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Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (9 articles) Date: June 3, 2013 9:50:16 AM EDT Author: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" |
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, June 5, 2013 6:35:33 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 (13 articles)
COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Tags: us_NJ, industrial, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
SEAL BEACH POLICE ADVISE CAUTION REGARDING RISKS OF ACID OR DRY ICE BOMBS
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, bomb
WICU12/WSEE ERIE, PA NEWS, SPORTS, WEATHER AND EVENTS
Tags: laboratory, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical
EPA SEEKS CLEANUP AFTER SEWARD, ILLINOIS, CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE
Tags: us_IL, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
HAZARDOUS UNDECLARED CHEMICAL MAIN CAUSE
Tags: Sri_Lanka, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical
CHEMICAL LEAK IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, ammonia
FOUR SICKENED IN UD LABORATORY
Tags: us_DE, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical
CHILDREN EVACUATED AS FIRE BREAKS OUT AT SCHOOL
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response, phosphorus
CHEMICAL LEAK CAUSES FIRE ON HIGHWAY[1]|CHINADAILY.COM.CN
Tags: China, transportation, fire, response, phosphorus
ALERT OVER SYDNEY PETROL FUMES
Tags: Australia, public, release, response, gasoline
PANIC AT CONVENIENCE STORE ENDS IN PEDESTRIAN DEATH
Tags: us_VT, public, release, death, dust
EVACUATED SEWARD RESIDENTS HOPE TO RETURN TODAY AFTER PLANT FIRE
Tags: us_IL, industrial, explosion, injury, corrosives
AMMONIA SPARKS DEADLY FIRE IN CHINA POULTRY PLANT
Tags: China, industrial, explosion, death, ammonia
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COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/06/04/58191.htm
Tags: us_NJ, industrial, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
(CN) - One chemical manufacturer may sue another for dumping radiological materials into New Jersey's Raritan River 70 years ago, a federal judge ruled.
EPEC Polymers, a Texas-based Delaware corporation, and its predecessors in interest, Heyden Chemical Corp., Heyden-Newport Corp., and Tenneco Chemical Co., made chemicals on 185 acres of EPEC-owned land in Woodbridge Township, N.J. on the northern shore of the Raritan River.
NL Industries, a New Jersey lead smelting company based in Dallas, produced chemicals on land directly across the river, in the Borough of Sayreville, from 1935 until 1982.
In a 2012 federal complaint in New Jersey, EPEC claimed that from 1935 to 1947, NL and predecessors dumped into the river hazardous waste and byproducts, such as thorium - which EPEC did not produce onsite - uranium, and radium.
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SEAL BEACH POLICE ADVISE CAUTION REGARDING RISKS OF ACID OR DRY ICE BOMBS
http://www.oc-breeze.com/2013/06/04/33957_seal-beach-police-advise-caution-regarding-risks-of-acid-or-dry-ice-bombs/
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, bomb
Two "explosions" have been reported in the College Park East area of Seal Beach in the last few months. It seems that a similar device was used on both occasions. These devices were most likely "Acid or dry ice Bombs," so named because they are a combination of acid or dry ice and other chemical components that trigger a chemical reaction..
These devices are a basic base + acid = chemical reaction device. The chemical reaction is accelerated by friction, so kids combine the ingredients in a plastic bottle. Once the ingredients are combined and agitated, the chemical reaction results in a rapidly expanding gas. The danger is that there is no way to determine how quickly the gas will expand, but usually the bottle stretches before it blows.
Other risks associated with acid bombs include chemical burns or impact injuries as a result of the explosion. In the event that you see suspicious activity that you think is about to result in the detonation of an acid bomb or find what you think is an acid bomb please notify the police and fire departments.
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WICU12/WSEE ERIE, PA NEWS, SPORTS, WEATHER AND EVENTS
http://www.erietvnews.com/story/22504279/chemical-explosion-simulation-at-allegheny-college
Tags: laboratory, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical
A scientific experiment gone terribly wrong...as 16 students and faculty members at Allegheny College were rushed to the hospital with respiratory injuries.
But, there's a catch. It's only a drill.
On Tuesday, it was a chaotic scene, inside of the Doane Hall of Chemistry on Allegheny's campus. Students and emergency workers took part in a chemical explosion simulation. Those involved, dressed in costume and displayed serious injuries. They were then rescued by firefighters.
The drill is a way for Crawford County emergency workers to practice for a disaster situation. Students that took part in the drill say, it's a great hands on experience.
"Just the fact that something like this could happen...you need to be aware of things in the lab," said chemistry student Dominick Raggi. "You need to make sure you have all of the safety precautions taken care of. You need to have safety training and really take lab seriously."
Over a dozen agencies took part in the drill.
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EPA SEEKS CLEANUP AFTER SEWARD, ILLINOIS, CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/illinois&id=9127474
Tags: us_IL, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
June 4, 2013 (SEWARD, Ill.) -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency wants a court order requiring a chemical company to address potential pollution hazards after an explosion and fire destroyed its northern Illinois plant.
The EPA said Tuesday that it's asked Attorney General Lisa Madigan to pursue an injunction against Nova-Kem. The company's processing plant in Seward was destroyed Sunday after an explosion and fire that led to the temporary evacuation of residents. The town of about 300 is 18 miles west of Rockford.
Company officials say a valve malfunction might have caused the explosion.
The EPA says it wants Nova-Kem to thoroughly investigate and clean up environmental violations caused by the incident. It also wants a complete inventory of chemicals at the facility.
The plant makes chemicals for high-tech applications like semi-conductors and memory devices.
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HAZARDOUS UNDECLARED CHEMICAL MAIN CAUSE
http://www.dailynews.lk/2013/06/05/news20.asp
Tags: Sri_Lanka, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical
Preliminary investigations into the fire that gutted a cargo warehouse in the Colombo Port have revealed that a hazardous undeclared chemical stored in the warehouse caused the fire.
Project Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abeygunawardena said the company which imported the hazardous chemical had not informed about the nature of the cargo resulting in the chemical being stored in a warehouse meant for the storage of non-hazardous items.
"Had the company informed the Customs, the hazardous cargo would have been properly stored, "the Minister observed. According to investigations, the damages caused due to the fire are estimated at Rs. 556 million. Stocks of electronic appliances, ready made garments and footwear weighing more than 350 Kg in the warehouse were destroyed.
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CHEMICAL LEAK IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY
http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=402182
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, ammonia
UPDATE- Hazmat crews first attempt at capping anhydrous ammonia leak at the Conserv FS on S. Meridian road is unsuccessful. They're trying again, but officials say the process is expected to take up to three hours.
Several hazmat and fire units responded to a chemical leak in Winnebago County shortly after 7 o'clock Tuesday night.
Emergency responders say a truck hit a pipe and broke it. The pipe was connected to a 26 thousand gallon tank filled with anhydrous ammonia, though it was not completely full.
---------------------------------------------
FOUR SICKENED IN UD LABORATORY
http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_53716118-cd29-11e2-a826-0019bb2963f4.html
Tags: us_DE, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical
Four University of Delaware custodians were sickened in a campus lab Tuesday morning, according to emergency responders.
The incident at Sharp Laboratory on The Green brought a response from area fire companies and HAZMAT teams, but ultimately, no fumes or chemicals were detected, said Drew Bowerson, deputy chief of Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Company.
The incident happened at 9:06 a.m., and when emergency crews responded, they found the found the custodians complaining of dizziness, according to Lawrence Tan, commander of the New Castle County Paramedics.
"They felt like they were going to pass out," Tan said.
Two were taken to Christiana Hospital, mostly for precautionary reasons, Tan said. They were alert and talking as they were loaded into ambulances.
The injured were in a mechanical room in the basement of Sharp Lab, which houses laboratories, classrooms and faculty offices. The building also serves as the base for the Department of Physics and Astronomy and houses the university's 38-ton cosmic ray detector
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CHILDREN EVACUATED AS FIRE BREAKS OUT AT SCHOOL
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/emergency-services/2013/06/04/children-evacuated-as-fire-breaks-out-at-school/
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response, phosphorus
Children had to be evacuated from a school on the Shropshire border after a fire broke out in a room next to their class.
The fire started in a preparation room at the Bishop Heber High School in Chester Road, Malpas, near Whitchurch shortly after 2.30pm on Monday.
Fire crews from Malpas and Chester were sent to the scene.
The fire was caused by phosphorous solid - a chemical used in science experiments - but was dealt with by staff and out by the time crews arrived.
Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus removed the chemical.
A school spokeswoman said: "It was in a preparation room, no pupils were involved.
"Just the adjoining class was evacuated as a precaution but nothing spread into the classroom.
She said the pupils that were evacuated were from the upper years of the school.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL LEAK CAUSES FIRE ON HIGHWAY[1]|CHINADAILY.COM.CN
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-06/04/content_16566229.htm
Tags: China, transportation, fire, response, phosphorus
Firefighters try to extinguish a fire caused by a white phosphorus leak near Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, June 3, 2013. A van carrying dozens of barrels of white phosphorus was involved in a pileup on the Hangzhou - Nanjing Highway early morning on Monday. White phosphorus, a highly flammable and toxic chemical, leaked and caught fire after the barrels were damaged. No deaths were reported. The fire is now under control. Over 1,300 residents have been evacuated. [Photo/CFP]
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ALERT OVER SYDNEY PETROL FUMES
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/vapour-build-up-blows-off-sewer-cover/story-fn3dxiwe-1226656434114
Tags: Australia, public, release, response, gasoline
FIREFIGHTERS and HAZMAT crews will remain on a southern Sydney street on Monday night as they search for the source of petrol fumes.
The vapours built up in sewer pipes beneath Loftus Avenue, Loftus, before blowing a sewer cover off about 4pm on Monday.
Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman Superintendent Ian Krimmer said an exclusion zone remained in place on Monday night as crews continued to take air samples.
"We're still getting readings on one section of the sewerage pipe," he told AAP.
The fumes had been identified as petrol and a nearby service station shut down as emergency workers searched for the source of the leak.
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PANIC AT CONVENIENCE STORE ENDS IN PEDESTRIAN DEATH
http://www.wcax.com/story/22477758/pedestrian-killed-by-car
Tags: us_VT, public, release, death, dust
NEWPORT, Vt. -
A tragic accident in Newport Saturday after a local woman was run over at a convenience store.
Police say it began when a chemical fire retardant was unintentionally released at the pumps. The chemical release triggered a panic, as people tried to get away from the pumps. Police say a man attempted to move his truck away from the gas pumps and ran over and killed Tina Hall, 45, of Newport.
Police say it's not clear what caused the release of the fire suppression chemical. No charges have been filed yet against the 18-year-old driver.
---------------------------------------------
EVACUATED SEWARD RESIDENTS HOPE TO RETURN TODAY AFTER PLANT FIRE
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x776199936/Explosion-fire-reported-at-Winnebago-County-chemical-plant#axzz2V9aU3QKF
Tags: us_IL, industrial, explosion, injury, corrosives
SEWARD Ñ Seward residents aren't sure when they can return home after Sunday's fire and explosion at a chemical processing plant.
They hope authorities will determine Monday it is safe for their return.
About 20 fire and rescue agencies responded around 12:30 p.m. Sunday to the Nova-Kem plant, 16161 Sixth St., in Seward, which is 18 miles west of Rockford. One worker was hospitalized from the incident, although the extent of injuries is unknown.
"We have evacuated the two-mile radius around the facility and until (the fire) burns down a little farther we won't know how long that will take (to extinguish)," Pecatonica Deputy Fire Chief Mike Knoup said.
It was unclear how many people were evacuated.
Emergency crews let the fire at the plant continue to burn throughout the night because dousing it with water could cause another explosion.
The chemical hexachlorodisilane, which is a corrosive, water-reactive, colorless liquid that requires extreme care when handling and transporting, is used in the plant.
According to Nova-Kem's website, the substance is used in memory device production.
---------------------------------------------
AMMONIA SPARKS DEADLY FIRE IN CHINA POULTRY PLANT
http://www.wsfa.com/story/22482293/reports-fire-kills-43-at-poultry-farm-in-china
Tags: China, industrial, explosion, death, ammonia
BEIJING (AP) - Fire raged through a poultry plant in northeastern China on Monday, trapping workers inside a cluttered slaughterhouse and killing at least 119 people, reports and officials said.
Several dozen people also were hurt in the blaze in Jilin province's Mishazi township, which appeared to have been sparked by three early morning explosions, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The provincial fire department, on its microblog, attributed the blasts to a leak of ammonia, a gas that is kept pressurized as part of the cooling system in meat processing plants.
State broadcaster CCTV quoted unidentified workers as saying the fire broke out during a change of shifts and may have originated in a locker room at a time when about 350 workers were at the plant, owned by Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Co.
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Ralph Stuart
secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Secretary
Division of Chemical Health and Safety
American Chemical Society
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