Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, October 14, 2022 at 6:11:00 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 (17 articles)
CVSA SHARES RESULTS OF FIVE-DAY HAZMAT INSPECTION BLITZ
Tags: Canada, transportation, discovery, environmental
HAZMAT CALLED AFTER DRIVER PULLS HOSE FROM GAS PUMP, SPILLING ABOUT 40 GALLONS
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, gasoline
FIRE CREWS AT SCENE OF LINCOLN CHEMICAL EXPLOSION
Tags: New_Zealand, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
HAZMAT RECYCLING FACILITY IN FERNLEY CATCHES FIRE; EXPLOSIONS FOLLOW
Tags: us_NV, industrial, explosion, injury, waste
AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING OVER STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, injury, unknown_chemical
10 STUDENTS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL ODOR DETECTED AT SACRAMENTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Tags: us_CA, education, release, injury, freon
EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS IDENTIFIED DURING THE MANUFACTURE AND TRANSPORTATION OF 1-BROMOACETYL-3,3-DINITROAZETIDINE (RRX-001)
Tags: industrial, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
HEALTH ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT DUE TO ELEVATED LEVELS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE IN CROCKETT :: PRESS RELEASES :: CONTRA COSTA HEALTH SERVICES
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, response, hydrogen_sulfide, water_treatment
AIR QUALITY MONITORED AFTER FIRE AT CAVICCHIO'S GREENHOUSES IN SUDBURY
Tags: us_MA, public, fire, response, ag_chems
THREE STUDENTS, 1 TEACHER TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMISTRY CLASS 'INCIDENT' AT CENTRAL VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical
LOCKHART CHEMICAL FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY AFTER FLINT RIVER OIL SPILL
Tags: us_MI, industrial, follow-up, environmental, petroleum
BURLINGTON BEACH REOPENS 2 WEEKS AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_VT, public, follow-up, environmental, styrene
DUBUQUE TAP WATER TESTS ABOVE THRESHOLD FOR PFAS, A CHEMICAL LINKED TO HEALTH RISKS
Tags: us_IA, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
WHAT TO DO WITH VAST STOCKPILES OF PFAS-LADEN FIREFIGHTING FOAM?
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
PITTSFIELD CHIPOTLE EVACUATED FOR HAZMAT LEAK
Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, carbon_dioxide, hvac_chemicals
BURLINGTON BEACH STILL CLOSED FOLLOWING CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_VT, public, follow-up, response, styrene
CHEMICAL PLANT OWNER TO PAY MORE THAN $180M FOR POLLUTION
Tags: us_ME, industrial, release, environmental, mercury
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CVSA SHARES RESULTS OF FIVE-DAY HAZMAT INSPECTION BLITZ
https://landline.media/cvsa-shares-results-of-five-day-hazmat-inspection-blitz/
Tags: Canada, transportation, discovery, environmental
An unannounced five-day hazmat inspection blitz by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance resulted in just under 30% of drivers being cited for violations.
According to the group, 6,204 vehicles carrying hazardous materials or dangerous goods were inspected June 13-17 in the U.S. and Canada. Of those inspected, the total number of violations was 1,774.
The following violations were uncovered by inspectors during the road blitz:
408 shipping papers violations.
269 nonbulk/small means of containment packaging violations.
272 bulk packaging/large means of containment packaging violations.
76 nonbulk/small means of containment labeling violations.
159 bulk packaging/large means of containment placarding violations.
79 other safety marks violations.
168 loading and securement violations.
43 hazardous materials/dangerous goods package integrity (leaking) violations.
84 Transportation of Dangerous Goods Training Certificate violations (Canada only).
“Drivers who transport (hazardous materials/dangerous goods) are specially trained in emergency safety and applicable HM/DG federal regulations,” the agency said in a statement. “CVSA’s HM/DG Road Blitz spotlights the safety-compliant drivers, shippers and motor carriers that ensure HM/DG are always appropriately marked, placarded, packaged and secured while being transported on our roadways.
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HAZMAT CALLED AFTER DRIVER PULLS HOSE FROM GAS PUMP, SPILLING ABOUT 40 GALLONS
https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/hazmat-called-after-driver-pulls-hose-from-gas-pump-spilling-about-40-gallons
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, gasoline
AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — The Amarillo Fire Department has called a Level II Hazmat response after a driver left the nozzle in their tank, causing a gas spill on Thursday.
Firefighters were sent to the Toot 'n Totum at 3201 S. Coulter Street at about 6:22 p.m.
Officials said a person drove away from the pump after filling up and forgot to remove the nozzle.
The vehicle ripped the hose from the pump causing the fuel to continue flowing.
A Level II Hazmat was called at about 6:45 p.m.
An employee was able to engage the emergency shutoff switch.
Fire crews damned up the driveways and applied absorbent to prevent runoff.
About 40 gallons of gasoline were spilled, officials said.
The Office of Emergency Management and Environmental Protection Agency have been contacted for further guidance.
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FIRE CREWS AT SCENE OF LINCOLN CHEMICAL EXPLOSION
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/10/14/fire-crews-at-scene-of-lincoln-chemical-explosion/
Tags: New_Zealand, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson told 1News they got a call around 2.30pm from someone saying they’d heard a loud bang.
Upon arrival, a fire crew found there’d been a reaction of two liquid chemicals on Robert Street in Lincoln.
Three fire crews are now at the scene along with a hazardous substance unit dealing with the liquids.
No injuries have been reported.
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HAZMAT RECYCLING FACILITY IN FERNLEY CATCHES FIRE; EXPLOSIONS FOLLOW
https://www.kolotv.com/2022/10/14/hazmat-recycling-facility-fernley-catches-fire-explosions-follow/
Tags: us_NV, industrial, explosion, injury, waste
FERNLEY, Nev. (KOLO) -A fire started late Thursday afternoon at a Fernley hazardous materials recycling business, causing several explosions and leading to a road being closed at least overnight, a fire official said.
There are no threats to the public, North Lyon County Fire Protection District Chief Jason Nicholl said. No one from the public was injured. Two firefighters received minor injuries, were treated on scene and returned to fight the fire.
The fire started outside Clean Earth, a hazardous materials recycling business, at about 4:30 p.m. Crews had the flames knocked down within about 45 minutes and it took about another hour for full containment, Nicholl said.
There was one major explosion when the fire started and several smaller explosions as crews battled the fire.
But about 5,000 gallons of water used to put out the fire mixed with hazardous materials at the site and created the hazardous materials situation. That materials spread was stopped.
Hazmat crews from Lyon and Storey counties and the Nevada National Guard responded to handle the situation Nicholl said. The Nevada State Fire Marshall’s Office is also on scene.
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AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING OVER STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR
https://www.tmz.com/2022/10/13/american-airlines-flight-emergency-landing-strong-odor-onboard/
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, injury, unknown_chemical
Everyone onboard an American Airlines flight smelled it -- that much we know -- but the problem is they had no clue who or what dealt it, so the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing.
The Wednesday night flight from Miami to Barbados was inundated by the pungent chemical odor -- and because the crew believed it was coming from a passenger's carry-on bag, you can imagine the panic that caused.
The pilot made the quick decision to head back to the MIA.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units met the plane once it landed, and all 172 passengers were quickly evacuated as firefighters investigated.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the smell was coming from a large, industrial-strength bottle of nail polish -- it somehow made it through TSA and spilled in the passenger's bag. We're told the woman isn't in any trouble.
The airline reported some of the crew members on board were feeling sick from the odor ... and went to a hospital out of extreme caution.
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10 STUDENTS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL ODOR DETECTED AT SACRAMENTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
https://www.kcra.com/article/10-students-taken-to-hospital-after-chemical-odor-detected-at-sacramento-elementary-school/41614621
Tags: us_CA, education, release, injury, freon
Ten students were taken to a hospital Thursday with minor complaints after they were exposed to something that smelled like chemicals in a portable fourth-grade classroom at Ethel Phillips Elementary School in Sacramento, fire officials said.
A Sacramento City Unified School District spokesperson confirmed the source of the odor was most likely a Freon leak from a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit.
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The students were OK when they left for the hospital and are being monitored, said Capt. Keith Wade with the Sacramento Fire Department.
"We’re just thankful that no one was severely injured," he said.
A hazmat team ran tests in the portable classroom before determining the source was likely the Freon leak.
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EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS IDENTIFIED DURING THE MANUFACTURE AND TRANSPORTATION OF 1-BROMOACETYL-3,3-DINITROAZETIDINE (RRX-001)
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.oprd.2c00109
Tags: industrial, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
On August 4, 2020, a massive chemical detonation rocked the Port of Beirut, Lebanon. This explosion, which resulted from the accidental detonation of approximately 2750 tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate, serves as a cautionary tale and an urgent reminder to exercise extreme caution at all stages of the synthesis, handling, storage, and disposal of high-nitrogen-containing energetic compounds. As a representative case study that illustrates the hazards concomitant with the use of energetic materials, an overview of the synthesis and transportation of the clinical candidate compound, 1-bromoacetyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine, or RRx- 001, a derivative of the explosive 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine or TNAZ, is briefly provided herein. RRx-001 and its analogues are nitrogen heterocycles that derive their intrinsically high energy value from both oxidation and ring strain.
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HEALTH ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT DUE TO ELEVATED LEVELS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE IN CROCKETT :: PRESS RELEASES :: CONTRA COSTA HEALTH SERVICES
https://cchealth.org/press-releases/2022/1012-Elevated-Levels-of-Hydrogen-Sulfide-in-Crockett.php
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, response, hydrogen_sulfide, water_treatment
Contra Costa Health (CCH) continues to advise Crockett residents to take steps to protect their health due to elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide coming from the Crockett Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Air monitoring data from Monday and Tuesday from CCH's Hazardous Materials Program (HazMat) show concentrations of the chemical that may cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea and irritated eyes in people exposed to it for long periods.
CCH and its partners have not detected levels of hydrogen sulfide in Crockett's air that would be considered immediately dangerous to public health.
The threshold at which hydrogen sulfide in the air may cause symptoms is .03 parts per million (ppm). The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) measured a 1-hour average reading of .036 ppm near the plant on Friday, Oct. 7, prompting the health advisory from CCH.
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AIR QUALITY MONITORED AFTER FIRE AT CAVICCHIO'S GREENHOUSES IN SUDBURY
https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/2022/10/13/air-quality-monitored-after-fire-at-cavicchios-greenhouses-in-sudbury-ma/10478944002/
Tags: us_MA, public, fire, response, ag_chems
SUDBURY — The Sudbury Fire Department is working with a hazmat team to monitor air quality after a three-alarm fire Wednesday afternoon at Cavicchio Greenhouses Inc.
Fire Chief John Whalen said no one was injured in the three-alarm blaze, which was contained to a storage building at the 110 Codjer Lane facility. But due to the presence of fertilizer, a regional hazmat team will monitor the air to make sure it's safe.
"I want to assure residents in the area that we are monitoring air conditions as a precaution and will alert residents to take additional steps if conditions become a concern," Whalen said. "I also would like to thank all of our mutual aid partners, whose assistance was, and always is, invaluable to us."
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THREE STUDENTS, 1 TEACHER TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMISTRY CLASS 'INCIDENT' AT CENTRAL VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL
https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/dinwiddie-high-school-incident-in-chemistry-classroom-leads-to-early-release/
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical
DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Three Dinwiddie High School students and one teacher were sent to hospitals after an “incident” in a chemistry class caused the school to be evacuated and closed early.
According to Dinwiddie County Public Schools, the incident, which happened Wednesday, Oct. 12, was confined to a chemistry classroom on the second floor of Dinwiddie High School. At least two ambulances and several police vehicles were seen responding to the school before 11 a.m.
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LOCKHART CHEMICAL FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY AFTER FLINT RIVER OIL SPILL
https://www.abc12.com/news/business/lockhart-chemical-files-for-bankruptcy-after-flint-river-oil-spill/article_31fe4fd0-4a4e-11ed-9edf-3f1d14a3bace.html
Tags: us_MI, industrial, follow-up, environmental, petroleum
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - Lockhart Chemical, which is blamed for dumping thousands of gallons of an oily substance into the Flint River, filed for bankruptcy in Pennsylvania this week.
The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Monday in Pennsylvania's western district, where Lockhart's corporate office is located. Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows businesses to liquidate assets and distribute proceeds to debtors.
The discharge of a petroleum-based substance from Lockhart's facility on James P. Cole Boulevard along the Flint River in June led to a no-contact order for the river stretching from Stepping Stone Falls to Leith Street. That order still remains in place.
Lockhart remains under a state order to stop using its underground pipes and tunnels to discharge wastewater from its facility. The company is required to pump wastewater into aboveground storage tanks and truck it offsite to a treatment facility.
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BURLINGTON BEACH REOPENS 2 WEEKS AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
https://www.wcax.com/2022/10/12/burlington-beach-reopens-2-weeks-after-chemical-spill/
Tags: us_VT, public, follow-up, environmental, styrene
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Burlington’s Leddy Beach reopened Wednesday morning after a chemical spill two weeks ago forced it to close.
Burlington Public Works says initial test results showed a higher-than-acceptable level of styrene after a contractor working on a storm pipe spilled the chemical into a stream that flows into Lake Champlain at Leddy Beach.
Now, Public Works says the results show nondetectable levels of styrene in points closest to Lake Champlain, so the beach was reopened.
They will leave up signage by the stream pool to further allow any remaining styrene to dissipate.
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DUBUQUE TAP WATER TESTS ABOVE THRESHOLD FOR PFAS, A CHEMICAL LINKED TO HEALTH RISKS
https://www.kcrg.com/2022/10/12/dubuque-tap-water-tests-above-threshold-pfas-chemical-linked-health-risks/
Tags: us_IA, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) - A statewide water sampling initiative is underway to determine the prevalence of manmade chemicals known as per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or “PFAS.”
The number of communities around the nation detecting “PFAs” in drinking water is growing, and sampling from Dubuque shows the compounds at a higher level than the EPA allows.
A sample collected in August 2022 indicates 4.6 parts per trillion of one PFAs compound found in Dubuque drinking water, which exceeded the minimum reporting level of 4.0 parts per trillion.
PFAs are long-lasting chemicals that have been used in industrial applications and consumer products like carpeting, upholstery, food packaging, non-stick cookware, and personal care products. Exposure to PFAs has been linked to health risks such as cancer.
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WHAT TO DO WITH VAST STOCKPILES OF PFAS-LADEN FIREFIGHTING FOAM?
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/what-to-do-with-vast-stockpiles-of-pfas-laden-firefighting-foam/4016364.article
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
Millions of litres of firefighting foam that contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are sitting in stockpiles. Much of this leftover material has been there for decades, held in storage at fire stations, airports, oil facilities and chemical manufacturing plants across the US. Until now, there hasn’t been an acceptable method to rid the world of these stashes of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), but the US-based R&D organisation Battelle is set to tackle this.
The non-profit has proven that its new technology based on supercritical water oxidation chemistry (SWOC) – affectionately dubbed the PFAS Annihilator – completely destroyed stores of PFAS-laden AFFF in a recent deployment that was funded by Greenfire, a US firefighting products company.
Firefighting foams have been used for decades and are remarkably good at suppressing diesel, propane, petrol and jet fuel fires. They work by forming a thin film that coats the fuel and starves the fire of oxygen. In the past, runoff from AFFF was not contained during firefighting training sessions or when extinguishing fires, allowing the PFAS chemicals in to the environment to leach into soil and groundwater. Now, recent government regulations involving PFAS mean that many of the military sites, fire training centres and airports that have relied on AFFF for more than 50 years have been directed to stop using these products, and stockpiles have built up.
Nicknamed ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS are associated with health problems like immune system dysfunction, low birth weight, high cholesterol, thyroid disease and certain cancers. The stability of the C–F bond means that these compounds are also highly in the environment. Complicating matters is the fact that these substances bioaccumulate and biomagnify up the food chain, increasing significantly in the blood and organs of those animals at the top. PFAS chemicals have been found in human blood, urine and breast milk.
‘AFFF was always the benchmark – it works great to suppress fire, but [the PFAS within] builds up in the environment, causes cancer and is in basically everyone’s bloodstream,’ states GreenFire’s chief executive Brandon Miller.
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PITTSFIELD CHIPOTLE EVACUATED FOR HAZMAT LEAK
https://www.news10.com/news/berkshire-county/pittsfield-chipotle-evacuated-for-hazmat-leak/
Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, carbon_dioxide, hvac_chemicals
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) — A carbon dioxide leak forced the evacuation of Chipotle on Hubbard Avenue in Pittsfield Tuesday afternoon. Around 2:14 p.m., fire crews were sent to the restaurant for a possible refrigerant leak and found a liquid CO2 tank inside with frozen lines and off-gassing because of over-pressurization, according to Deputy Chief Neil Myers of the Pittsfield Fire Department.
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All employees had evacuated the building and the company responsible for the CO2 system, as well as the Pittsfield-based state hazardous materials team were asked to respond. The company had reportedly filled the system a few hours before the incident and found a small leak in the pressure relief hose outside of the restaurant when they came back.
The business was open at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported to staff or customer
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BURLINGTON BEACH STILL CLOSED FOLLOWING CHEMICAL SPILL
https://www.wcax.com/2022/10/11/burlington-beach-still-closed-following-chemical-spill/
Tags: us_VT, public, follow-up, response, styrene
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Burlington’s Leddy Beach remains closed 19 days after a chemical spill into a nearby tributary that connects to Lake Champlain.
At the time, the city said the beach was closed out of an abundance of caution while they waited on test results.
Those results were originally expected the week after the spill, but the city is still waiting.
The water resources team says once the results come back, they can determine whether the beach can be reopened or if additional work is needed.
The spill into that tributary was 50 gallons of condensate that contained 1 gallon of styrene, a like carcinogen.
The city maintains the ongoing closure is strictly out of an abundance of caution.
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CHEMICAL PLANT OWNER TO PAY MORE THAN $180M FOR POLLUTION
https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Chemical-plant-owner-to-pay-more-than-180M-for-17502115.php
Tags: us_ME, industrial, release, environmental, mercury
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The owner of a former chemical plant that dumped mercury into the Penobscot River must pay at least $187 million to remove the contamination in a resolution to a decades-long legal battle.
A federal judge on Tuesday approved the settlement calling for Mallinckrodt U.S. LLC to pay for remediation of mercury released by the now defunct HoltraChem plant in Orrington.
The plant discharged six to 12 metric tons of mercury from 1967 until the early 1970s, according to a previous court-ordered study. Environmental groups have longed pushed for the remediation of the river.
“It’s long past time for Mallinckrodt to make it right, and this ruling will go a long way toward restoring the Penobscot, so people can go back to fishing, eating lobster, and enjoying this river," Jesse Graham, co-director of Maine People’s Alliance, said in a statement.
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