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From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (15 articles)
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2019 07:30:38 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 50B35E09-641B-4272-BA00-FBFA9C2D4269**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 7:30:25 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 (15 articles)
HAZMAT EVENT ON MASSBAY'S WELLESLEY CAMPUS RESOLVED
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
CHEMICAL EXPLOSION INJURES ONE IN REDONDO BEACH
Tags: us_CA, public, explosion, injury, butane, illegal, clandestine_lab
ECHA COMMITS TO REGULAR WORK ON OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
ANTHONY APPLETON CSU‰??S NEW RESEARCH SAFETY CULTURE COORDINATOR
Tags: us_CO, education, discovery, environmental
SENATE PANEL PONDERS STRICTER PFAS REGULATIONS
Tags: us_VT, public, discovery, environmental, toxics
RUSSIAN RESCUE AMID DEADLY BLAZE ON TWO CARGO SHIPS OFF CRIMEA
Tags: Russia, transportation, explosion, death, other_chemical
PIPELINE ERUPTS IN FIERY EXPLOSION IN MEXICO, KILLING MANY
Tags: Mexico, transportation, explosion, death, other_chemical, illegal
MICHIGAN CANCER STUDY CONSIDERS TOXIC AIR POLLUTION
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, environmental, ethylene_oxide
CHEMICAL FIRE AVERTED BY FIREFIGHTERS
Tags: us_HI, public, fire, response, ammonium_persulfate, oxidizer
CHEMICAL LEAK CLOSES OLD MAIN
Tags: us_IL, education, release, response, hvac_chemicals
BEIJING UNIVERSITY EXPELS DEPARTMENT HEAD AFTER FATAL LAB BLAST
Tags: China, laboratory, follow-up, death, flammables, phosphoric_acid
LESSONS FROM HYDROGEN FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN UNATTENDED EXPERIMENT AT PNNL
Tags: us_WA, laboratory, follow-up, hydrogen, environmental
FREEZER LEAK IN NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH BUILDING PROMPTS LAFD RESPONSE; AREA NOW CLEAR
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, response, various_chemicals
MAN FACING FELONY CHARGES AFTER MAJOR FUEL SPILL IN MONTGOMERY...
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, response, diesel, illegal
CSX TRAIN DERAILS ON JACKSONVILLE'S NORTHSIDE
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, response, ethanol
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HAZMAT EVENT ON MASSBAY'S WELLESLEY CAMPUS RESOLVED
https://theswellesleyreport.com/2019/01/hazmat-event-on-massbays-wellesley-campus-resolved/
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
Wellesley Fire Chief Rick DeLorie reports a hazmat situation at MassBay Community College in Wellesley on Tuesday morning has been resolved. Some classes were nixed while the situation was being addressed by safety teams.
On Friday, a lab person placed several chemicals in a container and ‰?? eureka! ‰?? over the weekend they reacted in such a way that the container became distorted.
Upon receiving the call, Deputy Chief Charles DiGiandomenico took charge and determined the need for a State hazmat team to evaluate. Upon the hazmat techs‰?? arrival it was determined that due to the significant distortion of the small container that its removal or depressurizing would be best handled by the State Police Bomb Squad. That team assisted with reducing the pressure and removing the container from the building; there was never an explosion concern.
‰??This was clearly an accidental incident,‰?? DeLorie says. The lab re-opened and classes on that floor were held.
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CHEMICAL EXPLOSION INJURES ONE IN REDONDO BEACH
https://patch.com/california/redondobeach/chemical-explosion-injures-one-redondo-beach
Tags: us_CA, public, explosion, injury, butane, illegal, clandestine_lab
REDONDO BEACH, CA ‰?? Authorities are investigating a fire in Redondo Beach that left one person hospitalized Monday afternoon. Crews responded around 2:40 p.m. to a report of a residential fire at 714 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach Fire Department Division Chief Robert Rappaport told the Daily Breeze.
The man inside the unit came out with significant burns after chemicals he used for extracting cannabis oil exploded in the home, according to the Beach Reporter.
"Apparently, he told fire personnel treating him that he was working with butane and was extracting honey oil from marijuana he had inside," Redondo Beach Fire Chief Robert Metzger told the newspaper.
Investigators later found evidence of a butane honey oil explosion, leading to a criminal investigation by fire officials, police and hazardous materials experts, the Daily Breeze reported. More than 30 fire personnel were involved in battling the blaze, and the fire did not spread to other buildings, but some other units were damaged by the smoke. The fire was put out by 3:15 p.m.
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ECHA COMMITS TO REGULAR WORK ON OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS
https://chemicalwatch.com/73559/echa-commits-to-regular-work-on-occupational-exposure-limits
Tags: Europe, public, discovery, environmental
Echa and the European Commission have signed an agreement that binds the agency to recommending occupational exposure limits (OELs) for four to five substances a year, from 2020 onwards.
The move effectively reassigns the responsibilities of DG Employment's Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (Scoel) to Echa‰??s Risk Assessment Committee (Rac).
The Commission had announced its intention to do so, last year, following concerns over an overlap between OELs required under occupational safety and health (Osh) legislation and workplace derived no-effect levels (Dnels) under REACH.
In future, the Commission will assign chemicals to Echa for an OEL assessment. The agency says work will start right away, most likely with lead and diisocyanates as the first priority substances.
---------------------------------------------
ANTHONY APPLETON CSU‰??S NEW RESEARCH SAFETY CULTURE COORDINATOR
https://source.colostate.edu/anthony-appleton-csus-new-research-safety-coordinator/
Tags: us_CO, education, discovery, environmental
The Office of the Vice President for Research at Colorado State University has appointed Anthony Appleton as the university‰??s Research Safety Culture Coordinator effective Jan. 14. In this role, he will develop and implement research safety activities and provide technical guidance to promote the safe and ethical conduct of research.
‰??We are embarking on new efforts and are committed to building a strong safety culture at CSU. This is vitally important to the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff,‰?? said Alan Rudolph, vice president for research. ‰??Anthony‰??s arrival is a great new addition to this effort.‰??
Appleton will serve as a liaison between researchers and the various safety and compliance units on campus to help identify and manage biological, chemical and radiological hazards, thereby reducing the risk of harm to the campus community and the environment. He will also work to facilitate research excellence through ensuring safe research settings, promoting green practices, and enhancing the culture of Responsible, Aware, Mindful (RAM) safety.
In this position, Appleton will call on the expertise of existing campus units such as Environmental Health Services, the Research Integrity and Compliance Review Office, and the offices of Training and Development and Risk Management and Insurance, and create partnerships with researchers, unit safety contacts and the campus community.
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SENATE PANEL PONDERS STRICTER PFAS REGULATIONS
https://vtdigger.org/2019/01/21/senate-panel-ponders-stricter-pfas-regulations/
Tags: us_VT, public, discovery, environmental, toxics
In the face of federal government inaction, senators are reviewing a bill that would beef up state regulations for five chemicals that belong to the PFAS family, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
EPA regulation of the carcinogenic chemicals, which have been found in waterways and wells, has stalled.
Sen. Chris Bray, D-Addison, the chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, sponsored a bill that would set a combined maximum level of 20 parts per trillion for five PFAS chemicals in public water supplies and for releases into bodies of water. Managers of public water would be required to test annually for the contaminants.
The bill would also require landfill owners to pre-treat leachate ‰?? liquid contaminated with landfill pollutants ‰?? before sending it to wastewater treatment plants. Leachate from Vermont landfills can contain over 1,000 parts per trillion of one PFAS chemical, according to a state report.
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RUSSIAN RESCUE AMID DEADLY BLAZE ON TWO CARGO SHIPS OFF CRIMEA
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46948718
Tags: Russia, transportation, explosion, death, other_chemical
At least 11 people have died in a fire involving two Tanzanian-flagged cargo vessels in the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait, authorities say.
Russian rescuers are trying to reach sailors who jumped overboard. Fourteen people have so far been rescued.
One ship is a gas tanker, and the fire reportedly followed an explosion, which set the other vessel on fire.
They were named as the Kandy (Venice), with a crew of 17 from Turkey and India, and Maestro, with 14 sailors.
The fire broke out when one vessel was transferring fuel to another, Russian maritime agency spokesman Alexei Kravchenko said, adding that this had then forced several crew members to jump overboard.
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PIPELINE ERUPTS IN FIERY EXPLOSION IN MEXICO, KILLING MANY
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/18/world/americas/mexico-gas-pipeline-explosion.html
Tags: Mexico, transportation, explosion, death, other_chemical, illegal
A gas pipeline in the Mexican state of Hidalgo exploded on Friday night, killing at least 21 people in a blast the authorities said was caused by an illegal tap used to steal fuel.
Omar Fayad, the governor of Hidalgo, said on Twitter that more than 70 others were injured in the explosion in Tlahuelilpan, a town about 80 miles north of Mexico City.
The state-run energy company, Pemex, said that the explosion was caused by an illegal fuel tap at the Tuxpan-Tula pipeline.
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MICHIGAN CANCER STUDY CONSIDERS TOXIC AIR POLLUTION
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/wellness/2019/01/21/michigan-cancer-study-toxic-air-pollution/38932551/
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, environmental, ethylene_oxide
Grand Rapids ‰?? Michigan regulators are expanding an investigation into air pollution produced by a medical-device manufacturer, and the results could be factored into a cancer study.
The Department of Environmental Quality this month announced plans to widen air-quality testing around the Viant Medical facility in Grand Rapids, The Grand Rapids Press reported.
The department issued several pollution violations after noting elevated emissions of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen. The company uses the chemical to sterilize medical equipment.
Exposure to the toxin at low levels over months or years can harm the eyes, skin, respiratory passages and the nervous system, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Constant exposure over time could cause neuropathy, kidney damage, liver damage. Pregnant women could miscarry.
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CHEMICAL FIRE AVERTED BY FIREFIGHTERS
https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2019/01/21/hawaii-news/chemical-fire-averted-by-firefighters/
Tags: us_HI, public, fire, response, ammonium_persulfate, oxidizer
Firefighters used thermal imaging equipment to avert a potential house fire in Hilo late Sunday night.
According to a written Fire Department statement, six units responded to the 11:11 p.m. alarm, with the first unit arriving four minutes later, to find all occupants of the two rental units at 911 Waianuenue Ave. self-evacuated from home, sitting in a vehicle in driveway.
An occupant stated there was smoke, but no fire visible. Upon investigation, firefighters found a container of beauty products was in the process of spontaneously combusting, melting the plastic around it, but no flames had started yet.
According to the statement, the product was a plastic container containing SalonCare ‰??Quick White,‰?? a bleaching power containing ammonium persulfate and potassium persulfate, strong oxidizing agents that caused spontaneous heating ignition of the organic materials in the product.
Using a thermal imager, firefighters were able to find the source of the decomposing product and remove it without damage to the home. Based on the temperature of the product measured by the thermal imager and the melted plastic surrounding it, it was likely no more than a few hours before it would have caught fire.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL LEAK CLOSES OLD MAIN
http://www.wvik.org/post/chemical-leak-closes-old-main#stream/0
Tags: us_IL, education, release, response, hvac_chemicals
Students and faculty were evacuated from a building at Augustana College Monday because of a chemical leak. It happened just before 10 am, during routine maintenance on the the h-v-a-c system in Old Main.
College spokeswoman, Ashleigh Johnston, says leaking refrigerant created a "non-toxic fog" and the building was evacuated as a precaution.
Air tests by the Rock Island Fire Department, and then a restoration company, determined Old Main was safe to enter and people were allowed in briefly at mid-afternoon to pick up their personal belongings.
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BEIJING UNIVERSITY EXPELS DEPARTMENT HEAD AFTER FATAL LAB BLAST
https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d514e78596a4e31457a6333566d54/share_p.html
Tags: China, laboratory, follow-up, death, flammables, phosphoric_acid
The head of the civil engineering department at Beijing Jiaotong University has been removed from his post after three students died in an explosion at a chemistry laboratory on campus, the university announced on Saturday.
The supervisor of the three students was also suspended from conducting any scientific research, the statement added.
The explosion occurred on Wednesday when three students were conducting an experiment on the purification of landfill leachate.
Students left bouquets outside the building to mourn the students who died in the fatal accident. /VCG Photo
Previous reports said before the fatal accident happened, students had noticed large quantities of inflammable and explosive materials in the laboratory.
A social media user who claimed to be a relative of one of the victims said in an online post that 40 bags of cement, 30 barrels of magnesium powder, 28 bags of sodium phosphate, and six barrels of phosphoric acid were inside the lab.
Several barrels of magnesium powder were reportedly inside the laboratory when the explosion happened. /Photo via Weibo
The university said its staffers have been visiting the families of the victims to comfort them and promised to deal with the incident seriously.
Psychological counseling services were offered to teachers and students who experienced the terrified incident.
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LESSONS FROM HYDROGEN FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN UNATTENDED EXPERIMENT AT PNNL
https://opexshare.doe.gov/lesson.cfm/2019/1/15/24759/Lessons-from-Hydrogen-Fire-and-Explosion-in-Unattended-Experiment-at-PNNL
Tags: us_WA, laboratory, follow-up, hydrogen, environmental
On September 30, 2018, a fire and minor explosion occurred in a laboratory in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Physical Sciences Laboratory building. While damage to the experimental equipment was significant, the damage to the lab itself was minimal. Over the course of an investigation and causal analysis, much was learned.
PNNL management feels it's important to share these lessons with staff and others from around the DOE complex so everyone can benefit from this experience.
Over the next few minutes, you'll see a little about the research that was being conducted, what is believed to have gone wrong, and what was learned. As part of that learning, you'll hear about two of the Safe Conduct of Research (SCoR) principles that emphasize how having a questioning attitude and a healthy respect for what can go wrong could have prevented or lessened the impact of this event.
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FREEZER LEAK IN NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH BUILDING PROMPTS LAFD RESPONSE; AREA NOW CLEAR
http://dailybruin.com/2019/01/20/freezer-leak-in-neuroscience-research-building-prompts-lafd-response-area-now-clear/
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, response, various_chemicals
A hazardous materials leak at a south campus building was reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department this morning.
LAFD reported a hazardous materials incident at 7:14 a.m. after originally responding to an automatic fire alarm at the Neuroscience Research Building. Multiple chemicals were spilled, but were later determined noninfectious by an LAFD HazMat squad, according to an LAFD alert.
Ricardo Vazquez, a UCLA spokesperson, said the chemicals leaked from a freezer that contained biological materials believed to be noninfectious.
A Bruin Alert advised the UCLA community to avoid the Neuroscience Research Building and the surrounding area on Charles E. Young Drive from Tiverton Avenue to Westwood Plaza for the duration of the LAFD investigation.
UCLA staff are now cleaning up the spill and no injuries or infections were reported.
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MAN FACING FELONY CHARGES AFTER MAJOR FUEL SPILL IN MONTGOMERY...
https://www.click2houston.com/news/man-facing-felony-charges-after-major-fuel-spill-in-montgomery-county
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, response, diesel, illegal
HOUSTON - A man is facing felony charges after Montgomery County deputies followed a fuel slick for 4 miles. The culprit was a truck full of leaking fuel cans.
Hazmat crews and the Department of Public Safety have been sent to assess the roadway, ditches and neighborhood where the diesel was reported.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, calls started coming in regarding slick roads near State Highway 99 at Valley Ranch Parkway and FM 1314. When deputies followed the trail of spilled diesel into a neighborhood, they found a truck with fuel leaking out of the back, deputies said.
Officials discovered two plastic containers with 500-gallons of diesel that were still leaking and almost empty. The Texas Department of Transportation dispatched and an environmental service company to the spill.
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CSX TRAIN DERAILS ON JACKSONVILLE'S NORTHSIDE
https://www.news4jax.com/news/csx-train-derails-on-northside
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, response, ethanol
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A CSX train derailed Sunday night near the Busch plant on Jacksonville's Northside.
A major cleanup is underway as eight rail cars, two of which were carrying ethanol, went off the tracks around 10 p.m. at Main Street North and Busch Drive, reported CSX. They confirm no one was injured in the incident and there are no indications of any leaks.
However, the cleanup could take several days as the two rail cars carrying ethanol derailed into Cedar Creek.
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