCK CRASH, CHEMICAL SPILL CLOSES I-84 FOR 8 HOURS
Tags: us_OR, transportation, release, response, ammonia, corrosives

MEACHAM, Ore. - A truck hauling a corrosive chemical crashed and overturned on icy Interstate 84 in Eastern Oregon early Monday, causing the trailer to rupture and prompting an isolation area and lengthy closure of the freeway, Oregon State Police said.

OSP troopers responded to the crash reported around 4 a.m. on westbound I-84 at milepost 23 near Meacham in Umatilla County, said OSP Lt. Mark Duncan.

Investigators said a green 2006 Freightliner truck hauling tetramethylammonium hydroxide (an ammonia solution, which is a corrosive) was traveling westbound on I-84 when the driver, Dona Carlson, 42, of Prescott, Arkansas lost control of the rig on the icy highway.

The vehicle combination went into the median and the trailer rolled onto its side and ruptured, Duncan said.

Carlson and her male passenger, Morrey Carlson, 42, also of Prescott, were not injured.

OSP and the Oregon Department of Transportation initially set up an isolation distance of 1/2 mile in all directions due to the hazardous materials concern.

The Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 Hazardous Materials Unit, the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department and the National Response Corporation Environmental Services responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing, Duncan said.

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

‰??CHEMICAL SPILLS NOW UNDER CONTROL‰??
Tags: Liberia, industrial, release, response, cyanide

After several weeks of investigation into the recent chemical spills in Korkoya District in Bong County leading to 34 persons being injured and the contamination of creeks and other wetlands, the government says the situation has finally been put under control.

The Inter-Ministerial Crisis Management Team (CMT) constituted by the government, in a statement recently, said while it is working with stakeholders to find amicable rehabilitation solutions to the damaged TSF (Tailings Storage Facility) it is safe for residents to carry out normal activities, including farming and schooling in the area.

It may be recalled that there was a chemical spill when a section of the geo- membrane of the TSF ruptured at the MNG Gold facility on September 27 affecting the victims, who were taken to Phebe Hospital in Suakoko for immediate medical attention.

The rupture resulted from an uncontrolled discharge of ‰??slurry‰?? containing a high concentration of cyanide into the Sein Creek and the surrounding environment at MNG Goldmine in Korkoya.

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) release revealed that much has been done to restore the livelihood of the people of Sayewheh Town.

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

CHEMICAL LEFT ON PLAYING FIELD LEAVES CHILDS SKIN BLUE
Tags: us_GA, public, release, response, dye

NORTH AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) --
A regular Thursday night on the soccer field lead to some colorful feet.

"The kids were off playing the ones who weren't playing in the game came back to me and they were all shocked like 'oh mom, look-look' and their elbows were blue, their hands were blue, their feet, their knees, and everything that had touched the grass had turned blueish green."

Emily Martin says she was concerned after seeing the dye on her kids.
"Chemicals are readily absorbed into our skin whatever lotion or shampoo or anything we put onto our bodies, it's absorbed into our body very quickly so I wanted to know what it was because it's being absorbed into my kids skin,‰?? Martin said.

The Parks and Rec Director for North Augusta says the chemical is Dithopyr, It's used for weed control on sports turf. The greenish blue color is from a tracker dye called green alert.
Tracker dye allows the person applying the chemical on the ground to see where it's been sprayed.

‰?|"Originally I was told it was applied by the grounds crew, and then I was told ‰??oh no‰?? it was applied by a contractor and the contractor said it was safe," said Martin.

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

NEW LIMITS THREATEN EPA‰??S ASBESTOS REVIEW
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, asbestos

After pushback from the chemical industry, President Donald Trump‰??s administration is scaling back a congressionally mandated review of asbestos and other deadly chemicals.

Toxic minerals in widespread use will be excluded from the revamped Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which last December included asbestos among the top 10 dangerous chemicals the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must review.

Reducing the scope of the review will potentially leave millions of tons of asbestos and other toxic substances in homes and businesses. The Trump administration reportedly wants to limit risk evaluations of the top 10 toxic threats to new products being imported, sold or manufactured in the U.S.

For asbestos, this means only a few hundred tons of the toxic mineral imported each year will be up for review, excluding nearly all of the estimated 8.1 million metric tons of asbestos-containing products currently in American infrastructure.

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

CHAPEL HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO EXPLOSION ON MCCORKLE PLACE
Tags: us_NC, public, explosion, injury, bomb

Dan Reichart, a UNC professor of physics and astronomy, has confirmed that he suffered first and second-degree burns to his face and arms while trying to stamp out a fire at McCorkle place on Thursday afternoon.

Reichart said he was not aware of the presence of a pipe bomb when he attempted to extinguish the fire.

"The fire had gotten big, but not so big that I didn't think I could kick it out," Reichart said in an email.

Reichart said he is being taken care of at UNC Hospital, and that he hopes he'll be back to campus sometime next week.

Update, 5:25 p.m.: Orange County Emergency Services has sent out an emergency alert in response to a suspicious vehicle parked on West Weaver Street.

Locations evacuated include North Greensboro and Shelton Streets, West Weaver and West Main Streets, Jones Ferry and West Main, South Greensboro and Roberson and East Main and Roberson Streets, according to Carrboro Police Chief Chris Atack.

The Carrboro Police Department tweeted that an emergency alert has been sent out to those within a police perimeter in Carrboro.

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

STERILIZATION CHEMICAL SPILLED IN ROOM AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, other_chemical, cleaner

HOUSTON - A chemical spill at Ben Taub Hospital disrupted the emergency room operations for several hours Sunday.

Houston police, firefighters and hazmat personnel were called to 1504 Taub Loop around 9 a.m. Sunday.

Officials with the Houston Fire Department said the spill was small, less than one gallon, and it was contained to a single room.

The chemical was identified as MINNCARE Cold Sterilant.

The hospital staff said that the spill occurred around 6:00 a.m. and one employee was splashed by the product, officials said.

That employee was decontaminated per hospital procedure, treated in the emergency room and released.

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