http://www.keyc.com/node/31332 Ohio Two Thousand Evacuated After Gas Leak in Ohio December 14, 2009 at 3:00pm Around two-thousand people were evacuated from buildings near the Port Columbus Ohio International Airport today. Authorities worked to contain a hydrogen sulfide chemical leak inside a petroleum company. Fire officials said several people were treated for breathing difficulties. The leak occurred just before 8 a-m, near the Heartland Refinery. One official said initially the gas was seeping from pipes located at the refinery === http://www.justicenewsflash.com/2009/12/15/10-people-hospitalized-inhaling -chemical-fumes-fire_200912152734.html California personal injury - 10 people hospitalized after inhaling chemical fumes during fire 2009-12-15 02:31:16 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Justice News Flash, Personal Injury) Bakersfield, CA=E2=80=93 A small fire at Primex Farms sent 10 people to the hospital after inhaling chemical fumes that were emitted from the small fire. The blaze broke out around 4:15 p.m., on Thursday, December 10, 2009, at the pistachio processing company located in the 16000 block of Wildwood Road near Wasco, as reported by Turnto23.com. The Kern County Fire Department rushed to the scene to extinguish the small toxic blaze at Primex Farms. When fire crews arrived at the scene, they discovered several workers who were complaining of dizziness, nausea, and headaches. A total of 10 people were rushed by emergency medical services (EMS) teams to area hospitals for treatment of their illnesses caused by the chemical reaction. Their current conditions or extent of their injuries are not available at this time. Apparently stored fumigant used to kill rodents and pests at the processing company reacted with the rain, which ignited the small fire. The fire was quickly extinguished with the help of hand-held fire extinguishers and firefighters. The Hazardous Materials unit from Station 66 in Bakersfield assisted in determining if the product was safe. Police officials and fire officials are reportedly investigating the incident. === http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/12/hash_oil_home_explosion_not_a .php Colorado Hash oil home explosion not a surprise to one expert By Michael Roberts in Follow That Story, MarijuanaTue., Dec. 15 2009 **At_Symbol_Here** 1:06PM =E2=80=8BThis weekend, an explosion rocked the home of a licensed medical marijuana grower in Breckenridge, reportedly because roommates of the owner who were injured in the accident were trying to process hashish using butane. If that's what happened, the people in question were taking a considerable risk, says Timothy Tipton, founder of the Rocky Mountain Caregivers Cooperative. "I knew one of these days something like this would happen," Tipton says. "It's not anything to be playing around with. It's a very dangerous process." According to Tipton, "California, where medical marijuana has been legal since 1996, has had prohibitions in place associated with the use of petroleum products such as butane in extraction" -- a process probably used in this case to produce hash oil, which is often referred to as honey oil. That's not the case with the constitutional amendment that sanctioned medical marijuana in Colorado. Still, Tipton feels locals interested in using butane to make honey oil -- which can feature as much as 96 percent pure THC -- should know going in how delicate the procedure is. "Honey oil is made or extracted using bud or leaf matter in a cylindrical metal tube that is set on top of a glass Pyrex plate," Tipton explains. "At the end of the tube is a fitting that would accommodate a butane cartridge, and as that butane cartridge is released into the tube with the marijuana matter, the butane leaks through onto the Pyrex plate, which has a film on top of it. Over time, the butane airs off and all that remains, with the exception of residual matter, is honey oil that is scraped with a razor blade off the bottom of the plate after the butane has successfully evaporated." It doesn't always, though. "A common problem associated with the use of this therapy revolves around the persons participating in the extraction process not having gotten rid of all the extracted chemicals," he maintains. "So there's very little understanding of the chemical makeup of the honey oil, and whether it has residual butane, petroleum or chemical products that may be detrimental to our patients' health and welfare." Similar issues involving the safety of medical marijuana-related products were mentioned by Senator Chris Romer in a Monday blog about his visit to the Cannabis Holiday Health Fair. In this case, however, there's a way around such difficulties -- by using a different method to make honey oil. "Normally, hash medicine is made with bubble bags and an ice process that doesn't involve chemicals such as ether or butane," Tipton says. "And there are honey oil extraction processes that don't incorporate volatile materials." For instance, "there's a glycerin-based process, and there's also a food-grade cylindrical-tube press method, where the raw matter is compressed under considerable force to extract any oils without any use of petroleum-based products for extraction." Learning how to do this ain't easy. Indeed, Matt Schnurr, a molecular biology grad student, has offered classes to teach the method that Tipton describes as "the equivalent of a basic chemistry course." Of course, people interested in taking a short cut to honey oil production can find manufacturing tips on the Internet, too. But those who choose this short-cut need to remember something extremely important when it comes to the use of butane. "This process needs to be done outdoors in a safe environment with the realization of butane's volatility and the possibility of fire or explosion," Tipton says. "Because one spark as all of that butane is being released has the potential of creating disaster." === http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/cdc-body-burden-471 21501 6 Risky Chemicals You're Carrying in Your Body In the most comprehensive testing to date, the CDC finds Americans are exposed to 212 chemicals. Here's how to avoid six of the riskiest. By Dan Shapley =09 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released its latest assessment of the chemicals we're all carrying around in our bodies. The biomonitoring study is the most comprehensive in the world, measuring 212 chemicals in the blood and urine of 8,000 Americans. That's more than 40% more chemicals than have ever been tested for before. The results: You can find 212 chemicals in the blood and urine of Americans if you look for them. But what does it mean for your health? The CDC highlighted a few chemicals because they are both widespread -- found in all or most people tested -- and potentially harmful. Here's a look at what they are and how you can try to avoid them. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers Better known as "flame retardants" PBDEs are used widely in all sorts of goods -- from foam furniture to electronics -- to reduce fire risk. They also accumulate in human fat, and some studies suggest they may harm the liver and kidneys as well as the neurological system. Some states, including California, Washington and Maine, have restricted the use of certain PBDEs deemed the highest health risk. Short of such bans, avoiding them is difficult because the chemicals are integrated into so many common products. Bisphenol A BPA, which is found in many plastics, in the lining of cans and even coating many sales receipts, was found in more than 90% of Americans tested. The health concerns about BPA are many and growing. While BPA-free products are available, it can be difficult to choose them unless you do research ahead of time. The Daily Green has a list of many products containing BPA to help. PFOA PFOA and other perfluorinated chemicals found in most Americans are used to create heat-resistant and non-stick coatings on cookware, as well as grease-resistant food packaging and stain-resistant clothing. Studies have linked these chemicals to a range of health problems, including infertility in women, and to liver, immune system, developmental and reproductive problems in lab animals. Avoiding them can be difficult, but avoiding products that contain them is a first step. Acrylamide Formed when carbohydrates are cooked at high temperatures (French fries anyone?) and as a byproduct of tobacco smoke, acrylamide and its metabolites are extremely common in Americans. While the risks of low-level exposure aren't well known, high-level exposure has caused cancer and neurological problems in lab animals and workers, respectively. Avoiding it in food comes down to food choice, storage and preparation, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Examples include boiling or baking potatoes, rather than frying them, or soaking them in water before frying; toasting bread only lightly; and moderating the drinking of coffee, which gets acrylamide in the roasting process. Mercury The main source of mercury -- a potent neurotoxin that can lead to permanent brain damage if young children or fetuses are exposed -- continues to be contaminated fish. To avoid mercury, you have to educate yourself about which fish are safe. Several guides exist to help make a smart choice at the fish counter. MTBE This gasoline additive has been phased out of use in the U.S., in favor of ethanol, but it still can be detected widely in American's bodies. (It has contaminated many drinking water supplies.) While the health risks are not well defined, studies have linked it to a variety of potential problems, including neurological and reproductive damage. The good news in the CDC report is that effective regulation can really reduce harmful exposures to chemicals. Testing reveals that secondhand smoke exposure has declined 70%, for instance, and lead poisoning (as defined by the CDC; some scientists think the acceptable level is too high) now affects less than 2% of children aged 1-5. The bad news is that, not only are Americans being exposed to many potentially harmful chemicals, in mixtures that are totally untested, but even this most comprehensive testing regimen accounts for less than 1% of the chemicals most Americans are exposed to regularly. The Environmental Protection Agency has identified at least 6,000 chemicals that Americans are routinely exposed to. Until and unless U.S. regulation of chemicals changes, chemicals will continue to be used in commerce before rigorous safety testing. That means it's up to consumers to avoid chemicals they deem risky. Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/cdc-body-burden-471 21501#ixzz0ZrG2fmN3
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