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From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (10 articles)
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2016 07:47:53 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 6D68EFA7-A76D-46CA-94D0-FEEDB5C098A0**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines
A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
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Table of Contents (10 articles)
"UTILITY UNDERSTATED LEVELS OF CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICAL FROM GAS LEAK
Tags: us_CA, public, release, response, benzene, natural_gas
BEHIND THE SCENES OF AN INNER-CITY ICE LAB
Tags: Australia, public, fire, response, meth_lab
2015 EXXON REFINERY EXPLOSION COULD HAVE BEEN 'CATASTROPHIC,' OFFICIALS SAY
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, injury, hydrofluoric_acid, petroleum
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO MASSIVE CHEMICAL EXPLOSION IN NORTH ANDOVER CONTINUES
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, follow-up, injury, other_chemical
CHEMICAL DISCOVERY PROMPTS EMERGENCY DISPOSAL DRILL AT NORTHWEST COLLEGE
Tags: us_WY, laboratory, discovery, response, picric_acid, time-sensitive
9-YEAR-OLD GIRL GETS SEVERE CHEMICAL BURNS FROM CELLPHONE CASE
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, acids
DOZENS HOSPITALISED AFTER CHEMICAL EXPLOSION OF TOXIC GAS AT BRAZILIAN PORT
Tags: Brazil, industrial, explosion, injury, other_chemical
FACTORY BLAST KILLS 4, INJURES 2 IN CHINA"S SHANGHAI
Tags: China, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
OFFICIALS SAY EXXONMOBIL EXPLOSION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN 'POISONOUS CLOUD' OVER TORRANCE
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, response, other_chemical
UPDATE: 3 EMPLOYEES STILL HOSPITALIZED AFTER FLASH FIRE AT GROENDYKE TERMINAL
Tags: us_KS, transportation, fire, injury, natural_gas
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"UTILITY UNDERSTATED LEVELS OF CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICAL FROM GAS LEAK
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cbsnews.com_news_utility-2Dunderstated-2Dlevels-2Dof-2Dcancer-2Dcausing-2Dchemical-2Dfrom-2Dgas-2Dleak_&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=QwkVFvcLmt37QQVI8LmVnwptAnbJLAU4lF-tcxUM3rw&e=
Tags: us_CA, public, release, response, benzene, natural_gas
LOS ANGELES -- The utility whose leaking natural gas well has driven thousands of Los Angeles residents from their homes acknowledged Thursday that it understated the number of times airborne levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene have spiked during the crisis.
Southern California Gas Co. had been saying on its website and in emails to The Associated Press that just two air samples over the past three months showed elevated concentrations of the compound. But after the AP inquired about discrepancies in the data, SoCalGas admitted higher-than-normal readings had been found at least 14 times.
SoCalGas spokeswoman Kristine Lloyd said it was "an oversight" that was being corrected. The utility continued to assert that the leak has posed no long-term risk to the public.
The company was given repeated opportunities to explain its conclusions but couldn't, CBS Los Angeles reported.
"I don't know what would explain it," spokeswoman Melissa Bailey told the station.
Public health officials have likewise said they do not expect any long-term health problems. But some outside experts insist the data is too thin to say that with any certainty. For one thing, it is unclear whether the benzene fumes persisted long enough to exceed state exposure limits.
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BEHIND THE SCENES OF AN INNER-CITY ICE LAB
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__au.news.yahoo.com_a_30575624_behind-2Dthe-2Dscenes-2Dof-2Dan-2Dinner-2Dcity-2Dice-2Dlab_&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=UL9gJMEqIs8yq653KMKDx-rFdo3bTiH1aOL2LT_lTts&e=
Tags: Australia, public, fire, response, meth_lab
Seven News has obtained frightening footage from inside a Waterloo apartment, which was allegedly home to a clandestine drug lab.
The lab caught fire on Wednesday night, sparking an emergency that laid bare the secrets of the inner city apartment.
Images from inside the apartment where police discovered a sophisticated lab. Photo: 7 News
Neighbours were forced from their homes, and police who responded had to be treated for chemical exposure.
Police laid out exhibit after exhibit of chemicals and pre-cursers allegedly used to make the drug 'ice'.
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2015 EXXON REFINERY EXPLOSION COULD HAVE BEEN 'CATASTROPHIC,' OFFICIALS SAY
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__abc7.com_news_2015-2Dexxon-2Drefinery-2Dexplosion-2Dcould-2Dhave-2Dbeen-2Dcatastrophic-2Dofficials_1159414_&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=biIY0wL3ZQTuBaic2pgzyeC3SGTp6l1gnPOmi7t-k8Q&e=
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, injury, hydrofluoric_acid, petroleum
TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) -- Federal investigators said a failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the 2015 ExxonMobil oil refinery explosion in Torrance.
Congressman Ted Lieu said its time for ExxonMobil and the refinery to change their practices.
Lieu and investigators met with residents Wednesday night to discuss the ongoing investigation into the February explosion at the plant, which injured two people and could have put thousands of residents at risk.
According to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, the explosion could have been avoided and the biggest cause for concern is the modified hydrofluoric acid, or MHF, the plant uses.
Officials said the blast launched an 80,000 pound piece of equipment within feet of a unit housing the highly volatile and toxic substance.
"It was a serious near miss and we believe had the tank ruptured, the results could have been more serious than they were," said Vanessa Sutherland with the chemical board.
But Exxon disputes the findings and said it has stringent safety rules in place. Many workers who attended the meeting said they feel safe at the plant.
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FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO MASSIVE CHEMICAL EXPLOSION IN NORTH ANDOVER CONTINUES
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__patch.com_massachusetts_northandover_federal-2Dinvestigation-2Dmassive-2Dchemical-2Dexplosion-2Dnorth-2Dandover-2Dongoing&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=w6RUvaEenKBnKmoSyraKFt2oI8obghgDXHcf0jU25m4&e=
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, follow-up, injury, other_chemical
NORTH ANDOVER, MA - The investigation into the massive explosion in a chemical lab that critically injured four people on Jan. 7 at the Dow Chemical plant on Willow Road. is ongoing and is expected to continue for several months, according to state and federal officials.
Fire investigators were back on scene on Wednesday, according to the state fire marshal"s office. Investigators continue to interview people, and plan to interview the hospitalized victims as soon as they recover sufficiently, according to Jennifer Mieth, Public Information Officer, for the state"s Department of Fire Services.
That may take some time, according to Mieth, and the investigation will not conclude until that happens.
The state"s bomb squad detonated hazardous chemicals from site of the Dow lab explosion the day after the explosion rocked the neighborhood.
The U.S. Department of Labor"s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also looking into the explosion.
The purpose of the federal investigation is to determine if there are any violations of OSHA workplace safety and health standards in connection with the explosion, according to .Ted Fitzgerald, Regional Director for Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor
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CHEMICAL DISCOVERY PROMPTS EMERGENCY DISPOSAL DRILL AT NORTHWEST COLLEGE
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.powelltribune.com_news_item_14422-2Dchemical-2Ddiscovery-2Dprompts-2Demergency-2Ddisposal-2Ddrill-2Dat-2Dnorthwest-2Dcollege&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=DkdI_zMKKQ43jLA4nfF80oFwOS-cge4iCkFtblgQ6h4&e=
Tags: us_WY, laboratory, discovery, response, picric_acid, time-sensitive
The discovery of a potentially unstable chemical at Northwest College last month provided an opportunity for emergency training on Jan. 7.
For the college, that training involved evacuating the NWC Math and Science Building and emergency communications.
For local police and firefighters, the Cody Bomb Squad and the Wyoming Region 6 Emergency Response Team (based in Worland), the training provided a valuable practice in emergency response and safety skills.
NWC classes weren"t in session on Jan. 7.
Jay Dickerson, assistant professor of biology at NWC, said he found an old bottle of picric acid in a chemical storage area in Room 232 in the Math and Science Building.
"I was the discoverer," Dickerson said. "Mike was the one to realize how dangerous it was."
Dickerson was referring to Michael Cuddy, assistant professor of chemistry, who also serves as the NWC faculty safety officer.
"He was telling me a story about how they found it at (another college lab), and my eyes got real big," Dickerson said. "I didn"t let him finish the story; I just dragged him over and said, "That"s what this is, isn"t it?""
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9-YEAR-OLD GIRL GETS SEVERE CHEMICAL BURNS FROM CELLPHONE CASE
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.ajc.com_news_technology_9-2Dyear-2Dold-2Dgirl-2Dgets-2Dthird-2Ddegree-2Dburns-2Dcell-2Dphone_np4q2_&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=q7c7bKkC8e3-ECJdgsKCBzhc65oLi15aBp5ygvyomog&e=
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, acids
Ware, United Kingdom "
A UK girl will have permanent scarring because of her cellphone case.
Olivia Retter fell asleep with her iPhone 5c next to her in bed and woke up in pain.
"She woke up in the middle of the night and came into my room and said her leg was hurting. I just thought she was being silly and sent her back to bed," her mother, Karly Retter, told The Telegraph.
"Then in the morning I saw this awful burn on her leg," Retter said. "I was so shocked a phone case could do that. Doctors have said it is a severe chemical burn and she will be scarred for life. I can't believe it. She will have a scar in the shape of a phone on her leg."
Karly Retter made a Facebook post warning others about the cellphone case, which sells for $8.62.
"This case is full of acid and if it cracks it will cause third- to second-degree burns," she said "A lot of girls have these at the moment so just be careful."
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DOZENS HOSPITALISED AFTER CHEMICAL EXPLOSION OF TOXIC GAS AT BRAZILIAN PORT
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.euronews.com_2016_01_15_dozens-2Dhospitalised-2Dafter-2Dchemical-2Dexplosion-2Dof-2Dtoxic-2Dgas-2Dat-2Dbrazilian-2Dport_&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=5C6Af_SqFoHyJw1Vw38snG6ox5TSlEMJktKfrHO5sEU&e=
Tags: Brazil, industrial, explosion, injury, other_chemical
A chemical explosion at Brazil"s biggest port is spreading toxic gas, prompting the evacuation of one terminal and nearby homes.
Local media report dozens of people have been hospitalised following the incident at a cargo warehouse in Santos port, in Guaruja, in the south east of the country.
Sixteen containers are said to have caught fire.
Firefighters say they now have the blaze under control. However, local Mayor, Mario Antonieta de Brito, is warning people to stay indoors and out of the rain, in case it contains "chemical elements that can burn the skin."
Anny Kaelly works at the affected warehouse. She described the reaction to the explosion.
"When we realised what was going on, we left in a hurry. We left everything there. It"s all there. Car, purse, bag‰?| It"s all there."
The main product being stored was sodium dichloroisocyanurate, a chemical compound widely used as a type of chlorine, or cleansing agent for water.
It should be kept in a sealed environment, however rain is said to have come into contact with the chemical, causing an explosion. It"s not known how the water managed to seep through the containers.
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FACTORY BLAST KILLS 4, INJURES 2 IN CHINA"S SHANGHAI
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.newsfultoncounty.com_world_news_1324546-2Dfactory-2Dblast-2Dkills-2D4-2Dinjures-2D2-2Din-2Dchinas-2Dshanghai&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=W2sJ909QgW9KaHLAc8fm86_3Rbatx4c3zeDof3DcFHI&e=
Tags: China, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
BEIJING " A blast at a machinery factory in China"s largest city killed four workers and injured two others Wednesday.
The Shanghai Daily reported that those who sustained injuries were transported from the Shanghai Zhizhuo Machine Equipment Co. Ltd. in Baoshan District to a nearby hospital, where they are in stable condition.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Dozens of people are killed in industrial accidents in China each year, raising questions about lax safety regulations in the country.
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OFFICIALS SAY EXXONMOBIL EXPLOSION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN 'POISONOUS CLOUD' OVER TORRANCE
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.nbclosangeles.com_news_local_exxon-2Dmobil-2Dexplosion-2Daccuse-2Dtorrance-2Dpoisonous-2Dcloud-2D365241761.html&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=LrL_IVW0xd5kydO1enlEpvfZN1YZt20vzQR9ZVnONGc&e=
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, response, other_chemical
It was a tense scene Wednesday in Torrance as ExxonMobil officials responded to allegations that last February's refinery explosion could have resulted in a poisonous " and potentially deadly " chemical cloud, traveling for miles through neighborhoods near the facility.
"It's absolutely unacceptable that the residents of Torrance were blanketed with ash last year," Michelle Kinman, a Torrance resident, said.
ExxonMobil official Kenneth Dilley also said he believed that the safety systems protected the workers.
"Nothing is more important to ExxonMobil than the safety of our employees, of our contractors and of our neighbors," Brian Ablett of ExxonMobil said.
The comment was met by applause at the overflowing auditorium, but the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and Congressman Ted Lieu said Exxon was not fully cooperating with the federal agency's investigation.
"We want to know what ExxonMobil is hiding. About half the document requests that the Chemical Safety Board has issued, these subpoenas, Exxon Mobil has refused to respond to," Congressman Ted Lieu.
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UPDATE: 3 EMPLOYEES STILL HOSPITALIZED AFTER FLASH FIRE AT GROENDYKE TERMINAL
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__guymondailyherald.com_content_update-2D3-2Demployees-2Dstill-2Dhospitalized-2Dafter-2Dflash-2Dfire-2Dgroendyke-2Dterminal&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=DNlF-RJ81L2McjAVMAwivJ6fdOi42h9rbGdEdcQ2V_M&s=maMzXlNAGaGUNM6xm_ZYXRZ9KCUGu2mOWhEHEUQiT84&e=
Tags: us_KS, transportation, fire, injury, natural_gas
LIBERAL, Kan. (Jan. 13, 2016) " Three Groendyke Transport employees remain hospitalized in critical condition after a flash fire occurred in the wash bay of the company"s terminal in Liberal, Kan., Tuesday afternoon.
The employees suffered varying degrees of serious burns and were admitted to Southwest Medical Center in Liberal before being transported to Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the three injured employees and their families," said Groendyke Transport President Greg Hodgen. "We care a great deal for our employees and their safety, and we are working diligently with investigators to discover the cause of the accident."
A truck, a tank trailer and the three employees were in the wash bay when the flash fire occurred. The tank trailer was not loaded and was being externally washed. Its last contents were condensate, a natural gas processing byproduct, but the cause of the flash fire is still being investigated by the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal. Groendyke Transport"s president and environmental specialist also were on the scene Tuesday to assess the situation.
The terminal"s parking lot remains open, but the wash rack and maintenance bays of the terminal are closed until the investigation is completed. At that time, Groendyke Transport officials will be able to assess the damage and determine how long repairs will take. Terminal office operations, meanwhile, have been moved temporarily to a nearby location so regular business can be conducted.
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