From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (12 articles)
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2018 05:38:24 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: B9F04ECD-A6B8-4D88-9900-EE8FB9AB369B**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 5:38:08 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 (12 articles)

WOMAN OVERCOME BY CARBON MONOXIDE
Tags: us_NJ, public, release, injury, carbon_monoxide, cleaners

HAZMAT CALLED TO CHEMICAL SPILL IN PETROLIA
Tags: us_PA, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

HUSKY REFINERY FIRE INVESTIGATION DETAILS COULD BE RELEASED NEXT MONTH
Tags: us_MN, industrial, follow-up, environmental, asphalt

6 SICKENED AT POOL: 'THOUGHT MY KIDS WERE GOING TO DIE'
Tags: us_MI, public, release, injury, chlorine, pool_chemicals

WORKER HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHLORINE LEAK AT JACKSONVILLE PARK
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, chlorine, pool_chemicals

FIREFIGHTERS CONTAIN SULFURIC ACID LEAK AT FERMILAB IN BATAVIA
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, sulfuric_acid, water_treatment

FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE AT COLLAPSED BUILDING IN SOUTH BUFFALO
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

2 WORKERS INJURED IN TEXAS CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, injury, bromine, sodium

JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO HAZMAT SCARE
Tags: us_MD, public, release, injury, other_chemical

HAZMAT SPILL CLOSES INTERSTATE 29 NORTH OF MISSOURI VALLEY
Tags: us_IA, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

EXPLOSION ROCKS EAST BOSTON APARTMENT; MAN ARRESTED
Tags: us_MA, public, explosion, injury, bomb, explosives, illegal

MANILA EXECS URGED TO STOP SALE OF MERCURY-LACED WHITENING PRODUCTS
Tags: Philippines, public, discovery, environmental, illegal, mercury


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WOMAN OVERCOME BY CARBON MONOXIDE
http://www.centraljersey.com/news/tri_town_news/stories/woman-overcome-by-carbon-monoxide/article_2925a009-831d-522a-a8a4-d3dd012ac377.html
Tags: us_NJ, public, release, injury, carbon_monoxide, cleaners

JACKSON ‰?? A resident was rescued when police officers conducted a check at her home on Wild Dunes Way.

Police said that at 7:30 p.m. June 28, officers Tristan Bennett and Joe Pante responded to a residence on Wild Dunes Way to check on the welfare of an individual.

Upon their arrival, the officers made contact with the person who had called police. The individual told the officers he was unable to contact his 78-year-old mother at the residence and did not have a key to get inside.

While checking the residence, the officers were unable to make contact with the resident and they heard an alarm coming from inside. The alarm was later determined to be a carbon monoxide detector, according to police.

The officers forced entry to the home and immediately detected a heavy chemical odor. They found the woman in her bedroom and observed she was barely conscious and her breathing was very shallow.

Police said the officers removed the woman from the home and brought her outside, where she was treated by first aid personnel and transported to a hospital for treatment.

Fire personnel from Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 responded to the scene. Representatives of Southard (Howell) Hazmat, Berkeley Hazmat and New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) also responded to the home.

The hazardous materials personnel entered the home and removed numerous containers of household cleaning products from a kitchen counter. Police said many of the cleaning products were open or not sealed properly. Fans were brought in to vent the residence.

NJNG personnel determined there was a high level of carbon monoxide present due to a faulty water heater.

Once the scene was cleared, the police officers were able to continue their investigation and ruled out the possibility of the incident being suspicious. It was determined the chemical odors were caused by the open cleaning products and that the resident had been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide due to the gas leak on the water heater.

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HAZMAT CALLED TO CHEMICAL SPILL IN PETROLIA
http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20180710/NEWS12/707109873
Tags: us_PA, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

PETROLIA ‰?? Butler County Hazardous Materials Team 100 was called to the scene of a chemical spill alongside Route 268 in Petrolia Tuesday afternoon.
Around 3:20 p.m. emergencies crews responded to a reported chemical spill along Argyle Street, commonly known as Route 268, in the area of the borough.
When emergency crew arrived they found an estimated 40 to 60 gallons of an unknown chemical about six feet off the road in a turnaround. Authorities believe it leaked from an unknown vehicle that was not present at the scene when first responders arrived.
Chuck Barnes, Petrolia Fire Department Chief, said that the unknown chemical is not a product created by any of the three chemical plants in the area.
Crews are unsure what the chemical is. They say it is not flammable, but it is slightly acidic. Emergency responders said they are unsure of what to do with it at this time.
Cleanup up the chemical spill by the hazmat team started at 5 p.m.

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HUSKY REFINERY FIRE INVESTIGATION DETAILS COULD BE RELEASED NEXT MONTH
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/fires/4470960-husky-refinery-fire-investigation-details-could-be-released-next-month
Tags: us_MN, industrial, follow-up, environmental, asphalt

Details from the Husky Energy refinery fire investigation could soon be released.

A "factual update" from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and Hazard Investigation Board is expected in early August, board spokesperson Hillary Cohen said in an email Tuesday. The short document will provide the public with an update on the investigation and some additional facts regarding the April 26 explosion and asphalt fire, which left 21 people injured at the Superior refinery and led to the evacuation of nearly the entire city.

A completion date on the investigation is uncertain, but officials had previously said it could take up to 18 months.

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6 SICKENED AT POOL: 'THOUGHT MY KIDS WERE GOING TO DIE'
https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/4-kids-among-6-sickened-at-kent-co-hotel-hazmat-called/1291528582
Tags: us_MI, public, release, injury, chlorine, pool_chemicals

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) ‰?? A Zeeland mother of four children says she was "completely terrified" when a trip to a Kent County hotel pool sent her entire family to the hospital.

‰??I thought my kids were going to die right in front of my face,‰?? Chelsea Raak recounted.

Raak said her family first noticed issues Sunday at the Holiday Inn Express off 28th Street near I-96 in Cascade Township.

‰??We went in the pool and our kids were noticing that their eyes were burning and they were coughing quite a bit,‰?? she said.

Raak said she notified hotel staff, who later told her Sunday night the chlorine levels were OK.

But when the family of six returned to enjoy the hot tub around 10 a.m. Monday, something went wrong.

‰??All of the sudden the chlorine levels, we could feel it in our lungs. Our kids started screaming, grabbing their eyes. I tried to take a breath (and) couldn‰??t get air into my lungs,‰?? Raak said.

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WORKER HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHLORINE LEAK AT JACKSONVILLE PARK
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/worker-hospitalized-after-chlorine-leak-at-jacksonville-park
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, chlorine, pool_chemicals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A worker was hospitalized as a precaution after a chlorine leak late Monday morning inside the pool pump room at Thomas Jefferson park in Jacksonville's Marietta area, authorities said.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said a hazmat team responded just before noon to the chemical leak at the city park on Jackson Avenue, north of West Beaver Street.

Fire Rescue said the worker was "overcome" by fumes as he was cleaning the pool pump room. The worker was transported as a precaution, but is expected to be OK.

The worker was the only person inside the room at the time who inhaled fumes, and no other injuries were reported.

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FIREFIGHTERS CONTAIN SULFURIC ACID LEAK AT FERMILAB IN BATAVIA
https://patch.com/illinois/batavia/sulfuric-acid-leak-causes-hazmat-response-fermilab-batavia
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, sulfuric_acid, water_treatment

BATAVIA, IL ‰?? Multiple area fire departments responded to a hazmat leak at Fermilab in Batavia Monday afternoon. The slow leak, which came from a 400-gallon tank of sulfuric acid, was noticed by an employee around 2:30 p.m. Monday, according to a news release.

Just after 6 p.m., FermiLab officials said the "pinhole-sized leak" was contained and that there had been no harm to the environment. A hazmat crew then came to the scene to clean up any spilled acid and to remove the remainder of the sulfuric acid from the tank.

The sulfuric acid tank, which is used for water treatment, is housed in Fermilab's Central Utility Building. Fermilab Fire Department said there were no injuries to report and there is no risk to those who live nearby.

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FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE AT COLLAPSED BUILDING IN SOUTH BUFFALO
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/ub-north-natural-sciences-building-back-open/71-572179985
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

AMHERST, N.Y. -- Emergency crews have reopened the Natural Sciences Building on the UB North Campus after an evacuation.

Haz-mat crews evacuated the building at 6:15 p.m. after a 'small-scale chemical explosion' on Monday.

According to the university's website, haz-mat crews contained a small chemical explosion that happened in a 5 floor lab. There are no report of injuries.

Emergency crews say the building is safe to reenter and that the incident was contained and poses no danger to the community.

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2 WORKERS INJURED IN TEXAS CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE
http://www.powderbulksolids.com/news/2-Workers-Injured-in-Texas-Chemical-Plant-Fire-07-09-2018
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, injury, bromine, sodium

Two workers were injured in a fire early Monday morning at the Fritz Industries chemical plant in Mesquite, TX, local news organizations reported.

Firefighters made their way to the facility at about 1 a.m., discovering the blaze in a warehouse at the chemical manufacturing facility. Employees were told to evacuate the plant over loudspeakers after the fire started. A hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team also responded to the site.

The presence of bomide and sodium bromine at the Fritz Industries site forced crews to approach the fire from a defensive stance, officials told the Dallas Morning News. First responders later blocked off access to the plant for a half-mile radius.

Two workers received injuries during the incident, and were transported to an area hospital for treatment. The fire‰??s cause remains undetermined.

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JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO HAZMAT SCARE
http://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/johns-hopkins-hospital-launches-investigation-into-hazmat-scare
Tags: us_MD, public, release, injury, other_chemical

BALTIMORE -- WBFF -- Johns Hopkins Hospital is launching an investigation and says it will retrain staff if necessary, following Thursday's hazmat scare that shut down part of the hospital for hours.
Thursday, a few drops of frozen tuberculosis escaped from a tube while it was being moved on a pedestrian walkway.
A hospital spokesman calls it an isolated incident and says those on campus were never at risk.

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HAZMAT SPILL CLOSES INTERSTATE 29 NORTH OF MISSOURI VALLEY
http://www.enterprisepub.com/movalley/news/hazmat-spill-closes-interstate-north-of-missouri-valley/article_1f5cb96a-832a-11e8-9a01-cf6fd9dcb9b0.html
Tags: us_IA, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

At approximately 12:30 p.m., a semi hauling hazardous material was flagged down by a motorist that witnessed a liquid coming from the trailer at the 86 mile marker of Interstate 29, north of Modale.

According to an Iowa Department of Public Safety Press release issued at approximately 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Iowa State Patrol troopers arrived at the scene and assessed the situation. The liquid material was deemed hazardous and both northbound and southband lanes of the interstate were shut down.

Northbound traffic was being diverted at Interstate 29 Exit 75 at Missouri Valley, and southbound traffic diverted at Interstate 29 Exit 112 at Onawa to Nebraska.

Tri-County Hazmat and Council Bluffs Fire Hazmat teams were on location monitoring the spill and assessing the situation on Sunday afternoon and evening. It is expected this will be an extended closure at this time.

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EXPLOSION ROCKS EAST BOSTON APARTMENT; MAN ARRESTED
https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/explosion-rocks-east-boston-apartment-man-arrested
Tags: us_MA, public, explosion, injury, bomb, explosives, illegal

BOSTON, MA ‰?? An East Boston man is facing charges after allegedly causing an explosion early Sunday morning that police said was not related to terrorism. Tomas Mikula, 28, was arrested after an explosion at 88 Webster Street caused "major internal and structural damage. Mikula lives on the second floor of that building.

Mikula was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Before being hospitalized, police said he told them the explosion started in his apartment, where police allegedly later found firearms and ammunition.

A bomb squad sweep of his apartment found materials that are usually connected to explosive devices. A search warrant sweep ended in the seizure of PVC tubing and chemical compounds, materials commonly used for homemade explosives.

Police said they also found two handguns, a rifle, and over 100 rounds of ammunition.

Mikula is charged with unlawful possession of explosives, unlawful possession of an incendiary device, willful ignition/discharge of a destructive or incendiary device, two counts unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a high capacity firearm.

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MANILA EXECS URGED TO STOP SALE OF MERCURY-LACED WHITENING PRODUCTS
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/07/09/manila-execs-urged-to-stop-sale-of-mercury-laced-whitening-products/
Tags: Philippines, public, discovery, environmental, illegal, mercury

The EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental watch group, is urging the city government of Manila to ‰??take action‰?? against retailers of banned mercury-laced skin whitening products in the capital city.

‰??We call upon the local government, health, and police authorities of the City of Manila to go after unscrupulous retailers of banned cosmetics contaminated with mercury, a chemical that is highly hazardous to health and the environment,‰?? said Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

The group said that it recently conducted test-buys and were able to purchase Jiaoli Miraculous Cream and S‰??Zitang 10 Days Eliminating Freckle Day & Night Set from stalls selling beauty products and herbal food supplements at a shopping mall in Recto Avenue, Quiapo in Manila.

‰??With the help of a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer, the group detected 2,077 parts per million (ppm) in the day cream of the Jiaoli product and 311 ppm in its night cream,‰?? the group said.

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