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Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] National Library of Medicine: WISER 5.1 Released Date: Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 8:13:10 PM Author: Ralph Stuart <rstuartcih**At_Symbol_Here**me.com> |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] National Library of Medicine: WISER 5.1 Released Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:56:37 +0000 Author: "Wilhelm, Monique" |
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Table of Contents (16 articles)
4 HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING HAZMAT SCARE IN BUTTONWILLOW
Tags: us_ca, industrial, release, injuries, ag_chems
WEST MEMPHIS CREWS RESPOND TO LEAK AT FORMER CHEMICAL PLANT
Tags: us_ak, industral, release, response, bromine
NO INJURIES REPORTED IN CHEMICAL FIRE AT CHARTIERS PLANT
Tags: us_pa, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
INHALING NANO-TITANIUM DIOXIDE COULD HAVE EPIGENETIC EFFECTS IN FOETUS
Tags: us_wv, public, discovery, environmental, nanoparticles
LYNN GARDEN HOUSE FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL
Tags: us_tn, public, fire, response, flammable
LABS WARN OF DANGEROUS, CONTAMINATED POT AT DISPENSARIES
Tags: us_ca, pubic, discovery, laboratory, enviromental
SUNKEN OIL TANKER THREATENS FISHERIES AND MARINE LIFE IN EAST CHINA SEA
Tags: china, transportation, release, petroleum, enviromental
CHINA BUILDS "WORLD'S BIGGEST AIR PURIFIER" (AND DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL ANYONE)
Tags: China, public, discovery, environmental, dusts
14 STUDENTS HOSPITALIZED AFTER EATING POSSIBLY LACED CANDY
Tags: us_IL, education, release, injury, unknown_chemical
UTAH MAN WHO RUNS POPULAR YOUTUBE SCIENCE CHANNEL IS CHARGED WITH POSSESSING EXPLOSIVES DURING BACKYARD EXPERIMENTS
Tags: us_UT, public, discovery, response, illegal
TOXIC FUMES WAFTING OVER MURRAY BRIDGE AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK
Tags: Australia, industrial, release, response, ammonia
APPLE SUPPLIER ACCUSED OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND OVERTIME VIOLATIONS
Tags: China, industrial, discovery, response, unknown_chemical, illegal
AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO SAFETY EVALUATION FOR GRID-CONNECTED ENERGY STORAGE IN NORTH AMERICA
Tags: Canada, industrial, discovery, environmental, batteries
A PROPOSAL TO BAN A POTENTIALLY LETHAL CHEMICAL MIGHT CHANGE " OR CLOSE " 2 OIL REFINERIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA " DAILY BREEZE
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, response, hydrofluoric_acid
POLICE: EXPLOSION LED TO ONEIDA CITY METH BUST
Tags: us_NY, public, explosion, response, clandestine_lab
MORE SETTLEMENTS REACHED IN WEST, TEXAS, PLANT EXPLOSION
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, death, ammonium_nitrate
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4 HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING HAZMAT SCARE IN BUTTONWILLOW
http://www.kerngoldenempire.com/news/local-news/4-hospitalized-following-hazmat-scare-in-buttonwillow/924694748
Tags: us_ca, industrial, release, injuries, ag_chems
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Four people were transported to hospitals as a precaution following a hazmat scare Thursday afternoon in Buttonwillow.
Hazmat crews responded to a field near Rowlee Road and Dresser Avenue at around 12:30 p.m.
County officials said four field workers felt ill after smelling herbicides being sprayed in an adjacent field.
Kern County Public Health officials identified the herbicides as the products: Goal, Alion and Round Up.
Michelle Corson with the Kern County Public Health Department said the herbicides were ground applied to a pistachio field and workers in an adjacent almond field complained of a strong odor.
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WEST MEMPHIS CREWS RESPOND TO LEAK AT FORMER CHEMICAL PLANT
http://wreg.com/2018/01/18/west-memphis-crews-respond-to-leak-at-former-chemical-plant/
Tags: us_ak, industral, release, response, bromine
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. " A chemical leak forced West Memphis fire officials to evacuate several businesses shortly after noon Thursday.
West Memphis Fire Department responded to a possible bromine leak at the former Diaz Chemical Company on Wyanoke Road off Port Road.
Hazardous Materials crews say they saw a brownish-red colored cloud at the back of the property when they arrived. They sent a drone up to investigate.
Diaz Chemical Company has been out of business since approximately 2008, fire officials said, but a private chemical disposal company was at the site attempting to remove old tanks.
Bromine is a toxic chemical used in agricultural chemicals, dyes, insecticides and pharmaceuticals.
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NO INJURIES REPORTED IN CHEMICAL FIRE AT CHARTIERS PLANT
http://triblive.com/local/regional/13198348-74/no-injuries-reported-in-chemical-fire-at-chartiers-plant
Tags: us_pa, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
No injuries have been reported in a chemical fire that broke out at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Dynamet Incorporated in Chartiers Township, Washington County.
But a Washington County 911 dispatcher said a plant employee reported not feeling well and was being checked out.
Chartiers Township firefighters said residents in the area along Museum Road initially were told to shelter in place because of concern about thick smoke created by the blaze, but that advisory was lifted at about 10:30 p.m. Firefighters remained at the scene at midnight but said the fire was under control.
About a half dozen firefighting units were called to the scene, along with a hazardous materials response team.
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INHALING NANO-TITANIUM DIOXIDE COULD HAVE EPIGENETIC EFFECTS IN FOETUS
https://chemicalwatch.com/63219/inhaling-nano-titanium-dioxide-could-have-epigenetic-effects-in-foetus
Tags: us_wv, public, discovery, environmental, nanoparticles
If pregnant women inhale engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) over a prolonged period it may cause "significant" epigenetic changes in the foetus, according to a US rodent study.
Epigenetics describes molecular changes that alter gene expression without changing DNA sequence.
Researchers from West Virginia University School of Medicine exposed pregnant rats to nano-sized titanium dioxide aerosols. They then found significant epigenetic changes in the heart tissue of the offspring. The changes also appear to lead to a "propensity" for liver and kidney disease, they add.
The researchers estimate that a human could have a similar lung burden to that used in the study after almost 1.5 working years. They made the estimate after referring to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's recommended exposure limit and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha) permissible exposure limit.
"Because the human gestational period is nine months, we consider our exposure paradigm highly relevant to the worker population," write the researchers in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology.
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LYNN GARDEN HOUSE FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL
http://www.timesnews.net/Government/2018/01/18/Lynn-Garden-house-fire-was-accidental-in-nature
Tags: us_tn, public, fire, response, flammable
The fire began in an area of the home near a heater. Two nearby aerosol cans and a five-gallon can of gasoline on the front porch are thought to have contributed to the accelerated progress of the fire, the release states.
"Modern furnishing in homes hit flashover eight times faster than in homes with older furnishings from decades ago," said Kingsport Fire Marshal Robert Sluss. "Underwriters Laboratory has determined through live fire testing that fires today are more dangerous and pose more risks than in the past."
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LABS WARN OF DANGEROUS, CONTAMINATED POT AT DISPENSARIES
http://abc7news.com/health/labs-warn-of-dangerous-contaminated-pot-at-dispensaries/2965470/
Tags: us_ca, pubic, discovery, laboratory, enviromental
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Recreational cannabis is legal in California, but is it safe? There are just a handful of labs testing millions of pounds of marijuana and they can't test it all yet.
That means some of the pot on shelves now may not meet state standards that go into effect in the next couple months.
RELATED: Marijuana dispensaries celebrate legalization, increased sales
At the Harborside cannabis dispensary in Oakland...sales are brisk. All of the products on these shelves are laboratory tested for safety and potency.
"We test because, while cannabis itself is very safe, it can be contaminated with things that are not safe," said Harborside founder Steve DeAngelo.
According to the cannabis industry association, just 5-percent of cannabis products for sale in the state are tested for safety. And some experts believe as much as half the pot being grown is contaminated with potentially dangerous chemicals or bacteria.
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SUNKEN OIL TANKER THREATENS FISHERIES AND MARINE LIFE IN EAST CHINA SEA
https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i4/Sunken-oil-tanker-threatens-fisheries.html
Tags: china, transportation, release, petroleum, enviromental
More than 100,000 metric tons of oil carried by an Iranian tanker that sunk on Jan. 14 in the East China Sea could endanger nearby fisheries and marine life immediately and for years to come, researchers say. But with many details of the wreck still unknown, it is too early to predict the effects with any certainty.
The tanker Sanchi was carrying 136,000 metric tons of ultralight crude oil called condensate when it collided with a Chinese cargo ship on Jan. 6. The Sanchi burned until it sank eight days later in 115 meters of water. All 32 crew members of the tanker are presumed dead.
Condensate is a volatile type of oil similar to gasoline that is used to make jet fuel and other products. It is highly toxic to marine life. To transport the condensate payload, the Sanchi was likely running on bunker fuel: a heavy, tarlike, viscous substance that is less toxic than condensate but much more persistent in the environment.
Authorities don"t know how much of the ship"s cargo and fuel burned up in the fire or evaporated or how much is now leaking into surrounding waters.
---------------------------------------------
CHINA BUILDS "WORLD'S BIGGEST AIR PURIFIER" (AND DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL ANYONE)
https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2018/01/16/china-has-worlds-biggest-air-purifier-and-didnt-bother-tell-anyone
Tags: China, public, discovery, environmental, dusts
When today's news reported that China is home to the "world's tallest air purifier," we immediately thought of the 798 art installation exhibit that, even though it has been panned as ineffectual, remains Beijing's local symbol of defiance against the gray skies that oppress us.
Proud as we were of our seven meters, Beijingers can no longer claim this title.
In the Shaanxi capital of Xi'an stands a 100-meter-tall device able to reduce smog over an area of 10 square kilometers, reported the South China Morning Post this morning. Even more incredibly, the device is credited with reducing local PM2.5 levels by 15 percent during times of severe air pollution.
The uncompleted Xi'an air purifying tower, as seen by its most recent photograph taken in 2016
Cao Junji, head of research and director of the Earth Environment center at the Academy of Sciences, said the anti-smog tower can produce 10 million cubic square meters of fresh air every day.
"The tower has no peer in terms of size ... the results are quite encouraging," said Cao.
Size matters: those are indeed incredible statistics. And yet, as surprised as Western observers may be at this news, the highest eyebrows belong to Chinese news readers. That's because the Xi'an air purifying tower isn't news in China. Not this year, nor last.
---------------------------------------------
14 STUDENTS HOSPITALIZED AFTER EATING POSSIBLY LACED CANDY
http://www.wnem.com/story/37291867/14-students-hospitalized-after-eating-possibly-laced-candy
Tags: us_IL, education, release, injury, unknown_chemical
Emergency workers had to take 14 teenage students to hospitals after they got sick at a Chicago school.
Police said candy laced with an unknown substance may be to blame.
Authorities called the incident a level one hazmat situation.
Fire officials secured the school and classes resumed as normal.
Some parents are angry that the school initially told them it was all just a drill.
"It's very upsetting. I live on the next block. So, I mean, my kid's school on the news and they're not telling me nothing. 'Everything's OK.' The security guard and the principal. Like, what's going on? It can't be OK when it's two ambulances and the fire department out here, rushing into the school like that," said mother Veronica Elem.
---------------------------------------------
UTAH MAN WHO RUNS POPULAR YOUTUBE SCIENCE CHANNEL IS CHARGED WITH POSSESSING EXPLOSIVES DURING BACKYARD EXPERIMENTS
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/01/18/utah-man-who-runs-popular-youtube-science-channel-is-charged-with-possessing-explosives-during-backyard-experiments/
Tags: us_UT, public, discovery, response, illegal
The man behind the popular science-focused YouTube channel King of Random has been charged with two counts of second-degree felony possession of an explosive device for allegedly conducting incendiary experiments in his backyard.
Jonathan Grant Thompson, of South Jordan, was charged Tuesday for two separate events involving an explosive. He was not arrested.
An initial court appearance has been set for Feb. 21 in West Jordan"s 3rd District Court, according to the court docket, which says a summons will be issued.
When reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, Thompson said he had heard about the charges from media and fans on Twitter. He was upset and confused about the allegations.
---------------------------------------------
TOXIC FUMES WAFTING OVER MURRAY BRIDGE AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/law-order/toxic-fumes-wafting-over-murray-bridge-after-chemical-leak/news-story/c122b55bc22544923e2b7d033b100a31
Tags: Australia, industrial, release, response, ammonia
THE threat posed by a chemical leak at a food processing plant in Murray Bridge has reduced.
The leak caused ammonia fumes to waft over the town on Wednesday afternoon.
Four MFS and multiple CFS crews were dispatched to the facility, at the intersection of Eleanor Tce and Maurice Rd, after leaking ammonia tripped a fire alarm just before 5pm.
Specialist MFS hazmat units from Adelaide attended to help isolate and ventilate the building.
The MFS urged residents to close their doors and windows until the leak was isolated.
---------------------------------------------
APPLE SUPPLIER ACCUSED OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND OVERTIME VIOLATIONS
https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/16/apple-supplier-accused-of-safety-and-overtime-violations/
Tags: China, industrial, discovery, response, unknown_chemical, illegal
Apple is still struggling to improve working conditions at its suppliers. Both China Labor Watch and Bloomberg report that Catcher, a key supplier for iPhone and MacBook casings, makes workers endure harsh safety conditions and unfair work terms in a factory in Suqian. According to observers and discussions with workers, the machines are not only loud, but spray fluid and metallic particles that frequently hit workers' faces (only some of which have access to safety goggles and gloves). Workers suffer health issues such as vision problems, irritation and discoloration. Beyond this, the facility reportedly pumps out wastewater that violates local safety levels, and workers return to cold dorms with no hot water or built-in showers.
CLW adds that the work requirements run afoul of local laws. Factory staff are legally supposed to work 40-hour weeks, but they're actually made to work 10 hours a day for 6 days each week. The scheduling approach also conveniently lets Catcher avoid paying double for overtime, as the law demands. Training frequently stopped at 4 hours when it's supposed to last 24 hours. Even quitting is difficult, according to the report. Contract workers may have to wait weeks to receive their expected wages, and the contracting company frequently refuses to accept resignations.
Both Apple and Catcher say they've investigated CLW's claims, but found no evidence to suggest that the working conditions had violated Apple's code of conduct. It's not clear why that's the case, though, given the multiple reports of illegal activity and Catcher's history of labor violations.
---------------------------------------------
AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO SAFETY EVALUATION FOR GRID-CONNECTED ENERGY STORAGE IN NORTH AMERICA
https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/technology/essential-guide-safety-evaluation-grid-connected-energy-storage-north-america-206739/
Tags: Canada, industrial, discovery, environmental, batteries
The arrival of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) is helping solve a long-standing problem in the power sector"decoupling generation from consumption of electricity. System operators need the flexibility to store energy and dispatch it when required, and ESS can enable that. ESS also helps communities reap the benefits of clean power and make the grid more resilient by providing reliable back-up power during outages. These advantages are why ESS are among the fastest growing electrical power system products, but as a relatively new technology, it is critical that steps be taken to ensure safety is embedded into the design, testing, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of these systems.
RISKS TO MITIGATE
While battery-based ESS is a proven and attractive technology, it can present safety hazards by itself or in association with other complex electrical systems. These include fire, explosion, leakage of electrolytes, venting of combustible and toxic gasses, burns from excessive temperature, as well as the potential for electrical shock and arc flash. Pressure, noise, moving parts, and sharp edges can pose mechanical risks. Toxic or hazardous substances are sources of risks related to chemical exposure, and unsafe chemical concentrations can present physical injury, explosion, and fire hazards.
A thorough understanding of ESS safety requirements and proper application is essential to help ensure risks are effectively identified and addressed to meet safety requirements.
---------------------------------------------
A PROPOSAL TO BAN A POTENTIALLY LETHAL CHEMICAL MIGHT CHANGE " OR CLOSE " 2 OIL REFINERIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA " DAILY BREEZE
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/01/16/a-proposal-to-ban-a-potentially-lethal-chemical-might-change-or-close-2-oil-refineries-in-southern-california-2/
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, response, hydrofluoric_acid
A potentially lethal chemical used at two Southern California oil refineries could be banned by regulators, a policy that refinery operators say could shutter their plants, cost hundreds of jobs and cause a spike in local gas and airfare prices.
In what could be one of the last public meetings on the issue, representatives from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the Torrance and Wilmington refineries and the public are expected to meet Saturday to discuss the proposed change. The two refineries are believed to be the only petroleum processing plants in the state that use the chemical in question, modified hydrofluoric acid (MHF).
"This is a milestone‰?|. There"s some likelihood that the AQMD"s direction will come out of this meeting," said Mike Karlovich, a spokesman for PBF Energy which owns the Torrance refinery.
Modified hydrofluoric acid is a chemical compound used in the oil refining process to help meet air quality standards that call for blended forms of gasoline. The acid must be kept under high pressure to keep it in liquid form, as it boils at 67 degrees. When released, the acid can create a low hanging, pervasive toxic aerosol cloud that does not dissipate. Contact with the vapor can be fatal.
While the likelihood of a leak and gas plume are low, the results could be catastrophic.
---------------------------------------------
POLICE: EXPLOSION LED TO ONEIDA CITY METH BUST
http://www.localsyr.com/news/police-explosion-led-to-oneida-city-meth-bust/919503878
Tags: us_NY, public, explosion, response, clandestine_lab
ONEIDA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) - Oneida City Police say a report of an explosion on Monday led them first to a smoldering fire, and then to a meth lab on Madison Street.
Police arrested two people within the apartment building, and evacuated the other tenants while they investigated the scene.
Investigators say they found equipment and chemical used in manufacturing methamphetamine, as well a quantity of the finished product.
---------------------------------------------
MORE SETTLEMENTS REACHED IN WEST, TEXAS, PLANT EXPLOSION
https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/southcentral/2018/01/16/282522.htm
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, death, ammonium_nitrate
The town of West, Texas, and several other plaintiffs have reached settlements and partial settlements of claims stemming from a deadly explosion in the central Texas town.
....
Waco-based state District Judge Jim Meyer canceled a trial set to begin today. The settlements are the latest among more than 200 claims filed in the aftermath of the West Fertilizer Co. blast that killed 15 people and left dozens injured. As the fire raged, the building"s roof collapsed and an explosion rocked the city of approximately 2800 people. The blast killed 10 firefighters and five civilians. Several firefighters suffered serious injuries.
Destroyed buildings included three schools, a West EMS building, a nursing home, an apartment complex and several single family homes. Three West Volunteer Fire Department fire trucks were also destroyed by the fire and explosion.
Insured losses as a result of the fire and explosion were estimated to be $100 million.
Plaintiffs" spokesman and Waco attorney Steve Harrison tells the Waco Tribune-Herald the city and a nursing home reached settlements with CF Industries but have unresolved claims against the other major defendant in the case, El Dorado Chemical Co.
Harrison says settlement terms are confidential.
Defendants either manufactured or sold fertilizer that caught fire and exploded. They"ve denied any wrongdoing.
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