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From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (17 articles)
Date: Fri, 11 May 2018 07:29:59 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 36010AD0-C689-490E-A002-45DE2F45C26A**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
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Table of Contents (17 articles)
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH EVACUATION AFTER CHEMICAL SMELL
Tags: us_SC, public, release, response, unknown_chemical
MERROL HYDE STUDENTS, TEACHER RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
Tags: us_TN, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
MIXED POOL CHEMICALS IN PICKUP TRUCK CAUSE PARKING LOT FIRE AT MG BUILDING MATERIALS
Tags: us_OK, transportation, fire, response, chlorine, hydrochloric_acid
OIL SPEWING IN NW OKC CLOSES ROADS THURSDAY AFTERNOON
Tags: us_OK, industrial, release, response, petroleum
FOUR HOSPITALIZED AFTER TOXIC LEAK IN DOWNTOWN MONTREAL
Tags: Canada, public, release, injury, other_chemical
OFFICIALS SEE NO THREAT FROM CHEMICAL LEAK
Tags: us_IN, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical
HAWAII VOLCANO THREATENS POWER PLANT; MASS EVACUATIONS POSSIBLE
Tags: us_HI, industrial, discovery, environmental, flammables
IMPROPERLY MIXING POOL CHEMICALS CAN LEAD TO BURNS AND TOXIC VAPORS
Tags: us_MA, public, discovery, environmental, pool_chemicals
EPA TAKES ACTION ON PROPOSED BAN ON CHEMICAL THAT KILLED A LOWCOUNTRY MAN
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, methylene_chloride
WOMAN FINDS RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL WHILE CLEANING BASEMENT
Tags: us_IL, public, discovery, response, radiation, uranium
CHEMICAL SPILL IN WARSAW CONTAINED
Tags: us_IN, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
SUPERIOR OFFICIALS: REFINERY INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS NEED TO UPGRADE HAZMAT RESPONSE
Tags: us_WI, industrial, follow-up, response, petroleum
SAVANNAH HWY BRIEFLY SHUT DOWN AS HAZMAT CREWS REMOVE POOL CLEANER ON ROADWAY
Tags: us_SC, transportation, release, response, pool_chemicals
STUDENT: TEACHER CONCERNED FOR CLASS DURING HAZMAT SITUATION IN HENDERSONVILLE SCHOOL
Tags: us_TN, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAMS RESPOND AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL AT GACKLE-STREETER SCHOOL
Tags: us_ND, laboratory, release, response, dust, magnesium
MYSTERY GAS SENDS 12 PEOPLE TO HOSPITAL IN AUCKLAND HIGH-RISE DRAMA
Tags: New_Zealand, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
FIRE MARSHAL WARNS PUBLIC ABOUT HANDLING OF POOL CHEMICALS
Tags: us_MA, public, discovery, environmental, pool_chemicals
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NORTH MYRTLE BEACH EVACUATION AFTER CHEMICAL SMELL
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article210857329.html
Tags: us_SC, public, release, response, unknown_chemical
A refinished bathtub left in an residence without ventilation caused an odor and evacuation of Cresent Towers II in North Myrtle Beach on Thursday.
According to city spokesperson Patrick Dowling, the reported odor was found coming from a bathtub in an unoccupied unit that was refinished and sealed in the morning. Steps were not taken to ventilate the unit and the odor spread to other areas of the building.
Once the unit was ventilated, the odor disappeared, according to Dowling.
The smell was first believed to be coming from a janitorial closet.
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MERROL HYDE STUDENTS, TEACHER RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/hendersonville/2018/05/10/merrol-hyde-students-teacher-released-hospital-classroom-deemed-safe/598014002/
Tags: us_TN, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
All eight Merrol Hyde students and the teacher injured in Wednesday's science experiment gone wrong have been released from the hospital, the science lab has been cleaned and cleared for use, and school is back in session.
Sumner County Schools spokesmen Jeremy Johnson said Thursday morning that the maintenance department completely cleaned the classroom Wednesday night, and it was back in working order.
Merrol Hyde Principal Darren Frank had previously made arrangements for classes to be routed around that classroom, so it will not be in use today; however, it is ready to be used, and classes are expected to be held there tomorrow, Johnson said.
While officials are still not saying what chemicals caused the explosion, Johnson did say the room ‰??did not require anything but a regular cleaning.‰??
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MIXED POOL CHEMICALS IN PICKUP TRUCK CAUSE PARKING LOT FIRE AT MG BUILDING MATERIALS
http://kerrvillebreakingnews.com/breaking-news/mixed-pool-chemicals-in-pickup-truck-cause-parking-lot-fire-at-mg-building-materials/
Tags: us_OK, transportation, fire, response, chlorine, hydrochloric_acid
Kerrville Fire Department and hazmat crews have MG Building Materials shut down at this hour due to a fire caused by mixed chemicals early this afternoon.
Muriatic acid and chlorine are to blame for setting the back of a pickup truck on fire that was parked in front of MG Building Materials in the parking lot. The man had just picked up the chemicals from a pool shop and they spilled in the back of the truck.
Assistant Manager Misty Ayala told Kerrville Breaking News that the fire was going for about 8-9 minutes in the back of the truck when they took on the blaze with fire extinguishers. Kerrville Fire Department showed up shortly after.
Since the two chemicals create a toxic gas when they are mixed and come into contact with metal, emergency crews shut down MG Building Materials at 2pm until hazmat crews could deem the area safe for human exposure.
---------------------------------------------
OIL SPEWING IN NW OKC CLOSES ROADS THURSDAY AFTERNOON
http://newsok.com/article/5594215
Tags: us_OK, industrial, release, response, petroleum
Oklahoma City fire crews responded Thursday afternoon to reports of a ‰??yellow liquid‰?? spewing from the ground near an oil well site in northwest Oklahoma City.
About 4:25 p.m., crews responded to the 16900 block of N Pennsylvania Avenue where the liquid, later identified as by fire officials as raw crude oil, could be seen spewing up into the air.
Authorities closed off part of Pennsylvania Avenue near NW 164 until the leak was contained. Less than an hour later, officials opened the road.
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FOUR HOSPITALIZED AFTER TOXIC LEAK IN DOWNTOWN MONTREAL
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/four-hospitalized-after-toxic-leak-in-downtown-montreal-1.3924626
Tags: Canada, public, release, injury, other_chemical
Four people were taken to hospital after a toxic material leak in downtown Montreal Thursday afternoon.
As a result of the leak, an urgent water advisory was in effect from 4:40 p.m. until 11:20 p.m.
The City of Montreal said almost everyone in the region bordered by Bleury St., Beaver Hall Hill, Ren̩-L̩vesque Blvd. and Saint-Antoine St. can use their water safely.
The leak happened in a condo buidling at the corner of Saint-Alexandre St. and Viger Ave., where magnatrol, a cooling fluid, spilled into an aqueduct.
Montreal fire department operations chief Marwan Shedeed said a janitor in the building at 445 Viger notified authorities when he discovered a valve malfunctioning. He said some of the liquid leaked into the city‰??s water system, but officials could not determine how much.
In total, seven people became ill, including the four who were taken to Notre-Dame Hospital to be treated. Their symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea, said Shedeed.
---------------------------------------------
OFFICIALS SEE NO THREAT FROM CHEMICAL LEAK
http://www.timesuniononline.com/Content/Default/News/Article/Officials-See-No-Threat-From-Chemical-Leak/-3/224/112730
Tags: us_IN, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical
A small chemical leak late Wednesday morning was quickly handled with no threats to the area.
According to a news release from the city of Warsaw, at 11:06 a.m. Wednesday Plain Township Fire Department and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory received a 911 call for a chemical leak at Airworx Construction Equipment on Argonne Road, Warsaw.
Fire departments arrived on scene four minutes later and saw a small chemical leak inside an Expedited Freight Systems semi-trailer.
Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Public Information Officer Max Kinsey said it was an acidic substance.
Elkhart Fire Department HazMat was called to assist at 1:20 p.m. Warsaw-Wayne and Plain fire crews contained the leak to the semi-trailer, except for a ‰??minute‰?? portion that spilled on the ground that was quickly contained.
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HAWAII VOLCANO THREATENS POWER PLANT; MASS EVACUATIONS POSSIBLE
https://www.aol.com/article/weather/2018/05/10/hawaii-volcano-threatens-power-plant-mass-evacuations-possible/23431965/
Tags: us_HI, industrial, discovery, environmental, flammables
PAHOA, Hawaii, May 10 (Reuters) - Hawaii authorities scrambled to move tens of thousands of gallons of highly flammable chemicals from the path of lava on Thursday, and the state's governor warned mass evacuations might be needed as the Kilauea volcano's eruption became more violent.
Geologists have warned that Kilauea may be entering a phase of explosive eruptions, the likes of which Hawaii has not seen in nearly a century, that could hurl "ballistic blocks" and dust towns with volcanic ash and smog.
After a new fissure opened on Wednesday a half mile (0.8 km)from a geothermal power plant, Hawaii Governor David Ige set up a task force to remove pentane fluid used in the plant's turbines. If the chemical ignites, the resulting explosion could create a blast radius of up to 1 mile (1.6 km), Ige said.
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IMPROPERLY MIXING POOL CHEMICALS CAN LEAD TO BURNS AND TOXIC VAPORS
http://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/improperly-mixing-pool-chemicals-can-lead-to-burns-and-toxic-vapors/1172099934
Tags: us_MA, public, discovery, environmental, pool_chemicals
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - The warmer weather has a lot of people getting ready to open their swimming pools.
State Fire Marshall Peter Ostroskey recommends owners make a pool chemical safety plan before they take that first dip of the season.
Swimming is one of the most popular ways to cool off on a hot summer day, but there are important steps to take before opening your pool.
Pools and spas require multiple chemicals to keep clean but, improperly mixing those chemicals can cause fires and spread toxic vapors.
West Springfield Fire Lieutenant Micheal Dickson told 22News what can happen if you breathe those vapors, "It can increase your respiratory drive, you can get dizzy or disoriented, depending on the amount of gas in the air."
The owner at 21st Century Pools and Spas in Chicopee, John Whiting, told 22News it's important to use different scoops when putting different chemicals into the water.
---------------------------------------------
EPA TAKES ACTION ON PROPOSED BAN ON CHEMICAL THAT KILLED A LOWCOUNTRY MAN
http://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/epa-takes-action-on-proposed-ban-on-chemical-that-killed-a-lowcountry-man/1172060081
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, methylene_chloride
WASHINGTON D.C. (WCBD) ‰?? In a press release Thursday, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced upcoming actions on methylene chloride, a chemical that can be used for paint stripping.
"The Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), requires EPA to perform risk evaluations on the uses of ten specific chemicals including methylene chloride. EPA is nearing the completion of Problem Formulations for the first ten chemicals," the release said.
This announcement comes days after EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt met with the Wynne Family of Charleston.
EPA announced three updates:
EPA intends to finalize the methylene chloride rulemaking;
EPA is not re-evaluating the paint stripping uses of methylene chloride and is relying on its previous risk assessments; and
EPA is working to send the finalized rulemaking to OMB shortly.
"EPA is working diligently to implement the new law get the most modern and safe chemicals to market, and to ensure the safety of existing chemicals," said the release.
The Environmental Defense Fund, which has worked with the Wynne family pushing for the ban, responded to the ruling adding what the group believes will make the ban stronger:
Ban distribution in commerce and use of methylene chloride for paint and coating removal
Extend to both consumer and commercial uses to ensure that workers are also protected
Not provide exemptions based on training or use of protective equipment
Be finalized and implemented quickly
Require full compliance within as short as possible a period
---------------------------------------------
WOMAN FINDS RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL WHILE CLEANING BASEMENT
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/woman-finds-radioactive-material-while-cleaning-basement/
Tags: us_IL, public, discovery, response, radiation, uranium
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (AP) ‰?? A brown package with a label warning it contained radioactive material has been found in the basement of a suburban Chicago home.
Naperville Fire Division Chief Amy Scheller says hazmat teams tested the item and determined it did contain radioactive material but not at levels considered dangerous. She added the public was not a risk from the package that was discovered early Wednesday.
A neighbor, John Klein, told the Chicago Tribune the owner of the home found the package of uranium while cleaning the basement. He says the material belonged to the woman‰??s late husband, who was a scientist.
Klein says the package had been in the home for about 30 years, and the resident didn‰??t know what to do with it.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL IN WARSAW CONTAINED
https://www.abc57.com/news/chemical-spill-in-warsaw-contained
Tags: us_IN, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
WARSAW, Ind. -- Firefighters responded to a chemical spill at a business on Anchorage Road just after 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory was called to the scene around 11 a.m. for a chemical leak inside the back of a semi trailer at Airworx Construction Equipment, 515 Anchorage Road.
The leak was small and was mostly contained to the semi's trailer.
A small amount leaked onto the ground, but it was quickly contained.
The Elkhart Fire Department HAZMAT was also called to the scene to ensure the leak was contained.
Warsaw-Wayne Fire's spokesman said the leak was fully contained by 2:40 p.m.
---------------------------------------------
SUPERIOR OFFICIALS: REFINERY INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS NEED TO UPGRADE HAZMAT RESPONSE
https://www.wpr.org/superior-officials-refinery-incident-highlights-need-upgrade-hazmat-response
Tags: us_WI, industrial, follow-up, response, petroleum
Superior officials say they‰??d like the state to upgrade their hazmat team designation in order to access funding and resources to respond to hazardous materials in the wake of explosions and fires at the Husky Energy oil refinery.
In the last decade, Wisconsin conducted a review of the state‰??s hazardous materials response, which created a tiered system of teams with various levels of capabilities. Previously, the state had eight regional response teams. Now, Wisconsin has 21 hazmat teams that fall under either a Type I, II or III designation for response. Despite the change, Superior officials say they often have to be self-sufficient in terms of resources.
"We're a long way from the next hazmat team, for instance," said Superior Fire Department Chief Steve Panger. "I think the closest ... would be a level one team (that's) in Eau Claire. The deployment for those resources are sometimes several hours away."
Superior has a Type II hazmat team, which means it‰??s capable of responding to unknown chemical releases. Superior Mayor Jim Paine said the Twin Ports have enough hazardous materials to warrant a Type I designation.
"We deserve to be able to respond to those more effectively than waiting for a team to respond from Eau Claire," said Paine. "We‰??ve had resources at that level before. I think the state should commit to making sure that we can meet some of the very serious potential risks that exist in this community."
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SAVANNAH HWY BRIEFLY SHUT DOWN AS HAZMAT CREWS REMOVE POOL CLEANER ON ROADWAY
http://abcnews4.com/news/local/savannah-hwy-briefly-shut-down-as-hazmat-crews-remove-pool-cleaner-on-roadway
Tags: us_SC, transportation, release, response, pool_chemicals
West Ashley, S.C. (WCIV) ‰?? Charleston Fire Department units were dispatched for a chemical substance on Savannah Hwy, between Radio and Coburg Roads around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday.
North and Southbound lanes on Savannah Highway will be closed for about 30 minutes.
The substance has been identified as pool cleaner, according to the Charleston Fire Department's Twitter page.
---------------------------------------------
STUDENT: TEACHER CONCERNED FOR CLASS DURING HAZMAT SITUATION IN HENDERSONVILLE SCHOOL
http://fox17.com/news/local/student-teacher-concerned-for-class-during-hazmat-situation-in-hendersonville-school
Tags: us_TN, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. ‰?? A chemical accident in a science lab injured several students and caused moments of chaos at Merrol Hyde Magnet School on Wednesday morning.
Around 9 a.m., senior Sophia Sisler‰??s last day of high school turned out to be anything but normal.
"Ambulances and firetrucks start pulling up, and we were like, what on earth is going on,‰?? Sisler said.
Hendersonville Fire Chief Scotty Bush said a chemical reaction gone wrong in a science lab was responsible for injuring 17 students and one teacher.
‰??We do not feel like this, whatsoever, is any kind of attack, or any kind of incident where a student did anything,‰?? Bush said. ‰??Do not panic about that. We feel like it is something that happened with reaction to chemicals, I‰??m almost 98 percent sure of that.‰??
Sisler said after this incident happened, she saw injured students walking to the nurse‰??s office on the first floor of the school.
"There were kids with a lot of red, some crying and shaking," Sisler said. "There was a lot of red. There was some soot on some of the kids, some of the had open blisters on their legs already."
she said even during the chaos, she heard that teacher in the lab got all of his students out first.
‰??I heard that he was actively burning, his stomach was on fire, and he put the kids all before himself," Sisler said. "And he looked each and every kid, who was scared and burned, in the eye and ushered them out of the room so that they wouldn‰??t get hurt anymore, and he said 'you‰??re going to be okay, everything‰??s going to be okay.'"
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HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAMS RESPOND AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL AT GACKLE-STREETER SCHOOL
http://www.kvrr.com/2018/05/09/hazardous-materials-teams-respond-chemical-spill-gackle-streeter-school/
Tags: us_ND, laboratory, release, response, dust, magnesium
GACKLE, N.D. ‰?? No one was hurt when the Gackle-Streeter public school had to be evacuated on Tuesday after a chemical spill.
Hazardous materials teams from Fargo and Jamestown were called to the school after a bottle of magnesium powder broke open in the high school science classroom.
A teacher and student reported hearing a ‰??popping‰?? sound coming from the storage cabinet.
Students were evacuated safely and the chemical was cleaned up.
There was a risk of explosion if the powder would have come in contact with moisture or a heat source.
Classes resumed Wednesday morning.
---------------------------------------------
MYSTERY GAS SENDS 12 PEOPLE TO HOSPITAL IN AUCKLAND HIGH-RISE DRAMA
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/103789162/nine-people-taken-to-hospital-after-suspected-gas-leak-in-auckland
Tags: New_Zealand, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
Fire and ambulance crews were called to Augusta House, near the Countdown building on Victoria St West in Auckland's CBD, about 9.35am for what was thought to be a suspected gas leak.
However, what caused 12 people to come down with nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath remains a mystery.
The suspected gas leak injured 12 people in Auckland CBD.
Fire and Emergency assistant area commander Dave Woon said fire crews ran gas detectors throughout the building and did not come up with anything.
The New Zealand Defence Force's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) ‰?? the bomb squad ‰?? was then called in to test the scene.
"We couldn't find anything that triggered our devices . . . and a preliminary search by them hasn't found anything either," Woon said.
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FIRE MARSHAL WARNS PUBLIC ABOUT HANDLING OF POOL CHEMICALS
https://www.capecodtoday.com/article/2018/05/08/239312-Fire-Marshal-Warns-Public-About-Handling-Pool-Chemicals
Tags: us_MA, public, discovery, environmental, pool_chemicals
STOW ‰?? Summer weather finally arrived this week and many homeowners are getting their pools ready. State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey wants pool owners to take a moment to make a pool chemical safety plan and share it with family members. State Fire Marshal Ostroskey said, ‰??Pool chemicals may become a hazard when they get damp or wet with a small quantity of water or when they are improperly mixed with each other, other chemicals or reactive materials.‰?? He added, ‰??It is important to keep pool chemicals dry. Store them in separate containers with lids in a locked shed away from the house and pool.‰??
Ostroskey said, ‰??Local fire departments and hazardous materials teams often respond to emergencies involving swimming pool and hot tub/whirlpool chemicals. The potential costs incurred by the pool owner for emergency measures can be extremely expensive. Take the necessary measures to prevent or address any injury to people or harm to the environment.‰??
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