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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, January 30, 2017 at 7:43:23 AM
A membership benefit of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas
Table of Contents (6 articles)
CUTTING COAL REDUCED ATMOSPHERIC MERCURY IN NORTHEASTERN U.S.
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, mercury, sulfur_dioxide
SCENE CLEAR, AMMONIA LEAK CONTAINED OFF LAKESHORE PARKWAY
Tags: us_AL, industrial, release, response, ammonia
FIRE AT PITTSBURG POWER PLANT SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Tags: us_CA, industrial, fire, response, hydrogen
CAUSE OF LAST YEAR'S FERTILIZER PLANT EXPLOSION 'UNDETERMINED,' INVESTIGATION FINDS
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ag_chems
CLEANING CHEMICAL MISHAP SENDS UNIVERSAL STUDIOS WORKERS TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_fl, industrial, cleaning_chemicals, injuries, unknown_chemical
'GENDER REVEAL' EXPLOSION GETS EXPECTING DAD IN TROUBLE
Tags: us_NE, public, explosion, response, bomb, illegal
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CUTTING COAL REDUCED ATMOSPHERIC MERCURY IN NORTHEASTERN U.S.
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, mercury, sulfur_dioxide
Mercury concentrations in the air in the northeastern U.S. have fallen in the past two decades as a result of closing and regulating coal-fired power plants in the region, a recent study shows (Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2016, DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00452). The study confirms that regional mercury concentrations are mainly affected by regional changes and are not overwhelmed by global mercury pollution.
Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of human-generated mercury to the atmosphere. Mercury is neurotoxic and, in its elemental form, can stay in the atmosphere for a year or more, making it challenging to figure out how much mercury measured in the air in one place comes from local versus global sources and to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations to lower regional mercury emissions.
To answer these questions, Thomas M. Holsen of Clarkson University and his colleagues analyzed atmospheric mercury levels measured in Underhill, Vt., from 1992 to 2014'representing the longest U.S. record of atmospheric mercury data'and in Huntington Forest, N.Y., from 2005 to 2014. They used global and U.S. data on mercury and sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants and other sources to determine what influenced these levels.
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SCENE CLEAR, AMMONIA LEAK CONTAINED OFF LAKESHORE PARKWAY
Tags: us_AL, industrial, release, response, ammonia
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -
Hazmat crews have contained an ammonia leak at 400 Industrial Drive and fire officials say the scene is clear.
The ammonia leak was coming from a pipe outside a vacant warehouse which was formerly Bruno's grocery distribution center.
Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS) says the scene has been turned over to the warehouse owner to complete permanent repairs. There is no risk to the surrounding areas.
BFRS Lt. Bryan Harrell says officials are not sure how much has leaked, but the substance is not flammable.
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FIRE AT PITTSBURG POWER PLANT SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Tags: us_CA, industrial, fire, response, hydrogen
A fire erupted in a Pittsburg power plant Sunday afternoon, sending 40-foot flames and black plumes of smoke into the air.
The fire was reported just before 4 p.m. at the Delta Energy Center, on the 1200 block of Arcy Lane. There were no reported injuries and Contra Costa County Fire District personnel had extinguished the fire by 6 pm, Cpt. Lisa Martinez said.
Hazardous material workers were monitoring the situation due to the presence of hydrogen, a potentially volatile chemical. U.S. Fish and Game officials also responded since lube oil was flowing from the power plant toward the delta, Martinez said.
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CAUSE OF LAST YEAR'S FERTILIZER PLANT EXPLOSION 'UNDETERMINED,' INVESTIGATION FINDS
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ag_chems
The cause of the explosion at the Voluntary Purchasing Group plant in Bonham was undetermined after a State Fire Marshal's Office investigation into the Aug. 8 incident, however, a recently released report indicates possible contributing factors to the explosion.
The investigation report from the State Fire Marshal's Office, which the Herald Democrat obtained Friday, states the point of origin of this explosion was inside a tank that was being filled with the liquid chemical Triclopyr 3. The ignition source, ignition sequence and first material ignited could not be determined, according to Investigator Chuck Allen in the report.
"The determination regarding causation is based on a methodical search of the area, observation of structural damage to building and tank, evidence observed at the scene, and statements of eyewitnesses," Allen says in the report. "Based on this information, it is my opinion that this explosion shall be classified as undetermined."
The report listed four factors that could have contributed the the explosion: The truck and trailer offloading the chemical was not grounded, which was required for the process; the intermodal tank was improperly vented during the unloading process; a centrifugal pump was used that was not made to handle flammable materials as per the manufacturer's instructions; a sensor system was used, which its paperwork stated should not be used in hazardous environments.
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CLEANING CHEMICAL MISHAP SENDS UNIVERSAL STUDIOS WORKERS TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_fl, industrial, cleaning_chemicals, injuries, unknown_chemical
ORLANDO. Fla. (WESH) 'Hazmat crews responded to Universal Studios on Friday morning.
Orlando Fire Department crews responded to an employee-only area at Universal Studios around 4 a.m.
'Some team members were in a laundry area where a couple of basic cleaning chemicals may have been mixed together,' said a Universal Studios spokesperson.
The employees were sent to the hospital as a precaution.
It is unclear how many people were taken to the hospital, or the extent of their injuries.
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'GENDER REVEAL' EXPLOSION GETS EXPECTING DAD IN TROUBLE
Tags: us_NE, public, explosion, response, bomb, illegal
A Nebraska couple recently devised a rather creative way to announce their baby's gender to Facebook followers. The local sheriff's office didn't find it very funny, though.
Jon Sterkel, 26, and his wife, Ashley, recorded a video of exploding targets on their property that released a cloud of blue chalk. As the targets exploded, Sterkel shouts, 'It's a boy!'
The explosion, though, led to multiple calls to the local sheriff's office. Residents thought a house exploded or a car engine blew out. Sterkel got a ticket for setting off an explosive device without a state permit, which is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and fine of up to $1,000.
Sterkel told the Omaha World-Herald that he hopes others can learn from his mistake.
'People need to follow the proper protocol,' he told the newspaper. 'We never knew, and we've shot these for years. If you can go to a store and buy it, how in the world can you know it's illegal?'
The sheriff noted that Sterkel was cooperative, and no one was hurt and no property was damaged.
The baby boy is due June 16. Sterkel says they'll do something more 'low-key' when he's born
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