From: Ralph Stuart <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (12 articles)
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2021 06:48:28 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: C4783763-B5C8-4B4E-A0C2-D6EF181D92E3**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 6:48:14 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)

HAZMAT CREWS AT WYNDHAM CITY CENTER AFTER CLEANING ACID SPILLED
Tags: us_IL, public, release, injury, acids

STUDY CAN'T CONFIRM LAB RESULTS FOR MANY CANCER EXPERIMENTS
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, drugs

NO INJURIES AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL IN GRAND RAPIDS
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical

FATAL CRASH, CHEMICAL SPILL CAUSES I-40 CLOSURE NEAR FORREST CITY
Tags: us_AR, transportation, release, death, calcium_carbide

HURST FIRE DEPARTMENT CLEARS UP DETAILS ABOUT CHEMICAL LEAK AT T&T RECYCLING
Tags: us_IL, industrial, follow-up, injury, waste

MAJORITY OF TOP CHEMICALS ON MARKET DEEMED ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSUSTAINABLE BY NEW METRIC
Tags: Switzerland, public, discovery, environmental, ozone

CURRENT STATUS, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SAFETY IN CHINA
Tags: China, laboratory, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical

CREWS BURN OFF PROPANE LEAK BEHIND CORAL SPRINGS HOUSE ‰?? WSVN 7NEWS
Tags: us_FL, public, release, response, gas_cylinders, propane

SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER LIFTED IN ATLANTA AFTER AMMONIA LEAK CONTAINED
Tags: us_GA, industrial, release, response, ammonia

5 PEOPLE IN SERIOUS CONDITION AFTER HAZMAT SITUATION AT T&T RECYCLING IN HURST
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, injury, chlorine, waste

CHILDREN EXPOSED TO EXCESS CHLORINE IN POOL AT ST. AUGUSTINE PREP
Tags: us_WI, education, release, injury, chlorine

ONE DEAD, FOUR INJURED IN REACTOR BLAST AT ANKLESHWAR CHEMICAL FACTORY
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical


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HAZMAT CREWS AT WYNDHAM CITY CENTER AFTER CLEANING ACID SPILLED
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/hazmat-crews-at-wyndham-city-center-after-sulfuric-acid-poured-in-water-pumps
Tags: us_IL, public, release, injury, acids

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) ‰?? UPDATE:

Hazmat and emergency crews were called to the Wyndham Springfield City Centre around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday for a report of an odor in the building and two men possibly having medical issues. When Springfield firefighters arrived, they discovered the two employees were having difficulty breathing and there was a noxious odor in the building.

The two workers were taken to the hospital to be evaluated, but their conditions do not seem to be life-threatening, according to the Springfield Fire Department.

Officials said acid used for cleaning was accidentally spilled into a sump pit, and the concoction reacted with the water creating the noxious fumes.

No one had to be evacuated from the hotel and it remains open.

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

STUDY CAN'T CONFIRM LAB RESULTS FOR MANY CANCER EXPERIMENTS
https://www.sheltonherald.com/news/article/Study-can-t-confirm-lab-results-for-many-cancer-16681424.php
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, drugs

Eight years ago, a team of researchers launched a project to carefully repeat early but influential lab experiments in cancer research.

They recreated 50 experiments, the type of preliminary research with mice and test tubes that sets the stage for new cancer drugs. The results reported Tuesday: About half the scientific claims didn‰??t hold up.

"The truth is we fool ourselves. Most of what we claim is novel or significant is no such thing,‰?? said Dr. Vinay Prasad, a cancer doctor and researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the project.

It‰??s a pillar of science that the strongest findings come from experiments that can be repeated with similar results.

In reality, there‰??s little incentive for researchers to share methods and data so others can verify the work, said Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers lose prestige if their results don‰??t hold up to scrutiny, she said.

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NO INJURIES AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL IN GRAND RAPIDS
https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/police-no-injuries-after-chemical-spill-in-grand-rapids/
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) ‰?? Officials say no one was injured after a chemical spill at a Grand Rapids company.

Officials responded to the chemical spill and chemical reaction around 6:55 p.m. at Haviland Chemical on Ann Street near US-131, the Grand Rapids Police Department told News 8. It said the building was evacuated.

The Grand Rapids Fire Department hazmat team was brought on scene, officials say.

No injuries were reported, and the site is safe and stabilized, Haviland Chemical said in a release.

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FATAL CRASH, CHEMICAL SPILL CAUSES I-40 CLOSURE NEAR FORREST CITY
https://www.kait8.com/2021/12/07/fatal-crash-chemical-spill-causes-i-40-closure-near-forrest-city/
Tags: us_AR, transportation, release, death, calcium_carbide

FORREST CITY, Ark. (WMC) - Emergency crews are still working to clear a chemical spill on I-40 near Forrest City, Arkansas after a fatal accident Tuesday morning.

One person died in the crash.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation says the chemical is calcium carbide. It‰??s a flammable substance used to create acetylene gas in steel manufacturing and metal cutting, according to the New Jersey Department of Health Fact Sheet.

The cause of the accident remains unclear. We are working to learn more information from ARDOT.

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

HURST FIRE DEPARTMENT CLEARS UP DETAILS ABOUT CHEMICAL LEAK AT T&T RECYCLING
https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/hurst-fire-department-clears-up-details-about-chemical-leak-at-t-t-recycling/article_5d256c6e-570d-11ec-be4f-834585cd9006.html
Tags: us_IL, industrial, follow-up, injury, waste

HURST, IL ‰?? A chemical release at a T&T Recycling Center led to the hospitalization of five people Monday. The incident in Hurst, Illinois, was initially reported as an explosion. Once first responders arrived, they learned it was a pressurized chemical release.

Seven people were treated on scene for chemical inhalation, but no other injuries. Four people were taken to local hospitals in Carbondale and Herrin, one was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital and two refused further treatment.

"From what I understand, most of them are recovering well. I know they flew one to St. Louis, and I have no clue what her condition is at this point," said Hurst Fire Department's Assistant Chief Jessie Richardson.

The Hurst Fire Department was the first to respond to the initial call of an explosion at around 10 a.m.

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

MAJORITY OF TOP CHEMICALS ON MARKET DEEMED ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSUSTAINABLE BY NEW METRIC
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/majority-of-top-chemicals-on-market-deemed-environmentally-unsustainable-by-new-metric/4014878.article
Tags: Switzerland, public, discovery, environmental, ozone

Scientists based in Switzerland have developed a new metric for determining the environmental sustainability of chemical products. Of 492 widely-used chemicals evaluated with the new metric, the majority were judged to be unsustainable.

Earth‰??s carrying capacity can be described as a set of nine biophysical limits, or planetary boundaries, that include climate change, biogeochemical flows and stratospheric ozone depletion. While life cycle impact assessment is a widely used method for understanding the environmental burdens of chemicals and fuels, standard methods don‰??t consider these planetary boundaries so fail to accurately quantify a chemical‰??s absolute environmental sustainability. Researchers have therefore sought to develop absolute environmental sustainability assessments (AESA) to determine whether a chemical exceeds its share of the Earth‰??s ecological capacity by accounting for planetary boundaries.

The new metric developed by Gonzalo GuillÌ©n-GosÌÁlbez, Javier PÌ©rez-RamÌ-rez and Victor Tulus from ETH Zurich is a multi-factor AESA method and they used it to evaluate 492 chemicals. ‰??It is an exhaustive assessment of pretty much the main chemicals that you can find in the market,‰?? explains PÌ©rez-RamÌ-rez.

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

CURRENT STATUS, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SAFETY IN CHINA
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950423021002771?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email
Tags: China, laboratory, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical

The past two decades have seen a rise in university laboratory accidents in China. Although there is a growing awareness due to higher reporting and media coverage, the evaluation and understanding of common hazards and deficiencies in university laboratories remains to be addressed. Aiming to enhance safety in laboratory-related activities, this study analyzed the current status and challenges of university laboratory safety in China and presented future directions to reduce accidents using engineering and administrative controls. A descriptive statistical analysis of 110 publicly reported university laboratory accidents in mainland China since 2000 was performed to investigate the proximate causes of the accidents, and further, to identify potential deficiencies existing in the current safety management of laboratories. It was found that human factors were the most contributing cause and the training element was a vulnerable competency in laboratory safety management. Base!
d on the results, a comparative analysis between the underlying reasons for the poor safety situation and the efforts that have been made has brought the challenges and possible solutions for safety improvements in university laboratories. By suggesting top-down and bottom-up approaches, the present study provides valuable insights and serves as a reference for universities and relevant authorities to enhance safety in university laboratories.

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

CREWS BURN OFF PROPANE LEAK BEHIND CORAL SPRINGS HOUSE ‰?? WSVN 7NEWS
https://wsvn.com/news/local/broward/crews-burn-off-propane-leak-behind-coral-springs-house/
Tags: us_FL, public, release, response, gas_cylinders, propane

CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. (WSVN) - Crews have capped a propane leak behind a house in Coral Springs.

Coral Springs-Parkland Fire crews responded to the scene at 1900 Augusta Terrace, Monday afternoon.

Officials said there was a problem with a propane tank in the backyard of the home.

Crews attached a line to the damaged cylinder and began burning off the fuel. Firefighters put foam on the ground nearby to keep the tar from melting.

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

SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER LIFTED IN ATLANTA AFTER AMMONIA LEAK CONTAINED
https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-major-ammonia-leak-forces-crews-to-close-off-ne-atlanta-neighborhood/WXDHYFPDO5BM5JYCPXUNOTOB24/
Tags: us_GA, industrial, release, response, ammonia

A ‰??major ammonia leak‰?? in northeast Atlanta on Monday afternoon led officials to issue shelter-in-place orders for the area before fire crews contained the leak about an hour later.

The leak began at 2:30 p.m. when workers at a defunct frozen food warehouse in the Edgewood neighborhood were removing large quantities of ammonia formerly used for refrigeration, according to Atlanta Fire Rescue officials. About eight workers were inside the building near the intersection of LaFrance Street and Mayson Avenue when the malfunction took place, but all were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

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

5 PEOPLE IN SERIOUS CONDITION AFTER HAZMAT SITUATION AT T&T RECYCLING IN HURST
https://www.wsiltv.com/news/5-people-in-serious-condition-after-hazmat-situation-at-t-t-recycling-in-hurst/article_3b30cae4-56be-11ec-b8d1-6bdde57d926c.html
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, injury, chlorine, waste

Hurst Fire Rescue confirms the chemical released during the incident at the recycling plant Monday was chlorine gas.

Employees at the scene tell News 3 they were cutting into an old tank they believed to be empty, when the chlorine gas started to leak.

They say of the 5 people injured and taken to hospitals, one was air-lifted to another hospital for further treatment.

The matter of this incident is being investigated by the Williamson County Sheriff‰??s Office.

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

CHILDREN EXPOSED TO EXCESS CHLORINE IN POOL AT ST. AUGUSTINE PREP
https://www.wisn.com/article/children-exposed-to-pool-chemicals-at-milwaukee-school/38443026
Tags: us_WI, education, release, injury, chlorine

During swim class Monday, a mechanical failure resulted in excess accumulation of chlorine in the pool at St. Augustine Preparatory Academy.

As a result, air quality in the pool quickly deteriorated, requiring the evacuation of all students in the pool.

According to a school spokeswoman, 11 children were taken to Children's Wisconsin to be evaluated.

They were being treated for respiratory issues that are non-life-threatening, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department.

The pool is checked daily; no unusual chemical levels were detected during the daily check this morning, the school spokeswoman said.

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

ONE DEAD, FOUR INJURED IN REACTOR BLAST AT ANKLESHWAR CHEMICAL FACTORY
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/surat/one-dead-four-injured-in-reactor-blast-at-ankleshwar-chemical-factory-7659883/
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical

A 25-year-old labourer died on the spot and five others were injured after a blast at a reactor of RP Industries‰?? chemical manufacturing unit at Ankleshwar in Panoli GIDC, Bharuch early Monday morning. The five with minor and major injuries were rushed to Parth Hospital and are now stable.
‰??The incident took place early in the morning and we have registered an accidental death complaint into the incident. The factory inspector and GPCB are also probing to find out the cause of the blast. The factory manufacturers different types of chemicals used in industries. The conditions of other labourers are out of danger,‰?? said Police sub-inspector Ankleshwar Rural PR Gadhvi.
Those injured include Munshi Kishku (45), Munna Poddar (35), Babuchand Taddu (19) and Ramnath Yadav (56), all residents of a labour colony at Madhav Nagar in Ankleshwar. The deceased has been identified as Santosh alias Lakhan Dhani, also a resident of the same area.
Read |Major fire at chemical factory in Ankleshwar, none hurt
Several locals as well as the Ankleshwar rural police, factory inspector staffers and officials of GPCB and the fire department rushed to the spot for rescue and probe.

Police said the incident took place when the night shift labourers were engaged in regular jobs. Santosh was standing with other labourers nearby a reactor in which a chemical process was in progress. The reactor exploded due to some unknown reasons injuring those standing nearby the machines.

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