Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, December 10, 2021 at 6:07:49 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 (16 articles)
DETAILS RELEASED IN HAZMAT INCIDENT AT UC RIVERSIDE
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, response, nitrogen
ACID-LADEN TANKER OVERTURNS IN KUALA PILAH
Tags: Malaysia, transportation, release, response, sulfuric_acid
MAN KILLED AS FIRE BREAKS OUT IN PHARMA COMPANY IN AHMEDNAGAR
Tags: India, industrial, fire, death, pharmaceutical
FIRE HALTS OPERATIONS AT HUGE FLOATING LNG FACILITY
Tags: Australia, industrial, fire, response, butane, propane
OSHA CITES ST. CROIX REFINERY
Tags: us_VI, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
NO FURTHER CLEANUP OF ROCKY CREEK AFTER GAS, DIESEL SPILL KILLS FISH
Tags: us_GA, public, follow-up, environmental, diesel, gasoline
EVERETT FIRE REACHES 4 ALARMS, HAZMAT RESPONDS
Tags: us_MA, industrial, fire, response, waste
SRI LANKA CHEMICAL SHIP WRECK TO BE SALVAGED: OPERATORS
Tags: Sri_Lanka, transportation, follow-up, environmental, nitric_acid, waste
CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS UNRAVEL THE "STENCH OF DEATH" MYSTERY
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, hydrogen_sulfide, waste
PFAS DESTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES ARE STARTING TO EMERGE
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
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
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DETAILS RELEASED IN HAZMAT INCIDENT AT UC RIVERSIDE
https://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/details-released-hazmat-incident-uc-riverside
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, response, nitrogen
RIVERSIDE, CA — A transient accessed a building on the UC Riverside campus Thursday and allegedly opened containers filled with nitrogen gas, creating potentially explosive conditions, but the hazard was quickly mitigated by Riverside firefighters, and the suspect was arrested.
The activity was reported about 7:15 a.m. in the Chemical Sciences Building, near the intersection of North Campus Drive and Big Springs Road, according to the Riverside Fire Department.
Battalion Chief Garrett Coryell said that a homeless woman, whose identity was not immediately released, went into a lab within the building and allegedly opened valves on the nitro tanks.
Witnesses called 911, and UCR police arrived moments later, taking the woman into custody without incident.
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ACID-LADEN TANKER OVERTURNS IN KUALA PILAH
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/12/09/acid-laden-tanker-overturns-in-kuala-pilah
Tags: Malaysia, transportation, release, response, sulfuric_acid
SEREMBAN: A tanker lorry carrying 8.2 tonnes (16,500 litres) of sulfuric acid skidded and overturned on the road shoulder at KM8, Jalan Kuala Pilah-Batu Kikir near here.
The Negri Sembilan Fire and Rescue Department's Hazardous Materials Management team (Hazmat) said firefighters from Kuala Pilah station and Seremban 2 Hazmat unit rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 2.11pm Thursday (Dec 9).
According to Hazmat’s Mohammad Idris, initial investigation showed that the lorry carrying the acid at 98% concentration, was believed to be heading to Sendayan, Seremban from Kemaman, Terengganu.
"There were two leakages on the lorry which caused the acid to spill on the road. The Hazmat team set up barriers to prevent the acid from flowing into the nearby river.
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MAN KILLED AS FIRE BREAKS OUT IN PHARMA COMPANY IN AHMEDNAGAR
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/man-killed-as-fire-breaks-out-in-pharma-company-in-ahmednagar/articleshow/88192929.cms
Tags: India, industrial, fire, death, pharmaceutical
Nashik: A man was killed after a fire broke out in a pharmaceutical company in Ahmednagar on Wednesday night.
The incident took place at 10 pm after which two fire tenders rushed to the spot. The fire, which was reported in the chemical storage of the company, was doused off and the operation was called off at 1 am by the fire brigade.
The fire brigade officials, that carried out the search, found a body of a person which was partially burnt. The police said the man was about 40 years of age. His body was taken to a civil hospital to conduct the post mortem.
“Currently, there are no details of the man’s identity. A case of accidental death has been registered with the police station and the investigations are being carried out,” said the MIDC police station officials.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, said the officials from the fire brigade adding that it is likely due to a short circuit.
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FIRE HALTS OPERATIONS AT HUGE FLOATING LNG FACILITY
https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/fire-halts-operations-at-huge-floating-lng-facility/
Tags: Australia, industrial, fire, response, butane, propane
SHELL has temporarily halted production at its major floating LNG facility Prelude, after an electrical fire on 2 December. All workers are safe and accounted for.
At about 23:00 local time on 2 December, systems aboard the ship detected smoke in an electrical utility area, triggering automatic fire detection and management. The fire was extinguished, preventing further spread.
Production at the facility – which operates off the coast of Australia – is suspended until the main power is restored. Shell did not say when resumption is expected.
This news represents the latest setback in a series for the 488 m long ship, which has production capacity of 3.6m t/y of LNG, 1.3m t/y of condensate, and 0.4m t/y of LPG. This includes a previous electrical issue in February 2020, which halted production until January 2021. Operations started in December 2018.
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OSHA CITES ST. CROIX REFINERY
https://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2021/12/osha-cites-st-croix-refinery/
Tags: us_VI, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
A St. Croix refinery is facing $259,407 in proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties after the agency cited the company for 20 violations of the process safety management (PSM) standard. Releases of oil and vapor into the air and fiery flares at a St. Croix refinery in February and May led to an OSHA investigation that concluded that Limetree Bay Refining LLC’s refinery in Christiansted failed to meet federal workplace chemical safety standards and endangered workers.
Limetree Bay Refining was part of the Limetree Bay Energy complex in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Limetree Bay Refining also was cited by the EPA on April 30 and June 16 for Clean Air Act (CAA) violations. The EPA issued a CAA Section 303 order on May 14, pausing operations. On July 12, the Department of Justice announced the refinery was no longer in operation and that Limetree Bay did not intend to restart the refinery and had agreed to EPA requirements regarding the refinery’s shutdown.
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NO FURTHER CLEANUP OF ROCKY CREEK AFTER GAS, DIESEL SPILL KILLS FISH
https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2021/12/08/rocky-creek-gasoline-diesel-fuel-spill-killed-fish-update/6417458001/
Tags: us_GA, public, follow-up, environmental, diesel, gasoline
What was the substance spilled last month in Rocky Creek that killed fish and brought out the Augusta Fire/EMA Hazmat Team? According to Kevin Chambers, director of communications for Georgia Environmental Protection Division, it included both gasoline and diesel fuel.
In an email, Chambers said the emergency response contractor found the soil that had been impacted by the spill was properly remediated and no further clean up is required. The investigation into the source of the spill is ongoing, and EPD had no further information at this time.
On Nov. 17, residents near the creek, which extends from Barton Chapel to Regency Mall, were told to be careful if they went outside and to return indoors if they smelled the gasoline odor of the spill, although no one knew at the time what the substance was that had spilled.
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EVERETT FIRE REACHES 4 ALARMS, HAZMAT RESPONDS
https://patch.com/massachusetts/malden/fire-breaks-out-everett-smoke-seen-miles
Tags: us_MA, industrial, fire, response, waste
EVERETT, MA — A fire in Everett that sent a large plume of smoke into the sky Wednesday morning has reached four alarms, according to the Cambridge Fire Department, which is providing support at the scene.
A hazmat response has also been requested, the department said in a tweet.
Smoke billowing from the fire could be seen for miles. Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria said the fire is at the Schnitzer Steel property, which is located on Rover Street.
"This morning a fire occurred at the recycling facility," the company told Boston 25's Kelly Sullivan. "The Everett Fire Department swiftly arrived on the scene in response. We have no reported injuries from the incident. We are working closely with the fire dept to bring this situation to a safe conclusion."
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SRI LANKA CHEMICAL SHIP WRECK TO BE SALVAGED: OPERATORS
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211208-sri-lanka-chemical-ship-wreck-to-be-salvaged-operators
Tags: Sri_Lanka, transportation, follow-up, environmental, nitric_acid, waste
Colombo (AFP) – The wreck of a chemical ship that caught fire off the Sri Lankan coast and caused environmental carnage will be removed, the operators said Wednesday.
A salvage company has been contracted to remove the sunken MV X-Press Pearl and the remains of its cargo, its Singapore-based managers said.
"The wreck removal plan will ensure a complete removal and safe, proper disposal of the wreck and any debris and pollutants around the wreck," X-Press Feeders said in a statement.
Hundreds of tonnes of chemicals and plastics leaked from the ship after it caught fire in May off Colombo and burned for two weeks before sinking.
Dead turtles, dolphins and whales washed up on the Indian Ocean island's beaches, and Sri Lankan authorities said it was the country's worst marine disaster.
The vessel was known to be carrying 81 containers of hazardous chemicals, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, when it caught fire.
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CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS UNRAVEL THE "STENCH OF DEATH" MYSTERY
https://inhabitat.com/california-stench-of-death/
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, hydrogen_sulfide, waste
The residents of Carson, California, have had to endure weeks of a foul stench emanating from the Dominguez Channel. The smell, described by locals as similar to rotten eggs, was first reported on Oct. 3. Now, officials say that the stench was caused by waste from a beauty and wellness product warehouse that caught fire and spilled chemicals into a canal.
The task of determining the cause of the “stench of death” was left to South Coast Air Quality Management District. The agency said on Friday that the warehouse fire on Sept. 30 and subsequent chemical spill caused were at the heart of the matter. The chemicals killed plants and other organisms in and around the canal, producing hydrogen sulfide. This colorless gas is flammable and harmful to human health.
Since the stench began, Carson residents have reported various symptoms. Many have complained of headaches, fatigue and respiratory problems. Some have endured more serious symptoms, such as constant nose bleeds that require hospitalization.
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PFAS DESTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES ARE STARTING TO EMERGE
https://cen.acs.org/environment/persistent-pollutants/PFAS-destruction-technologies-starting-emerge/99/web/2021/12
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
Communities across the US are desperate to rid their environments of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), especially when these chemicals are in their drinking water. But even when PFAS are successfully filtered out of water, disposing of the extracted material remains a challenge. Now, Congress is starting to examine technologies to destroy these widely used synthetic chemicals.
Strengthened by carbon-fluorine bonds rarely found in nature, PFAS are used in applications such as cosmetics, water- and fire-resistant clothing, and aerospace equipment. But their durability also makes them environmentally persistent. Some forms of PFAS are toxic and linked to health problems including immune system dysfunction, endocrine disruption, and cancer. In hundreds of communities nationwide, water supplies are tainted with hazardous PFAS from manufacturing facilities and use of fire-fighting foams at commercial airports and military airfields.
At a Dec. 7 hearing held jointly by two subcommittees of the US House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, lawmakers learned about one emerging approach, supercritical water oxidation. Battelle, a nonprofit research and development organization that does contract work mainly for the US government, presented its work developing the technology.
Battelle’s PFAS Annihilator technology relies on supercritical water plus an oxidizer to break the carbon-fluorine bonds in these persistent compounds, Amy Dindal, the organization’s director of environmental research and development, said at the hearing.
The technology uses water above its critical point at 374 °C and 22 MPa and breaks PFAS into smaller molecules including hydrofluoric acid. Sodium hydroxide is added to neutralize the acid and form sodium fluoride salts, the organization says in an email. Sodium sulfate also forms if the PFAS contained sulfonate functional groups. The salts, present at low levels, are released with the treated water, Battelle says.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Guillén-Gosálbez, Javier Pérez-Ramírez 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 Pérez-Ramírez.
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