From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (11 articles)
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2018 05:48:28 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 57255C3F-F49E-4FAA-8FDC-AAAE03BC2BB8**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 5:48:08 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 (11 articles)

AUTHORITIES: DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEE CONFESSES TO CAUSING MURFREESBORO OIL SPILL
Tags: us_TN, industrial, release, response, petroleum, illegal

HUNTERS WARNED ABOUT PFAS CHEMICALS FOUND IN MICHIGAN DEER
Tags: us_MI, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

CONSUMER 3D PRINTERS RELEASE ALARMING AMOUNT OF TOXIC PARTICLES, NEW STUDY REVEALS
Tags: us_GA, public, discovery, environmental, plastics

SAFETY SHORTCOMINGS FOUND IN 68% OF INSPECTED FINNISH SMALL WORKPLACES
Tags: Finland, industrial, discovery, environmental

STUDENT AND STAFF AT UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY HOSPITALISED AS PRECAUTION AFTER GAS LEAK
Tags: New_Zealand, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

SEVERAL CHILDREN, ADULTS TRANSPORTED AFTER EXPOSURE TO PAINT THINNER AT DECKER ELEMENTARY
Tags: us_TX, education, release, injury, solvent

TANKER TRUCK CARRYING ACID CATCHES FIRE NEAR GANADO
Tags: us_TX, transportation, fire, response, corrosives

FIRE REPORTED AT CHEMICAL PLANT IN AXIS
Tags: us_AL, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

FIRE RESCUE NSW HUNTER REPORT
Tags: Australia, industrial, release, response, sodium_hydroxide

UNHEALTHY AIR CONDITIONS PERSIST DUE TO CAMP FIRE SMOKE
Tags: us_CA, public, fire, environmental, other_chemical

AUTHORITIES SAID CHEMICAL LEAK IN QUANGANG A PRODUCTION SAFETY ACCIDENT, VOW THOROUGH PROBE AMID PUBLIC PANIC, OUTRAGE
Tags: China, industrial, follow-up, injury, unknown_chemical


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

AUTHORITIES: DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEE CONFESSES TO CAUSING MURFREESBORO OIL SPILL
https://www.wkrn.com/news/authorities-disgruntled-former-employee-confesses-to-causing-murfreesboro-oil-spill/1593542136
Tags: us_TN, industrial, release, response, petroleum, illegal

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) - A disgruntled former employee of an oil refinery in Murfreesboro has confessed to intentionally discharging tens of thousands of gallons of oil.

A good portion leaked into nearby Lytle Creek.

The good news is, the creek was virtually dry, but there are still concerns if the Stones River could be affected.

This apparently happened around 2:00 Tuesday morning, and about an hour after the spill, police received a call from the former disgruntled employee, pretending to be an anonymous caller.

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

HUNTERS WARNED ABOUT PFAS CHEMICALS FOUND IN MICHIGAN DEER
https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/articles/hunters-warned-about-pfas-chemicals-found-michigan-deer
Tags: us_MI, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

(WWJ) Just before firearms deer hunting season in Michigan comes a warning from health officials.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging hunters not to eat deer found around Clark's Marsh in Iosco County's Oscoda Township, on the northern side of the Au Sable River.

This comes after the state took samples from 128 deer across Michigan to test for perfluoroalkyl substances -- industiral chemicals known as PFAS. One of those deer, taken near Clark‰??s Marsh, came back with elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) which is a type of PFAS.

Angela Minicucci of the MDHHS said these chemicals have been found to have contaminated many sources around the state.

"In water, and we are also finding them in other animals," Minicucci told WWJ's Dr. Deanna Lites. "We found them in fish, and now we've began teasting (for) them in deer.

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

CONSUMER 3D PRINTERS RELEASE ALARMING AMOUNT OF TOXIC PARTICLES, NEW STUDY REVEALS
https://techthelead.com/consumer-3d-printers-toxic-particles-study/
Tags: us_GA, public, discovery, environmental, plastics

With all the discussions surrounding single-use plastics and their impact on the environment (and eventually our health), some popular gadgets escaped scrutiny, even though they can produce quite a lot of toxic, potentially harmful substances.

New studies conducted by UL Chemical Safety and Georgia Institute of Technology concluded with some alarming reports: desktop 3D printers release hundreds of different compounds during the printing process, with plenty of toxic ones in the mix.

A puff of formaldehyde, folks?

When printing, the extruder that layers thermoplastic or nylon-based material to create a 3D print emits extremely small particles (UFP or ultrafine particles) carrying various toxic compounds.

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

SAFETY SHORTCOMINGS FOUND IN 68% OF INSPECTED FINNISH SMALL WORKPLACES
https://chemicalwatch.com/71799/safety-shortcomings-found-in-68-of-inspected-finnish-small-workplaces
Tags: Finland, industrial, discovery, environmental

Inspections in nearly 400 small industrial workplaces, car and motorcycle repair shops and laundries across Finland have found "significant shortcomings" in chemical safety measures aimed at protecting workers.

Some 68% of the 396 workplaces inspected did not have an appropriate chemical risk assessment in place, according to a recent report from the country's Occupational Safety and Health Authority. Risk assessment was "totally missing" in 33% of workplaces and "inadequate" in 35%, it added.

Almost half of those inspected, 47%, had difficulty in providing a list of chemicals to workers while 30% had problems with material safety data sheets. In 29% of the inspections, a workplace survey concerning chemical safety was not available to employees.

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

STUDENT AND STAFF AT UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY HOSPITALISED AS PRECAUTION AFTER GAS LEAK
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12159538
Tags: New_Zealand, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

A student and staff members have been taken to hospital as a precaution after a gas leak at the University of Canterbury this evening.

Emergency services were called to the university's biology department about 6.30pm after reports of a large chemical spill.

A university spokesperson said the incident occurred in a laboratory in the School of Biological Sciences building at the Ilam campus.

"The Biological Sciences building was evacuated," the spokesperson said.

"The student and staff members were assessed at Christchurch Hospital as a precautionary measure and are expected to return home this evening.

"Fire and Emergency services assessed the building as safe and have reopened it for use."

Earlier, a St John spokesman said two staff members were taken to Christchurch Hospital in a moderate condition.

Fire and Emergency said they initially sent three engines, but later upgraded their response.

They isolated the area and Hazmat was attempting to identify the chemical.

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

SEVERAL CHILDREN, ADULTS TRANSPORTED AFTER EXPOSURE TO PAINT THINNER AT DECKER ELEMENTARY
https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/several-children-adults-transported-after-exposure-to-paint-thinner-at-decker-elementary
Tags: us_TX, education, release, injury, solvent

AUSTIN, Texas ‰?? Authorities say at least 19 students and staff reported feeling sick from apparent chemical-related fumes during maintenance at a Central Texas school.
The Austin Fire Department initially blamed paint thinner fumes for Monday morning's incident at Decker Elementary School in Austin. Officials with the Manor Independent School District later said the fumes were from floor sealant.
No serious injuries were reported and all students hospitalized have been released.
Emergency medical personnel say 15 children and four adults were transported to several Austin hospitals, as a precaution, for treatment of minor medical complaints.

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

TANKER TRUCK CARRYING ACID CATCHES FIRE NEAR GANADO
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/counties/tanker-truck-carrying-acid-catches-fire-near-ganado/article_15c35352-e688-11e8-adde-efa4c28b3aa7.html
Tags: us_TX, transportation, fire, response, corrosives

A tractor-tanker truck carrying acid caught fire Monday morning near Ganado, prompting a highway closure.

The rear tires of a southbound tanker ignited for an unknown reason on U.S. 59, said Chief Deputy Rick Boone, of the Jackson County Sheriff‰??s Office. Southbound traffic was detoured.

Deputies were notified of the fire about 7:50 a.m. As of 9:30 a.m., the blaze had been extinguished. Firefighters from Ganado and Edna also were dispatched.

The truck‰??s tank, which was carrying inorganic N.O.S., a corrosive chemical, was not breached, and no one was reported injured.

Boone added that although nearby residents were not thought to be at risk, county officials were prepared to initiate an evacuation through reverse 911 services.

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

FIRE REPORTED AT CHEMICAL PLANT IN AXIS
https://www.fox10tv.com/news/fire-reported-at-chemical-plant-in-axis/article_338e9dd2-e6c5-11e8-b816-27165fb1f20d.html
Tags: us_AL, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

AXIS, Ala. (WALA) - A fire broke out at a chemical plant in Mobile County on Monday, November 12.

The incident was reported at Akzo Nobel Chemical Company on Highway 43 in Axis. According to company spokesperson Kay Higby, the fire involved a piece of equipment on property and was contained by their in-house fire department.

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

FIRE RESCUE NSW HUNTER REPORT
https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5749947/fire-rescue-nsw-hunter-report/
Tags: Australia, industrial, release, response, sodium_hydroxide

On Monday the Hazmat crew contained, cleaned up and neutralised a spill of sodium hydroxide at Beresfield. A vehicle crashed into a container at a transport facility, releasing more than 600 litres of the chemical.

Fire crews had to wear fully-encapsulated suits and breathing apparatus to stop exposure to the dangerous substance during the clean-up. They used a specialised air-operated pump to decant the liquid into Hazmat recovery bins.

‰??Once we had cleaned up the majority of the spill, we then had to neutralise the area using citric acid‰??, Station Officer McIvor said. ‰??Using pH strips, we confirmed that the site was safe to release back to the owners.‰??

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

UNHEALTHY AIR CONDITIONS PERSIST DUE TO CAMP FIRE SMOKE
http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php/news/58730-unhealthy-air-conditions-persist-due-to-camp-fire-smoke
Tags: us_CA, public, fire, environmental, other_chemical

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. ‰?? Health and air quality officials in Lake and neighboring counties have issued new warnings about hazardous air conditions due to the deadly Camp fire burning in Butte County.

The Camp fire began early Thursday, and has since resulted in nine confirmed fatalities, the destruction of 6,453 residences and 260 commercial structures, and the burning of 90,000 acres in and around the towns of Paradise and Magalia.

Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said that smoke from the Camp fire had caused conditions ranging from unhealthy to very unhealthy.

Conditions had cleared in some areas, resulting in the Lake County Quality Management District‰??s most recent forecast putting air quality conditions in the ‰??unhealthy‰?? range for most of the north county and ‰??moderate‰?? to ‰??unhealthy for sensitive individuals‰?? in the south county.

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

AUTHORITIES SAID CHEMICAL LEAK IN QUANGANG A PRODUCTION SAFETY ACCIDENT, VOW THOROUGH PROBE AMID PUBLIC PANIC, OUTRAGE
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1126745.shtml
Tags: China, industrial, follow-up, injury, unknown_chemical

Authorities said the chemical leak in Quangang, East China's Fujian Province, which sickened 52 residents, was a "production safety accident," vowing a thorough investigation amid public anxiety over possible damage to the environment and their health after some 7 tons of C9 aromatics spilled last weekend.

The leak took place at 1:13 am on Sunday when the tube connecting a vessel and the wharf in Quangang broke, leaking 6.97 tons of C9 aromatics in the water.

Preliminary investigation shows that the leak was a safety production accident. Local authorities are looking into the cause and will seriously hold those responsible for the accident accountable, said a statement released by the Public Security Bureau of Quangang on Friday.

The statement said constant monitoring of water, air and aquatic products will be conducted, as well as the condition of local residents' health. Local authorities also vowed to release information on time.

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

---
For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.