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From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (13 articles)
Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2018 07:34:42 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: B615B4D9-CD4C-4D4E-A054-63B29C5CAD67**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, July 2, 2018 at 7:34:33 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 (13 articles)
HAZMAT SITUATION DISPLACES FOUR FAMILIES IN MANCHESTER
Tags: us_NH, public, release, injury, solvent
SMOKING POWDERED SOAP CAUSES HAZMAT RESPONSE, CLOSES CENTER ROAD
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, dust
FEDS SEEK WARRANT TO ENTER ABANDONED PATERSON CHEMICAL FACTORY
Tags: us_NJ, industrial, follow-up, environmental, flammables
AVOID SAFETY PITFALLS DURING PLANT EXPANSION AND MODIFICATION
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, natural_gas
9 YEAR-OLD NAPA BOY RECOVERING AFTER CHEMISTRY CAMP ACCIDENT
Tags: us_CA, education, fire, injury
MISHANDLING RADIOACTIVE SOURCES AND SAMPLES
Tags: industrial, discovery, response, radiation
1 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL AT BU
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical
HAZMAT ON SCENE OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA LEAK IN CLARK COUNTY
Tags: us_OH, public, release, response, ammonia
E-COMMERCE PRODUCT SAFETY PLEDGE 'NOT ENOUGH', SAY NGOS
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
CHEMICAL COMPANY OWNER CHARGED AFTER BOMBS ARE FOUND IN HOME ‰?? PHILADELPHIA MAGAZINE
Tags: public, explosion, response, explosives, illegal, clandestine_lab
EPA LIMITING EVALUATION OF CHEMICAL RISKS
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
ONLINE RETAILERS COMMIT TO SPEED UP REMOVAL OF DANGEROUS PRODUCTS
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
UNTANGLING THE CRISPR CANCER SCARE
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
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HAZMAT SITUATION DISPLACES FOUR FAMILIES IN MANCHESTER
http://www.wmur.com/article/hazmat-situation-displaces-four-families-in-manchester/22011735
Tags: us_NH, public, release, injury, solvent
MANCHESTER, N.H. ‰??
Manchester fire crews responded to a hazardous materials situation at a home on Merrimack Street Saturday night.
At about 9:40 p.m., firefighters arrived at 289 Merrimack St. to find an unknown odor throughout the three-story home. Air monitoring indicated high levels of volatile organic compounds.
The building was evacuated, and five gallons of an unknown solvent spill was discovered in the basement. The building was ventilated and the contaminated soil removed, but the odor and VOC levels could not be reduced to safe levels.
Four families were displaced, and one resident went to Elliot Hospital to check higher levels of carbon monoxide in his blood.
The Red Cross was notified and the families provided temporary housing until the contaminated soil could be removed by a hazardous waste company.
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SMOKING POWDERED SOAP CAUSES HAZMAT RESPONSE, CLOSES CENTER ROAD
https://patch.com/illinois/frankfort/smoking-powdered-soap-causes-hazmat-response-closes-center-road
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, dust
FRANKFORT, IL ‰?? A hazardous materials team responded Sunday night to an unusual case of a pallet of powdered soap that began smoking at a Frankfort chemical manufacturer, according to the Frankfort Fire Protection District. Although the smoldering substance didn't release anything toxic, the incident at Blachford Corp. briefly shut down Center Road between Pfaff Drive and Laraway Road.
The fire district received a call just after 7 p.m. Sunday, July 1, of white smoke coming from Blachford's building, 401 Center Road, Battalion Chief Jeremy Stukel said. The smoking unknown substance eventually was determined to be powdered soap that had somehow become heated and began to smolder, he said.
After consulting with the hazmat team, firefighters took the powdered soap outside and separated it in order to stop the smoldering, Stukel said. The process took about 90 minutes, and the heated powdered soap wasn't considered toxic or hazardous, he added.
Stukel said he wasn't sure how the substance became overheated, but he didn't believe the recent high temperatures had anything to do with it. The powdered soap had not been on the pallet long, and it either had been recently delivered to the building or was waiting to be picked up, he said.
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FEDS SEEK WARRANT TO ENTER ABANDONED PATERSON CHEMICAL FACTORY
http://patersontimes.com/2018/07/01/feds-seek-warrant-to-enter-abandoned-paterson-chemical-factory/
Tags: us_NJ, industrial, follow-up, environmental, flammables
The federal government has filed in court seeking an administrative warrant to enter the former Galaxie Chemical Corporation building on Piercy Street that contains hundreds of drums of chemicals and has been the site of multiple fires over the past months.
Federal officials need entry into the building at 6-34 Piercy Street to further investigate ‰?? including taking samples ‰?? the chemicals left behind in 500 drums inside the building, according to court documents.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection referred the case to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for investigation following a fire on May 12, 2018. State and Passaic County investigators inspected the site following the fire.
‰??The drums contain various hazardous substances like acid, including hydrochloric acid and acetic acid, and flammable material, including xylene and oxidizers. Some drums were labeled as containing 3,3‰??-dichlorobenzidine, a known hazardous substance and a probable human carcinogen. Xylene, 3,3‰??-dichlorobenzidine, hydrochloric acid and acetic acid are listed hazardous substances under 40 C.F.R. å¤ 302.4. Most of the drums are in poor condition; improperly stored, leaking, and rusting,‰?? read court documents filed on Jun. 21, 2018.
Investigators from the EPA observed conditions at the site that poses ‰??a risk to human health and the environment,‰?? says the filing. There is also a threat of another fire at the building that could cause the airborne release of hazardous substances from the drums and expose nearby residents and businesses. The building sits in a residential neighborhood.
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AVOID SAFETY PITFALLS DURING PLANT EXPANSION AND MODIFICATION
http://www.chemengonline.com/avoid-safety-pitfalls-plant-expansion-modification/
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, natural_gas
In 2015, construction in the chemical process industries (CPI) soared. Capital spending surged 18.4% and 255 new chemical production projects were announced, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC) [1]. Since that year, the market has backtracked due, in part, to falling natural gas prices. However, capital spending still increased by 6% in 2017 according to the ACC [2]. That means some projects are moving forward. As CPI plant operators consider how to proceed in the coming years, many may opt to increase capacity or yield, or to add new product streams through the use of more modest expansions or upgrades to existing plants, rather than new construction. Plant expansions and renovations can be an effective way to increase capacity without incurring the higher costs associated with grassroots construction.
To make such site improvements as successful and cost-effective as possible, they must be executed carefully, with special attention paid to process engineering and plant safety considerations. Even seemingly minor upgrades can create safety issues if not executed properly. Meanwhile, larger projects may require significant changes to plant layouts and complex engineering adjustments that can make them as challenging from a safety standpoint as greenfield construction.
One of the most famous and unfortunate examples of a plant modification leading to a safety disaster happened in 1974 at a chemical processing plant in Flixborough, U.K. Twenty-eight workers were killed and 36 others were injured in an explosion that was traced back to a modification made two months prior. A leak in one of the plant‰??s reactors had been discovered. To avoid a plant shutdown, engineers installed a temporary pipe intended to bypass the leaking reactor until it was repaired.
A later investigation found that both the pipe that was used and the installation process were substandard. The project was hastily executed without proper consideration for the overall engineering implications. The incident sent shockwaves through the international chemical engineering community, and it led to significant regulatory reforms across Europe, and broader initiatives around the world, focused on improving process safety.
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9 YEAR-OLD NAPA BOY RECOVERING AFTER CHEMISTRY CAMP ACCIDENT
http://abc7news.com/amp/boy-burned-at-science-camp-in-napa/3675344/
Tags: us_CA, education, fire, injury
NAPA, Calif. - A 9-year-old Napa boy is recovering in stable condition at UC Davis burn center in Sacramento. Authorities from Napa's Parks and Recreation Department say the child was burned during a chemistry experiment demo, part of a week-long chemistry camp for kids.
The boy and eight other kids were watching instructors conduct the "sugar snake" combustion experiment, a reaction which happens when baking soda, sugar and alcohol is mixed and lit on fire.
But something went terribly wrong.
"Something happened, there was a fire and the 9-year-old boy got burned," said Napa Parks and Rec spokesperson John Coates.
The injured boy was taken to Queen of the Valley Hospital, then airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center.
The class was taught by the Scientopia Discovery Center. Its director says science experiments have never gone wrong before.
"The kids were standing about 5 feet away from the experiment, the boys shirt caught on fire and staff reacted, made him stop, drop and roll," said Scientopia Director Michelle Dahlberg.
Chemistry camp was canceled Friday, along with future camps this summer through the city of Napa.
"Obviously, this was a tragic accident. We want to understand what caused it to prevent it from happening in the future," said Coates.
he Napa Fire Department is investigating. Officials don't believe there was any criminal wrongdoing but staff will be re-creating the sugar snake experiment to find out what might have happened.
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MISHANDLING RADIOACTIVE SOURCES AND SAMPLES
https://opexshare.doe.gov/lesson.cfm/2018/6/27/21425/Mishandling-Radioactive-Sources-and-Samples
Tags: industrial, discovery, response, radiation
This summary is being issued to review requirements for Radiation Protection Programs, recent mishandling of radioactive sources and samples events, and the lessons learned from these events. This OES emphasizes the value of training and communication to promote safe behaviors and support an effective safety culture.
Download Article
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1 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL AT BU
https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/possible-chemical-spill-boston-university
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical
BOSTON, MA ‰?? A person was taken to the hospital after chemicals spilled on him at Boston University, fire officials said.
The person was decontaminated and taken to the hospital. The Boston Fire Department said there was a report of a person "mixing chemicals under the hood."
Fire officials say the building was deemed safe and the situation was turned over to campus police. The fire department's HazMat team will stay on the scene to decontaminate the area.
Authorities responded to the Life Science and Engineering Building on Cummington Mall.
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HAZMAT ON SCENE OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA LEAK IN CLARK COUNTY
https://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/local/hazmat-crews-called-anhydrous-ammonia-leak-clark-county/xH4bibLvEYJdh29lW19jRN/
Tags: us_OH, public, release, response, ammonia
Lower Valley Pike is back open and an order for residents to take shelter has been lifted following an anhydrous ammonia leak at Sunrise Cooperative.
‰??Crews were working alongside the owners of the property. We were able to determine it was a malfunction of the tank; it was a minor malfunction,‰?? Bethel Twp. Fire Chief Jacob King said.
There were no injuries and the leak was determined to pose no danger, he said.
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E-COMMERCE PRODUCT SAFETY PLEDGE 'NOT ENOUGH', SAY NGOS
https://chemicalwatch.com/68097/e-commerce-product-safety-pledge-not-enough-say-ngos
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
NGOs have welcomed a commitment by four e-commerce retailers and the European Commission to remove dangerous products from sale more rapidly, but said more action was needed to protect consumers from hazardous chemicals in products bought online.
The retailers, Alibaba, Amazon, eBay and Rakuten's French unit, this month signed a ‰??product safety pledge' to respond to notifications on dangerous products from EU member state authorities within two working days and take action on notices from customers within five working days.
NGO ChemSec's communications manager, Peter Pierrou, told Chemical Watch it had been "a long time coming" for e-commerce sites to enforce stricter rules with their third party sellers.
"Unfortunately there have been worrying reports during the last years, showing presence of banned chemicals in products bought online," he said.
But one problem with the new commitment is that the burden of proof is on the customers and authorities, he added.
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CHEMICAL COMPANY OWNER CHARGED AFTER BOMBS ARE FOUND IN HOME ‰?? PHILADELPHIA MAGAZINE
https://www.phillymag.com/news/2018/06/29/bucks-county-explosions-suspect/
Tags: public, explosion, response, explosives, illegal, clandestine_lab
David Surman Jr., 30, of Milford Township has been charged with four felony counts of unlawful possession or manufacture of a weapon of mass destruction and misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and other crimes on Thursday, after what Bucks County district attorney Matthew Weintraub called an ‰??around-the-clock surveillance‰?? effort in a months-long investigation by local law enforcement officials, state police, the FBI, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Surman is the owner of Consolidated Chemicals and Solvents, a chemical, metal and solvent supplier based in Quakertown. According to charging documents in the case, authorities raided Surman‰??s business and home on Thursday. At Surman‰??s residence, investigators found 10 firearms, four explosive devices and methamphetamine. One of the devices they discovered on the property was 18 inches long, had the capability to cause ‰??mass destruction‰?? and was ‰??ready for detonation,‰?? Weintraub said.
Also at Surman‰??s home, authorities say, they found a binder with images of swastikas, a fake press release about a bombing, and a strange computer-generated image depicting Surman and his girlfriend fleeing a massive explosion. The girlfriend is cooperating with investigators, the DA said, and has not been charged in the case.
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EPA LIMITING EVALUATION OF CHEMICAL RISKS
https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/epa-limiting-evaluation-of-chemical-risks/
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
THE US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised how it determines risks associated with chemicals and will now only consider the risks of direct exposure, and not any potential exposure due to a substance being in the air, ground, or water.
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was amended in 2016 under the Obama administration, making it mandatory for the EPA to perform safety checks on hundreds of potentially dangerous chemicals, including those used in everyday consumer products such as shampoos. The overhaul was the first change to the TSCA in 40 years.
The EPA is currently reviewing ten substances, but a report by The New York Times has revealed that the EPA is narrowing the scope of its safety assessments under pressure from the Trump administration and chemical industries.
The EPA maintains that other laws such as the Clean Air Act already regulate chemicals in the air and water and a spokesperson for the EPA told The New York Times that the EPA can ‰??better protect human health and the environment by focussing on those pathways that are likely to represent the greatest areas of concern to EPA.‰??
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ONLINE RETAILERS COMMIT TO SPEED UP REMOVAL OF DANGEROUS PRODUCTS
https://chemicalwatch.com/68093/online-retailers-commit-to-speed-up-removal-of-dangerous-products
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
Four major online retailers have committed to removing dangerous products from sale more quickly and to take measures to improve suppliers‰?? compliance with EU product safety legislation.
Amazon, Alibaba, eBay and Rakuten France have all signed the European Commission's ‰??product safety pledge'.
They have agreed to respond to notifications on dangerous products from EU member state authorities within two working days and take action on notices from customers within five working days.
Risks related to chemicals comprised 22% of all notifications last year, according to a Commission report on the EU's Rapid Alert System for dangerous products (Rapex). This makes hazardous chemicals the second biggest risk to health and safety on the EU and EEA market.
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UNTANGLING THE CRISPR CANCER SCARE
https://cen.acs.org/business/Untangling-CRISPR-cancer-scare/96/i27
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
At barely six years old, CRISPR gene editing has gone through its share of controversies, including a headline-grabbing patent dispute and vigorous debates over the ethics of editing human embryos. More recently, worries over the fundamental safety of the DNA editing tool have cast doubt on its potential to offer precise, permanent fixes for genetic diseases.
Normally, safety concerns raised in preclinical studies conducted in mice or human cell lines don‰??t garner such rapid and widespread media coverage, let alone double-digit percent drops in company stocks. But that‰??s the recurring scenario faced by the CRISPR field‰??s three leading players, Crispr Therapeutics, Editas Medicine, and Intellia Therapeutics.
The most recent incident happened on June 11, when a pair of papers published in Nature Medicine showed that two kinds of cell lines are often impervious to CRISPR gene editing unless a protein called p53 is broken or missing. Since cells lacking p53 are prone to become cancerous, the papers warned that CRISPR-edited cells should be screened for functional p53 before using them in human therapies. The three companies aren‰??t developing therapies related to the cells tested in these papers, but once a press release and the first news story made the cancer connection to CRISPR, the trio lost hundreds of millions of dollars in combined worth.
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