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From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (9 articles)
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2018 09:02:52 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: DE7A8398-393D-4877-ADFC-381403FEADA9**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, June 22, 2018 at 9:02:12 AM
A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas
Table of Contents (9 articles)
U.S. REPORT PROPOSES LOWER SAFE LEVEL FOR PERFLUOROCHEMICAL EXPOSURE•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
GAS LEAK FOUND AT KEENE HIGH SCHOOL
Tags: us_NH, laboratory, release, response, natural_gas
CITY CREWS HANDLE CHEMICAL LEAK
Tags: us_OH, industrial, release, response, bleach
NEW YORK SUES 3M, FIVE OTHERS OVER TOXIC CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION
Tags: us_NY, public, release, environmental, toxics
SMALL CHEMICAL SPILL CLEANED UP IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, dye, pesticides
TOXIC CHEMICAL STUDY EPA IS ACCUSED OF BLOCKING JUST CAME OUT. IT CALLS FOR STRICTER DRINKING-WATER LIMITS
Tags: us_NJ, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
WORKER INJURED IN CHEMICAL SPILL AT TOLEDO PORT
Tags: us_OH, industrial, release, injury, sodium_hydroxide
MINNESOTA AUTHORITIES WARN ABOUT POISON RISK OF CAMPFIRE FLAME COLORANT ‰?? TWIN CITIES
Tags: us_MN, industrial, discovery, environmental, copper_sulphate
HOME DEPOT, LOWE‰??S TO END SALES OF CHEMICAL BLAMED IN ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, environmental, methylene_chloride
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U.S. REPORT PROPOSES LOWER SAFE LEVEL FOR PERFLUOROCHEMICAL EXPOSURE•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ•ÈÀ
https://cen.acs.org/environment/persistent-pollutants/US-report-proposes-lower-safe/96/i26
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
federal report once suppressed by the U.S. military and EPA proposes safe daily levels of consumption for two perfluorochemicals that are one-tenth those of EPA.
The draft toxicity analysis, released June 20 by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), would set a minimal risk level of 3 Ì? 10‰??6 mg of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) per kilogram of body weight per day and of 2 Ì? 10‰??6 mg/kg/day for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Formerly widely used but no longer manufactured domestically, these chemicals taint drinking water sources at scores of sites across the U.S. and, increasingly, in other countries.
ATSDR‰??s minimal risk levels estimate daily human exposure to a substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of health effects other than cancer. The agency uses these levels to identify contaminants and potential health effects at hazardous waste siteså-‰??but not for regulatory purposes, the draft report cautions.
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GAS LEAK FOUND AT KEENE HIGH SCHOOL
http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/gas-leak-found-at-keene-high-school/article_11402706-3548-5272-bf8b-78d44c4c536e.html
Tags: us_NH, laboratory, release, response, natural_gas
Keene High School was evacuated Tuesday after a teacher noticed an odor of natural gas in the building, according to fire officials.
The Keene Fire Department responded to the school just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Deputy Chief Jeffrey Chickering. During their investigation, firefighters recorded gas readings of 16 percent of the lower explosive limit, he said, and determined that the gas was coming from burners that were turned on in some of the school‰??s science labs.
Firefighters shut off the gas to the unlit burners and ventilated the building, Chickering said. The building was closed for about two hours during the investigation, and no one was affected by the gas, he said.
Burners were turned on in three of the school‰??s science labs, according to Keene police Lt. Steven Tenney. At this point, there is not enough information to determine if the burners were left on intentionally or by accident, and police are still investigating, he said. Officers will speak with teachers and review hallway security camera footage as part of their investigation, Tenney said.
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CITY CREWS HANDLE CHEMICAL LEAK
http://www.heraldstaronline.com/news/local-news/2018/06/city-crews-handle-chemical-leak/
Tags: us_OH, industrial, release, response, bleach
STEUBENVILLE ‰?? City wastewater department workers spent Tuesday evening working to prevent bleach from killing the microorganisms which breaks down the sewerage.
Chuck Murphy, city utilities director, said workers at the plant noticed a white cloud in a ditch at the plant and notified the fire department.
The chemical, sodium hypochlorite, or household bleach, had entered the sewer system and made its way to the plant. Murphy said between 50 and 55 gallons of the chemical was released.
City Manager James Mavromatis said a drum burst at National Colloid on Adams Street, and the liquid entered a drain.
Murphy said holding tanks used during times of heavy rain were opened and the sewerage containing the sodium hypochlorite was pumped into the tanks. He said that was done to prevent the chemical from entering the secondary treatment section of the plant. Sodium bisulfite was added to the sewerage to remove the chlorine from the water, Murphy said. Chlorine is present in a small amount in sodium hypochlorite.
Mavromatis said National Colloid provided the sodium busulfite to the city.
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NEW YORK SUES 3M, FIVE OTHERS OVER TOXIC CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION
http://wsau.com/news/articles/2018/jun/20/new-york-sues-3m-others-over-firefighting-foam/
Tags: us_NY, public, release, environmental, toxics
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state sued 3M Co and five other companies to recover the cost of cleaning up environmental contamination caused by toxic chemicals in firefighting foam that they manufactured.
Governor Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Barbara Underwood said on Wednesday the lawsuit seeks more than $38.8 million plus punitive damages and is the first of its type by a U.S. state.
New York said the use of the foam at five military and civilian airports in the state caused "extensive contamination" to nearby fish, soil and water and increased the risk to people of immune system damage and other health problems.
The companies knew or should have known by the 1970s that the foam, when used as intended, could threaten public health and the environment, the state said.
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SMALL CHEMICAL SPILL CLEANED UP IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
http://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/small-chemical-spill-cleaned-up-in-residential-neighborhood/1251833867
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, dye, pesticides
LUBBOCK, Texas - Lubbock Fire Rescue was called Wednesday afternoon to the 2200 block of Flint Avenue for the report of a small chemical spill.
A photojournalist at the scene reported that someone spilled a green-colored herbicide in the street. It splashed on someone‰??s car. The green dye wasn‰??t washing off, so the fire department responded to remove the chemical from the street.
EverythingLubbock confirmed with LFR that there were no injuries.
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TOXIC CHEMICAL STUDY EPA IS ACCUSED OF BLOCKING JUST CAME OUT. IT CALLS FOR STRICTER DRINKING-WATER LIMITS
https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2018/06/20/toxic-chemical-study-epa-is-accused-of-blocking-just-came-out-it-calls-for-stricter-drinking-water-limits/
Tags: us_NJ, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
A federal agency released recommendations on Wednesday on how to protect the public from a class of chemicals that are linked to a range of illnesses including some cancers, immune system problems, decreased fertility, and thyroid disease.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published long-awaited health standards on 14 chemicals in the PFAS family, also known as PFCs or perfluoroalkalyls. For two of the chemicals, the report advocates limits that are much stricter than those recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency, and stronger than levels currently being implemented by New Jersey, a national leader in regulating the chemicals.
ATSDR, a unit of the Department of Health and Human Services, has been under pressure from public health advocates and some lawmakers to release the study following media reports that publication had been blocked by the White House and the EPA because of wide differences between the two sets of recommendations.
For the chemical PFOS, ATSDR is recommending a ‰??minimum risk level‰?? from all sources that is 10 times stricter than the EPA‰??s health guideline. For PFOA, ATSDR‰??s recommendation is about one-seventh of what the EPA says is safe for human consumption, the document shows. The EPA did not respond to a request for comment.
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WORKER INJURED IN CHEMICAL SPILL AT TOLEDO PORT
http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2018/06/20/Worker-injured-in-chemical-spill-at-Toledo-port.html
Tags: us_OH, industrial, release, injury, sodium_hydroxide
A worker suffered chemical burns to the hands and face from a sodium hydroxide spill at the Port of Toledo on Wednesday afternoon, the Toledo Fire Department reported.
Pvt. Sterling Rahe, the fire department‰??s spokesman, said the unidentified worker was handling a chemical transfer at Midwest Terminals of Toledo International, 3518 St. Lawrence Dr., when he was splashed with the liquid, also known as caustic soda and most familiar as the active ingredient in drain cleaner.
The worker was wearing protective equipment but still was exposed to some of the chemical. A co-worker immediately provided assistance and began decontamination procedures that were under way when firefighters arrived, Mr. Rahe said.
After additional aid at the scene, the worker was sent to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center for treatment of injuries that were ‰??serious but not life-threatening,‰?? the spokesman said.
Mr. Rahe said as much as 300 to 400 gallons spilled before the flow was shut off, although Todd Audet, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority‰??s vice president of operations, said that amount seemed high to him.
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MINNESOTA AUTHORITIES WARN ABOUT POISON RISK OF CAMPFIRE FLAME COLORANT ‰?? TWIN CITIES
https://www.twincities.com/2018/06/20/minnesota-authorities-warn-about-poison-risk-of-campfire-flame-colorant/
Tags: us_MN, industrial, discovery, environmental, copper_sulphate
As the summer campfire season begins, the Minnesota Poison Control center has issued a warning about a product used to generate colored flames.
KARE-TV reported that the chemical, sold in a small foil packet, has sickened several young children in Minnesota, including one who was sent to the hospital.
The Poison Control center has handled four poisoning cases involving the flame colorant products this season. Three cases involved the product Mystical Fire manufactured by Mystical Distributing.
It contains a copper sulfate chemical that produces the coloration. The product warns against opening the package since the contents can be harmful to children.
The center‰??s medical director, Jon Cole, said that the package can be confused with Pop Rocks or other candy.
Mystical Distributing president Mark Phillips said that the product is tamperproof and should not be opened, but thrown directly into the fire.
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HOME DEPOT, LOWE‰??S TO END SALES OF CHEMICAL BLAMED IN ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/business/20180620/home-depot-lowes-to-end-sales-of-chemical-blamed-in-accidental-deaths
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, environmental, methylene_chloride
Home Depot is the latest big retailer to announce it will drop products containing methylene chloride, a chemical that has been blamed for dozens of accidental deaths.
By the end of 2018, Home Depot said it will no longer sell products containing the chemical, which is found in carpet, paint, insulation, flooring and cleaning products.
The company‰??s announcement this week came after Sherwin-Williams tweeted last week that it would stop selling paint strippers that contain the chemical, and Lowe‰??s in May became the first major retailer to announce it was phasing out products that contain methylene chloride.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, methylene chloride exposure can be ‰??extremely hazardous‰?? because the chemical‰??s vapors can reduce oxygen and reach toxic levels quickly in small, poorly ventilated spaces. A 2012 report from the CDC found 13 deaths from 2000 to 2011 were caused by methylene chloride stripping agents.
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