Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 6:53:41 AM

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Table of Contents (9 articles)

GRAHAM FIREFIGHTERS, HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL SPILL AT FACILITY ON EAST ELM STREET
Tags: us_NC, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL DUMP CAUSES MINI EXPLOSION AT BJ’S GAS STATION IN SANFORD, FIRE OFFICIALS SAY
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, dust, fire_extinguisher

CHEMICAL HAIR-STRAIGHTENING PRODUCTS MAY INCREASE UTERINE CANCER RISK: NIH STUDY
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

CHEMISTRY WORLD EXPLAINER: E-SCOOTER BATTERY FIRES
Tags: India, public, follow-up, environmental, batteries

WORKERS 'LUCKY' AS ACID SQUIRTS THEM NEAR FACES AFTER HAZARDOUS INCIDENT AT PORTSMOUTH WORKSHOP
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, injury, sulfuric_acid

MULTIPLE FIRE CREWS CONTAIN LARGE CHEMICAL FIRE IN VERDIGRIS
Tags: us_OK, industrial, fire, response, calcium_carbonate, runoff

OFFICIALS MONITOR CHEMICAL LEVELS IN MENOMINEE, MARINETTE DRINKING WATER
Tags: us_MI, industrial, follow-up, environmental, toxics

FIRE AT INDULOR AMERICA CALLS FOR HAZMAT CREWS IN GRAHAM
Tags: us_NC, industrial, fire, response, oxidizer

CANNOCK WASTE COMPANY BANS CHEMICAL CAUSING THUNDERSTORM BLAZE THAT FORCED NEIGHBOURS TO FLEE
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, other_chemical


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GRAHAM FIREFIGHTERS, HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL SPILL AT FACILITY ON EAST ELM STREET
https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/graham-firefighters-hazmat-crews-respond-to-chemical-spill-at-facility-on-east-elm-street/
Tags: us_NC, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

GRAHAM, N.C. (WGHP) — The Graham Fire Department responded to a hazardous material incident on Monday night.

Around 5:58 p.m. at Indulor America on 932 E. Elm St. in Graham, officials were notified that a fire alarm at the facility had gone off, according to a GFD news release.

The GFD responded with help from the Haw River Fire Department. Employees told arriving officials about a hazardous material spill and flash fire.

The flash fire was extinguished by employees on the scene before firefighters arrived. The fire alarm was activated as employees left the facility.

Fire, emergency management and and HAZMAT crews stayed on the scene until 1:00 a.m.

During the incident, four employees and three firefighters were evaluated and released by EMS. This was precautionary due to the type of chemicals involved.

The spill was contained in the facility, and there were no negative impacts on the environment or the neighbors living in the area.

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CHEMICAL DUMP CAUSES MINI EXPLOSION AT BJ’S GAS STATION IN SANFORD, FIRE OFFICIALS SAY
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/10/18/chemical-dump-causes-mini-explosion-at-bjs-gas-station-in-sanford-fire-officials-say/
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, dust, fire_extinguisher

SANFORD, Fla. – Chemicals dumped near fuel pumps caused a mini explosion at a BJ’s Wholesale Club in Sanford on Tuesday, according to the Seminole County Fire Department.
Fire officials told News 6 a third-party company was working on something at BJ’s. According to the fire department, someone pressed a wrong button and trigged the fire suppression system.

The system expelled approximately 560 gallons of dry chemical — a type of powder used to subdue flames — near the fuel pumps, fire officials said.
Crews helped get powder off six customers who had been getting fuel from the gas station, the fire department stated.
According to the fire department, the powder can cause eye irritation or respiratory issues.
Crews said four patients were taken to the hospital, and another two were evaluated after some individuals cited difficulty breathing. No life-threatening injuries were reported, the department said.
Sylvia Maldonado was one of the patients taken to the hospital after the explosion. She told News 6 that people “were going crazy” because they didn’t know what was going on.

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CHEMICAL HAIR-STRAIGHTENING PRODUCTS MAY INCREASE UTERINE CANCER RISK: NIH STUDY
https://tetracyclined7k.com/chemical-hair-straightening-products-may-increase-uterine-cancer-risk-nih-study/
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical

A new study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found a link between chemical hair straightening products and uterine cancer, suggesting frequent users may be at higher risk. .

The study, released Monday, followed 33,947 racially diverse women between the ages of 35 and 74 for an average of about 11 years. Her 378 women who participated in this study developed uterine cancer.

“It was estimated that 1.64% of women who never used a curling iron would develop uterine cancer by the age of 70, but frequent use increased the risk to 4.05%,” she said. Alexandra White, research leader at the US National Laboratory, described Environmental Health and Safety (NIEHS).

The presence of so-called endocrine-disrupting chemicals in hair straighteners may be responsible for this association. Fragrances, parabens, and phthalates can affect the endocrine system’s ability to regulate hormones.

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CHEMISTRY WORLD EXPLAINER: E-SCOOTER BATTERY FIRES
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/explainer-e-scooter-battery-fires/4016388.article
Tags: India, public, follow-up, environmental, batteries

In India and across the world, several tragic incidents have prompted scrutiny of small battery vehicles

A spate of explosions and fires involving electric two-wheeled scooters in recent months has resulted in serious injuries and deaths in India. Similar incidents worldwide have prompted scrutiny of battery and charging technology used in such vehicles. These incidents have dampened public enthusiasm for electric two-wheelers –­ which are positioned as a significant element of India’s transition to sustainable transport – and for battery electric vehicles more generally.

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WORKERS 'LUCKY' AS ACID SQUIRTS THEM NEAR FACES AFTER HAZARDOUS INCIDENT AT PORTSMOUTH WORKSHOP
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/workers-lucky-as-acid-squirts-them-near-faces-after-hazardous-incident-at-portsmouth-workshop-3883308
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, injury, sulfuric_acid

Crews from Southsea and Cosham raced to the Fabtech workshop in Claybank Road, Portsmouth, at around 2.45pm on Monday after a hazardous materials incident.

Two men were left needing hospital treatment after being contaminated by sulphuric acid when a hose ‘popped off’ before they were covered with the corrosive substance.

South Central Ambulance Service, including paramedics from the Hazardous Area Response Team, also attended. The casualties were left in their care and taken to Queen Alexandra hospital.

Cosham acting crew manager Lee Merrett said: ‘The incident involved a sulphuric acid container where the hose popped off and squirted the two gentlemen.

‘We cooled down the burns for 20 minutes using hose reels before handing over to Scas. The burns were not too bad but did blister and would have been a lot worse if left.

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MULTIPLE FIRE CREWS CONTAIN LARGE CHEMICAL FIRE IN VERDIGRIS
https://www.newson6.com/story/634c9addd7acc47ced00ecb9/multiple-fire-crews-contain-large-chemical-fire-in-verdigris
Tags: us_OK, industrial, fire, response, calcium_carbonate, runoff

Fire crews were out at the scene of a galvanizing plant that caught fire in Verdigris Sunday evening.
The call came in around 6 p.m. Sunday as a structural fire, but turned into a hazmat situation quickly because of the chemicals inside the plant.

Several agencies responded to this fire, including Verdigris, Catoosa, Claremore, Limestone, and Tulsa, as well as HAZMAT teams.

The fire happened at the Valmont Utility galvanizing plant in Verdigris, and firefighters say no one was injured.

This fire has been challenging for firefighters because of the chemicals inside the plant.

Fire crews were worried about the chemicals getting in the water runoff if they put too much water on the fire.

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OFFICIALS MONITOR CHEMICAL LEVELS IN MENOMINEE, MARINETTE DRINKING WATER
https://www.wnmufm.org/health/2022-10-17/officials-monitor-chemical-levels-in-menominee-marinette-drinking-water
Tags: us_MI, industrial, follow-up, environmental, toxics

MENOMINEE, MI— Federal and state agencies at the Menominee industrial fire are studying the levels of toxic chemicals in drinking water.

PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily. High levels in the body can be harmful.

They were released into the Menominee River when the warehouse caught fire on October 7th. The EPA says test results from treated drinking water samples collected on October 11th and 12th showed higher levels of some types of PFAS in the water than previously seen in past sampling, indicating an impact from the fire. But they say all levels of PFAS compounds detected in treated drinking water remain below any Michigan or Wisconsin maximum contaminant level or health-based standard.

Officials say area residents may continue to drink and use their water as usual.

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FIRE AT INDULOR AMERICA CALLS FOR HAZMAT CREWS IN GRAHAM
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/chemical-plant-fire-graham/83-9a2f2016-4ab7-4951-b987-bbacbca20a7c
Tags: us_NC, industrial, fire, response, oxidizer

GRAHAM, N.C. — Hazmat crews are at the scene of a business fire in Graham Monday night, according to fire officials.
It happened at Indulor America located at 932 East Elm Street Graham.
The incident started as an accidental release of a chemical inside the plant. This mixed with an oxidizer which created a flash fire. The fire was extinguished by staff before the fire department's arrival.
Fire officials released the following statement:
We are monitoring the situation and we have requested a regional Haz Mat response from Greensboro Fire Department to assist with air monitoring while clean-up occurs. Regional Haz Mat should be arriving around 10:15 pm.
Multiple first responder crews are on the scene, including Graham Fire, Alamance Emergency Management, and Alamance EMS.

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CANNOCK WASTE COMPANY BANS CHEMICAL CAUSING THUNDERSTORM BLAZE THAT FORCED NEIGHBOURS TO FLEE
https://www.expressandstar.com/news/environment/2022/10/17/waste-company-bans-chemical-causing-cannock-thunderstorm-blaze/
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, other_chemical

More than 40 firefighters tackled the incident at Axil Integrated Services at Cannock Industrial Centre, in Walkmill Lane, Bridgtown, after materials in the yard erupted into flames and smoke on September 5 following a thunderstorm.

Bosses told residents attending its community open day that packaging containing traces of quick lime had absorbed moisture which then caused the chemical to warm up and ignite.

Families in neighbouring Hayling Close were among those to flee their homes as the heat spread causing aerosol cans being stored in the yard to explode in the air.

On Saturday bosses threw open the gates to host an open day for neighbours to tour the facilities, get an update about the investigation and the efforts to minimise problems after some said they were left feeling scared and wanted to move out of their homes some owned by Walsall Housing Group(WHG).


Some of the visitors at Axil Integrated Services open day in Cannock
Axil's managing director Edward Pigg told visitors: "The chemical involved was quick lime also called calcium oxide. We suspect that there was some contaminated packaging which absorbed moisture. It got warm and the heat had nowhere to escape to so it ignited.

"We have acted quickly to exclude quick lime from the site and the producer. That item was in the despatch bay and was due to leave the site on the day of the fire. And excluded items containing lithium-ion or li-ion batteries which are found in vapes and laptops.

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