Check out Safety Emporium for your N95, N99, and face shield needs.
From: DCHAS Secretary <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (15 articles)
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 07:53:11 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 10B9E04D-1AE1-4EFD-8782-AFCF96EB7CB4**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, June 26, 2017 at 7:52:59 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 (15 articles)
LAPLACE CHEMICAL PLANT, CRITICIZED FOR RELEASING 'LIKELY CARCINOGEN,' CITED FOR 50 POTENTIAL CLEAN AIR ACT VIOLATIONS
Tags: us_LA, industrial, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
CLEANUP CONTINUES AFTER ROUTE 202 TRACTOR-TRAILER CHEMICAL FIRE
Tags: us_NJ, transportation, fire, response, ag_chems, corrosives, flammables
EUROPEAN UNION FURTHER RESTRICTS FOUR PHTHALATES
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, response, other_chemical
CHEMICAL INCIDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Tags: United_Kingdom, education, release, injury, batteries, sulfuric_acid
ACCIDENTAL CHEMICAL RELEASE IN DUNN UNDER CONTROL
Tags: us_NC, industrial, release, injury, hydrogen_peroxide, sulfuric_acid
PARAMEDICS CALLED TO AMBERWOOD VILLAGE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB AFTER SOME EXPOSED TO NOXIOUS CHEMICAL
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, chlorine
INDUSTRY MUST AVOID STIGMATISING PRESERVATIVES, SAYS EU COMMISSION
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
ENDOCRINE SOCIETIES SPEAK OUT AGAINST PROPOSED EDC CRITERIA
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental, ag_chems, pesticides
ECHA AUTHORISATION ENFORCEMENT PROJECT FINDS CASES OF NON-COMPLIANCE
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
COMMUNITIES SUING EPA TO FORCE FASTER ADOPTION OF CHEMICAL DISASTER RULE
Tags: us_TX, industrial, discovery, response
STATE AID HIKE FOR VAPOR CLEANUP CALLED INADEQUATE
Tags: us_MI, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS BRIEF EVACUATION AT UNIVERSITY
Tags: us_MN, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical
FIELDWORKERS HOSPITALIZED FOR POSSIBLE CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, injury, pesticides
WATCHDOG FAULTS EPA‰??S CHEMICAL SAFETY TOOLS
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
5TH WORKER DIES AFTER CAMBRIA MILL EXPLOSION
Tags: us_WI, industrial, follow-up, death, unknown_chemical
---------------------------------------------
LAPLACE CHEMICAL PLANT, CRITICIZED FOR RELEASING 'LIKELY CARCINOGEN,' CITED FOR 50 POTENTIAL CLEAN AIR ACT VIOLATIONS
Tags: us_LA, industrial, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
After sending investigators into the Denka Performance Elastomer plant for five days last year to find out why it was discharging troubling amounts of chloroprene into the air, the Environmental Protection Agency has found that the LaPlace chemical manufacturer potentially violated the Clean Air Act about 50 times, according to a report.
Chloroprene is a chemical categorized by the EPA as a "likely carcinogen."
The draft report is the result of a compliance investigation ordered by the federal agency last summer to determine whether the plant broke environmental laws. The probe continues while regulators get feedback from the company and decide whether to take action. Denka is contesting some of the findings.
According to the report, investigators found an alarming number of leaky valves, as well as inadequate oversight of large portions of the plant‰??s complex operations.
Denka bought the plant from DuPont in late 2015. It uses chloroprene to produce neoprene, a synthetic used to make wetsuits, orthopedic braces, electric insulation and other products.
---------------------------------------------
CLEANUP CONTINUES AFTER ROUTE 202 TRACTOR-TRAILER CHEMICAL FIRE
Tags: us_NJ, transportation, fire, response, ag_chems, corrosives, flammables
RARITAN TWP. - The cleanup after a tractor-trailer carrying flammable and corrosive materials in drums caught fire on Saturday afternoon continues on Sunday morning.
Delays are expected on southbound Route 202 between the Flemington Circle and Hart Boulevard as the right and center lanes remained closed as of 9 a.m., the state Department of Transportation reported.
The fire happened around 5 p.m. Saturday. The tractor-trailer stopped between the Spring Garden and Rich Haven roads intersection on southbound Route 202.
Southbound Route 202 remained closed for much of the evening, with northbound Route 202 reopening just after 7:30 p.m.
This was the third incident involving a truck hauling hazardous materials in Central Jersey in the past two weeks. Bridgewater residents were asked to shelter in place when a truck hauling chemicals overturned, and the Somerset County Hazardous Materials Response Team were called out to an accident in Hillsborough involving a truck hauling fertilizer.
---------------------------------------------
EUROPEAN UNION FURTHER RESTRICTS FOUR PHTHALATES
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, response, other_chemical
The European Union is a step closer to prohibiting the use of four phthalates in consumer products. The Socio-Economic Analysis Committee of the European Chemicals Agency voted on June 20 in favor of restricting most uses of the chemicals under the EU‰??s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) law.
The four phthalates are butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL INCIDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Tags: United_Kingdom, education, release, injury, batteries, sulfuric_acid
At 12:28 pm on Friday 23rd June, Thames Valley Fire Control Service received a call to a number of batteries leaking acid in the basement of the Oxford University Engineering Department, Oxford.
Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service crews from Rewley Road and Slade were on the scene within minutes and were met by on-site staff who had already evacuated the building.
A total of 46 batteries had started to heat up, swell and causing the batteries to start gas off. Four people had been exposed to the Sulphuric Acid and may have breathed-in fumes. The casualties were initially treated by trauma trained firefighters who later handed over to crews from South Central Ambulance Service, three people were discharged at the scene and one male was taken to hospital for further precautionary checks.
---------------------------------------------
ACCIDENTAL CHEMICAL RELEASE IN DUNN UNDER CONTROL
Tags: us_NC, industrial, release, injury, hydrogen_peroxide, sulfuric_acid
Dunn, North Carolina (WTVD) -- On Saturday, June 24, the Fayetteville Emergency Management Department responded to assist Harnett County Emergency Management with a hazardous materials release incident at Brainerd Chemical located at 1600 South Wilson Avenue.
The investigation showed that there was no explosion or fire; the accident was a release of hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid being mixed to make commercial grade disinfectant.
Buildings surrounding a radius of 600 meters were evacuated as a standard precaution and the area will remain evacuated until air monitoring on the property is completed.One employee suffered minor injuries, he was taken to a local hospital and is expected to be OK.
The FFD hazardous materials crews are conducting air monitoring operations to ensure the environment is safe prior to releasing the building back to the owner.
---------------------------------------------
PARAMEDICS CALLED TO AMBERWOOD VILLAGE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB AFTER SOME EXPOSED TO NOXIOUS CHEMICAL
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, chlorine
Country Club in Stittsville.
A 911 call came in around 8:10 p.m. Friday on reports that an unknown acid had mixed with chlorine.
It's believed to have originated in the swimming pool area of the club.
Fire officials say at least 8 people were affected, but Paramedics later said they had at least 13 patients.
---------------------------------------------
INDUSTRY MUST AVOID STIGMATISING PRESERVATIVES, SAYS EU COMMISSION
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
The ongoing regulatory scrutiny of preservatives is of "great concern", Martin Seychell, deputy general of the European Commission‰??s health directorate (DG Sante), has said.
Speaking at trade body Cosmetics Europe's annual conference in Brussels last week, Mr Seychell (pictured) told delegates: "Excessively reducing the palette of preservatives available to formulators creates real public health problems. It means that consumers are exposed to higher levels of the remaining ones."
Bans and restrictions on widely used substances have come into force over the last two years, including for several parabens and the mixture of methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI).
In the EU, preservatives are part of a 'positive list' and only ingredients endorsed by the competent authorities of all member states - and listed in the cosmetics Regulation - are permitted for use. Assessments are carried out by the European Commission‰??s Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There are currently 132 preservatives on the list, but sometimes these need to be used in combination to reach the correct efficacy.
---------------------------------------------
ENDOCRINE SOCIETIES SPEAK OUT AGAINST PROPOSED EDC CRITERIA
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental, ag_chems, pesticides
Three endocrine societies have spoken out against the European Commission's proposed criteria on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
The Endocrine Society, the European Society for Endocrinology and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology sent a joint letter in which they object to loopholes they say can potentially allow dangerous chemicals to escape identification as EDCs.
They urged member states to work towards improving the criteria, by incorporating the following recommendations:
remove the exemption for biocides and pesticides designed to act on endocrine systems;
adhere to a science-based definition that includes categories for known EDCs and chemicals for which more information is needed to make a determination; and
maintain a hazard-based identification system without derogations based on risk.
The Commission postponed a vote on the proposed criteria in May.
---------------------------------------------
ECHA AUTHORISATION ENFORCEMENT PROJECT FINDS CASES OF NON-COMPLIANCE
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
About 90% of European companies are in compliance with their REACH authorisation obligations, Echa's enforcement Forum has found.
In the Forum's second pilot project, national enforcement authorities (NEAs) checked the marketing and/or use of substances subject to authorisation. It marks the first time NEAs also reviewed, where relevant, compliance with conditions laid down in the decisions.
Seventeen NEAs looked at compliance in the use and placing on the market of 13 substances of very high concern (SVHCs) with sunset dates in 2015. Where an authorisation had already been granted, inspectors also checked if the conditions set out in the application were being met.
The authorities conducted 802 inspections between January and October 2016. Most took place in Italy (162), followed by Denmark (120) and Sweden (106).
The majority of companies did not use (93%) or place on the market (92%) any of the substances that had a 2015 sunset date, according to the Forum's report.
---------------------------------------------
COMMUNITIES SUING EPA TO FORCE FASTER ADOPTION OF CHEMICAL DISASTER RULE
Tags: us_TX, industrial, discovery, response
A group of industry workers, scientists and communities near plants filed a motion this week asking a federal court to stop the EPA from delaying new rules intended to prevent chemical disasters, according to Earthjustice.
Last week, at the behest of industry, the agency postponed the rules, a weakened version of reforms sought by President Barack Obama after the 2013 West Fertilizer explosion. It's now put off until February 2019, a delay that advocates deemed unprecedented.
"The Chemical Disaster Rule is designed to prevent chemical accidents ‰?? and to ensure community members have adequate emergency response in place to reduce harm if they do happen," said Bakeyah Nelson, executive director of Air Alliance Houston, one of the groups petitioning the D.C. Circuit Court. "Preparation for an emergency in these situations, particularly in overburdened communities like ours along the Houston Ship Channel, can be the difference between life and death."
The rule is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Risk Management Program, which covers only a fraction of dangerous chemical sites nationwide. A chemical facility that erupted in flames and spilled hazardous materials in Spring Branch last year was not covered.
Still, advocates were hoping for at least one nationwide reform after the West disaster.
When developing the rule, EPA determined that its prior regulations failed to prevent over 2,000 chemical accidents around the country over a 10-year period, Earthjustice said.
---------------------------------------------
STATE AID HIKE FOR VAPOR CLEANUP CALLED INADEQUATE
Tags: us_MI, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
Lansing ‰?? Gov. Rick Snyder is poised to sign a $56.7 billion budget that includes more money to address potentially dangerous chemical vapors, a problem of unknown reach in Michigan that can leach into people‰??s homes through their basements.
The $300,000 or 23 percent bump to $1.6 million for vapor intrusion approved by the state House and Senate is far less than the $2.6 million that Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Heidi Grether requested in February.
At the time, Grether told lawmakers that as many as 4,000 locations in Michigan and many in Metro Detroit might host chemical vapors that can rise from the ground of former industrial or commercial sites into nearby homes. Grether called the issue a ‰??significant public health threat.‰??
‰??We‰??re concerned that this could pose a significant public health threat,‰?? Grether said then. ‰??So we need additional staff and resources to evaluate the sites‰?? and start mitigation projects where necessary.
The extra $1 million the department requested would have helped develop a detailed map showing the location all of the suspected vapor intrusion sites. The department can‰??t make that map with its current funding, said DEQ spokeswoman Melody Kindraka.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS BRIEF EVACUATION AT UNIVERSITY
Tags: us_MN, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical
A chemical spill at a University research building led to a brief evacuation Friday.
Around 12:55 p.m., the Masonic Cancer Research Building located on 425 E. River Parkway was evacuated for precautionary reasons due to a chemical spill, said a University spokesperson.
Minneapolis Fire Department responded to the incident, the spokesperson said.
A ‰??very small pipette of fluid‰?? was mishandled, causing the spill, said Bryan Tyner, public information officer for the MFD.
An alert announcing the building was clear and safe to return to was sent at 1:45 p.m. Personnel were let back into the building after the fire department deemed the air to be non-hazardous, Tyner said.
---------------------------------------------
FIELDWORKERS HOSPITALIZED FOR POSSIBLE CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, injury, pesticides
Eighteen Tanimura & Antle employees were hospitalized for possible chemical exposure Thursday morning.
Around 4:30 a.m., a celery transplant crew began working on Harden Ranch at the corner of Abbott Street and Harris Road south of Salinas, said Monterey County Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Bob Roach.
After about an hour, some crew members began feeling nauseous and one person vomited. The crew then left and were transported to Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System.
Samanatha Cabaluna, vice president of brand marketing & communications for Tanimura & Antle said, "The health and safety of our workers is our number one concern. We still don't know what caused it and we got them off to the hospital as soon as we knew there was a problem."
SVMH Spokesperson Karina Rusk said 18 patients were admitted to the emergency room around 6:50 a.m. with complaints of dizziness, nausea and stomach pains. The patients included six men and a dozen women with ages ranging from 20- to 53-years-old.
The hospital was notified that it was a possible chemical exposure and immediately opened a command center to handle the influx of patients.
The patients were placed in a decontamination process and triaged in a private waiting area, Rusk said.
A representative of the Monterey County ag commission arrived to interview the patients, and clothing was taken to be tested for pesticide residue. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation was also contacted, Roach said.
---------------------------------------------
WATCHDOG FAULTS EPA‰??S CHEMICAL SAFETY TOOLS
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
The Environmental Protection Agency‰??s (EPA) internal watchdog wants it to better manage the ways it uses technology to help test the safety of chemicals.
The EPA‰??s inspector general said two offices in the agency ‰?? the research and development office and the chemical safety office ‰?? have successfully collaborated to build and use tools for risk analysis, finding safety data and other functions in the chemical testing process.
But the chemical safety office lacks a strong process for ensuring that the cooperation goes smoothly and can last and could benefit from better ‰??management controls,‰?? the inspector general wrote in a Friday report.
The report comes as the EPA is working diligently to implement last year‰??s overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the law that governs the testing and certifications for thousands of chemicals sold in the United States.
On Thursday, the agency published a trio of regulations to govern how it will start the process of new chemical reviews under last year‰??s law.
The EPA‰??s watchdog warned that without a better collaboration system, EPA officials could lose out on effective tools for chemical testing
‰??Without management controls that ensure consistent interoffice collaboration and assess [chemical safety] product needs, [the chemical safety office] is at risk of not effectively incorporating products in a way that could rapidly improve how the EPA assesses chemical risks to human health and the environment,‰?? the watchdog said.
---------------------------------------------
5TH WORKER DIES AFTER CAMBRIA MILL EXPLOSION
Tags: us_WI, industrial, follow-up, death, unknown_chemical
A fifth victim of last month‰??s explosion at the Didion Milling Plant in Cambria died early Friday.
Carlos ‰??Charly‰?? Nunez died at the UW Hospital burn unit from burns he suffered in the blast, the company said in a statement.
Angel Reyes, a 46-year-old pack operator at the plant, died at UW Hospital on June 6. The blast also killed Duelle Block, 27, a mill operator; Robert Goodenow, 53, a forklift operator; and Pawel Tordoff, 21, a packing machine operator.
One other employee remains at UW Hospital, said Jeffrey Remsik, a spokesman for Didion. He declined to provide the employee‰??s condition.
The May 31 explosion sent 11 of the 16 plant employees working at the time to hospitals.
The explosion destroyed much of the facility, where the process of demolition and debris removal is continuing, Remsick said.
---------------------------------------------
---
For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post