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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, December 28, 2020 at 6:19:59 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)
SOCOT TOWN GAS CYLINDER TANK BLAST KILLS 1, INJURES 5 OTHERS
Tags: Philippines, public, explosion, death, unknown_chemical, gas_cylinders, propane
NZ AMMONIUM NITRATE STORES REVIEWED AFTER DEADLY BEIRUT BLAST DEEMED LOW RISK
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ammonium_nitrate
THREE DIE AFTER INHALING GAS AT SEWAGE PLANT IN PANTAI DALAM
Tags: Malaysia, industrial, release, death, unknown_chemical
HOUSTON FAMILY HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHRISTMAS TAMALE TRADITION CAUSES CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Tags: us_TX, public, release, injury, carbon_monoxide
CHEMICAL REACTION WHILE UNBLOCKING TOILET CAUSES BREATHING PROBLEMS
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, bleach
OWNER CLAIMS BLAST AT ICE FACTORY WAS CAUSED BY BOMB
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, follow-up, response, ammonia, bomb
POLICE NOT RULING OUT TERRORISM AS MOTIVE BEHIND ICE FACTORY BLAST
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
TRUCK CARRYING CORROSIVE CHEMICALS OVERTURNS IN DOWNTOWN ST. JOHN‰??S
Tags: Canada, transportation, release, response, corrosives
CRODA‰??S CHEMICAL PLANT ON THE DELAWARE RIVER FAILS A POLLUTION TEST, CASTING DOUBT ON ITS REBUILDING EFFORT
Tags: us_DE, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ethylene_oxide
PLASTIC PIPES EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT DRINKING WATER CAN FILTER OUT HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
Tags: us_CA, public, follow-up, environmental, benzene
HAZMAT CREWS FIND GALLOWAY PLANT‰??S AIR OK AFTER CHEMICAL MIX PROMPTS EVACUATIONS
Tags: us_WI, industrial, release, injury, chlorine
OFFICIALS CONFIDENT IN EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM AFTER TEST RUN ON WEDNESDAY
Tags: us_WV, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
MISSING DUBLIN SCHOOL JANITORS FOUND ON CAMPUS AMID MYSTERY CHEMICAL ODOR; 1 DEAD, 2ND HOSPITALIZED ‰?? CBS SAN FRANCISCO
Tags: us_CA, education, release, death, unknown_chemical
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SOCOT TOWN GAS CYLINDER TANK BLAST KILLS 1, INJURES 5 OTHERS
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125794
Tags: Philippines, public, explosion, death, unknown_chemical, gas_cylinders, propane
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ‰?? A 10-year-old boy was killed while five other persons were injured after a gas cylinder tank accidentally exploded outside a house in Norala town, South Cotabato on Sunday.
Maj. Bernie Faldas, chief of Norala municipal police station, said Monday the incident happened past 9 a.m. at the residence of the Rapista family in Sub-Purok Bliss, Purok Reloquemas in Barangay Poblacion.
He said a balloon vendor identified as Neilfren Cabuhay, 40, and several family members had just finished inflating balloons using what looked like an LPG tank when it suddenly exploded.
Citing accounts from witnesses, Faldas said one of the victims reportedly mixed unknown chemicals and filled the tank with them before the incident.
‰??The investigation is still ongoing and we‰??re mainly determining the chemicals that caused the explosion,‰?? he said in a report.
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NZ AMMONIUM NITRATE STORES REVIEWED AFTER DEADLY BEIRUT BLAST DEEMED LOW RISK
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/123772986/nz-ammonium-nitrate-stores-reviewed-after-deadly-beirut-blast-deemed-low-risk
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ammonium_nitrate
New Zealand‰??s significant ammonium nitrate stocks have been reviewed since an explosion killed 200 people in Beirut earlier this year.
The August 4 blast also wounded thousands and damaged a significant part of Beirut's port and central city.
It was fuelled by 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stockpiled at an unsecured port warehouse for about six years. Lebanese authorities are still investigating the explosion.
Documents released by WorkSafe under the Official Information Act reveal five sites were identified as ‰??Upper Tier Major Hazard Facilities‰?? in New Zealand, each storing a significant amount of technical and fertiliser grade ammonium nitrate.
---------------------------------------------
THREE DIE AFTER INHALING GAS AT SEWAGE PLANT IN PANTAI DALAM
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/12/25/three-die-after-inhaling-gas-at-sewage-plant-in-pantai-dalam/1934932
Tags: Malaysia, industrial, release, death, unknown_chemical
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 ‰?? Three men died after inhaling gas while cleaning a sewage plant in Jalan Pantai Permai 1, Pantai Dalam, here, today.
The two locals and a Bangladeshi were employees of a cleaning contractor.
The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) operations centre in a statement said the incident was reported at 2.41pm on six male cleaning workers having respiratory problems due to inhaling gas in the sewage plant.
Two of them managed to save themselves before firemen arrived, while the other four victims were still in the plant, according to the statement.
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HOUSTON FAMILY HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHRISTMAS TAMALE TRADITION CAUSES CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/12/25/houston-family-hospitalized-after-christmas-tamale-tradition-causes-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
Tags: us_TX, public, release, injury, carbon_monoxide
At approximately 4:48 a.m. Friday, fire crews were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 3900 block of Hollister Road in reference to a hazmat incident. Once on scene, firefighters located seven members of a family, four adults and three children, suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. One of the adults was reported unconscious at the scene.
The victims were transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The family‰??s neighbor said the family had cooked tamales on a barbecue pit outside their apartment. When they were done cooking, the family brought the pit inside their apartment while the ashes were still smoking.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL REACTION WHILE UNBLOCKING TOILET CAUSES BREATHING PROBLEMS
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18970258.chemical-reaction-unblocking-toilet-causes-breathing-problems/
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, bleach
A WOMAN suffered breathing problems while unblocking a toilet after a chemical reaction between two substances caused fumes.
Humberside Fire & Rescue Service said crews were called on Christmas Eve to Station Lane in Holme Upon Spalding Moor after a mixture of toilet unblocking chemicals and bleach caused a chemical reaction.
"The female occupier suffered breathing problems due to the fumes," it said. "Casualty taken to hospital by ambulance for precautionary check up. Remainder of household unaffected."
It said the crews wore breathing apparatus and used a fan, and the toilet was flushed to clear the chemicals.
---------------------------------------------
OWNER CLAIMS BLAST AT ICE FACTORY WAS CAUSED BY BOMB
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2277442/owner-claims-blast-at-ice-factory-was-caused-by-bomb
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, follow-up, response, ammonia, bomb
KARACHI:
As the authorities continue to suspect ammonia gas leak as the probable cause of the blast in an ice factory in New Karachi Industrial Area on Tuesday, the factory's owner has claimed that the explosion was a result of a bomb attack.
In a video statement issued on Friday, the factory owner, Moin Qadri, who had been staying in Britain for the past four months, said the explosion was a consequence of a "malicious act".
"It was a bomb blast," he insisted, suggesting that either someone threw the explosive device in the factory or it was planted on a car parked outside the factory.
Refuting earlier theories of the blast having occurred following a boiler exploding inside the factory, Qadri maintained that there were no boilers at the unit.
---------------------------------------------
POLICE NOT RULING OUT TERRORISM AS MOTIVE BEHIND ICE FACTORY BLAST
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/763862-police-not-ruling-out-terrorism-as-motive-behind-ice-factory-blast
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
There has been no significant progress in the investigation of the New Karachi ice factory explosion, which claimed the lives of 10 people, despite the passage of two days, with police investigators and bomb disposal squad personnel finding it difficult to determine the actual cause of the blast.
A case has been registered against the factory management at the New Karachi Industrial Area Police Station on behalf of the state, and murder and negligence charges have been included under sections 322, 427, 285, 286 and 337A/34.
SHO Younus Khattak said the factory management had been booked in the case as it had been learnt that the explosion could have occurred due to negligence on its part.
The owner of the factory is currently abroad and has been contacted. However, the police are investigating if he was running the factory from abroad or some contractor was incharge of the property.
---------------------------------------------
TRUCK CARRYING CORROSIVE CHEMICALS OVERTURNS IN DOWNTOWN ST. JOHN‰??S
https://vocm.com/2020/12/24/113201/
Tags: Canada, transportation, release, response, corrosives
A flatbed truck with chemical tanks overturned on Water Street East and Cochrane Street at around 8:00 this morning.
The truck attempted a left hand turn onto Water street from Cochrane Street when the flatbed tipped. The incident occurred near Hill O‰?? Chips at the Harvey‰??s Pier.
Water Street was closed down for some time.
Fire crews say a corrosive chemical spilled, causing an odour in the area. The spill was contained before it entered the nearby storm drain.
---------------------------------------------
CRODA‰??S CHEMICAL PLANT ON THE DELAWARE RIVER FAILS A POLLUTION TEST, CASTING DOUBT ON ITS REBUILDING EFFORT
https://www.inquirer.com/business/croda-delaware-memorial-bridge-pollution-chemicals-osha-dupont-20201224.html
Tags: us_DE, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ethylene_oxide
More than two years after a leak of explosive, cancer-causing ethylene oxide (EO) shut the twin Delaware Memorial Bridge spans on Thanksgiving weekend, Delaware officials say they will let the U.K.-based Croda chemical company briefly restart its Atlas Point EO production unit on the west bank of the Delaware River next month, to test whether it‰??s still leaking.
But the long-term future of the unit, a hopeful investment in the Delaware River‰??s aging chemical industry, remains in doubt, with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control still mulling what it called ‰??a path forward‰?? for safe operation.
The plant, with 230 workers, continues to operate. Its ethylene oxide unit was cleared to reopen last winter after Croda replaced gaskets like the one it blamed for the leak, and agreed to pay $246,000 to Delaware for state construction, maintenance and safety violations. The company also agreed to pay $262,548 to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for federal violations, and $150,000 to the Delaware River & Bay Authority for lost toll revenues when its bridges were closed as a precaution after the accident on Nov. 25, 2018. State officials said more than a ton of ethylene oxide was leaked, about four times the plant‰??s annual permitted discharge.
But in September the Croda unit failed an emissions test ‰?? state officials found scrubbers weren‰??t taking out ethylene oxide as expected, and that some of the gas was going out the top of a 110-foot smokestack from a source that Croda had not identified in its permit application.
---------------------------------------------
PLASTIC PIPES EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT DRINKING WATER CAN FILTER OUT HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
https://afinancebroker.com/index.php/2020/12/24/plastic-pipes-exposed-to-high-heat-drinking-water-can-filter-out-hazardous-chemicals/
Tags: us_CA, public, follow-up, environmental, benzene
In August, a huge forest fire ravaged the San Lorenzo Valley north of Santa Cruz, California, destroying nearly 1,500 structures and exposing many others to extreme heat. Before the fire was extinguished, laboratory tests revealed benzene levels of up to 9.1 parts per billion in residential water samples, nine times the state‰??s maximum safety level.
This isn‰??t the first time the carcinogen has been following forest fires: California water managers found unsafe levels of benzene and other volatile organic compounds or VOCs in Santa Rosa after the Tubbs Fire in 2017 and in Paradise after the Camp Fire in 2018 .
Scientists suspected that, among other possibilities, plastic pipes of drinking water exposed to extreme heat released chemicals (SN: 13/11/20). Now, laboratory experiments show that it is possible.
Andrew Whelton, an environmental engineer at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and colleagues subjected commonly available pipes to temperatures of 200 å¡ C to 400 å¡ C. Those temperatures, hot enough to damage but not destroy the pipes, can occur as the heat radiates. of nearby flames, says Whelton.
---------------------------------------------
HAZMAT CREWS FIND GALLOWAY PLANT‰??S AIR OK AFTER CHEMICAL MIX PROMPTS EVACUATIONS
https://www.wbay.com/2020/12/23/neenah-police-block-commercial-st-for-incident-at-business/
Tags: us_WI, industrial, release, injury, chlorine
NEENAH, Wis. (WBAY) - Emergency crews are expected to leave the Galloway plant on Commercial St. soon after a chemical incident Wednesday afternoon sent three workers to the hospital and prompted the evacuation of surrounding homes.
Fire Chief Kevin Kloehn told us Wednesday evening, ‰??Right now we have the hazmat crews working in teams, and they‰??ve been going inside the plant just to verify the air quality inside. So far they have not picked up any atmosphere that is dangerous to breathing levels.‰??
Kloehn said EMS crews were called about noon for an employee feeling sick. When the paramedics realized it was from a chemical reaction, they called in Neenah-Menasha Fire/Rescue and hazardous materials teams and evacuated the plant. The worker and two others were taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released within a few hours.
The fire chief says a tanker truck carrying chlorine unloaded it into the wrong tank, mixing it with acid.
---------------------------------------------
OFFICIALS CONFIDENT IN EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM AFTER TEST RUN ON WEDNESDAY
https://wchstv.com/news/local/officials-confident-in-emergency-alert-system-after-test-run-wednesday
Tags: us_WV, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
KANAWHA COUNTY, W. Va. (WCHS/WVAH) ‰?? Officials in Kanawha County think they‰??ve fixed most of the software glitches that caused some outdoor emergency sirens not to go off during a chemical plant explosion earlier this month.
A siren in Diamond and one at DuPont Middle School did not go off the night of the explosion, but both worked during a test run Wednesday.
On the night of the blast, Ed Dunlap was aware something bad had happened .
"I was at the back door letting the dogs come in and I saw the sky light up,‰?? he said. ‰??All at once we heard the explosion and still didn't know. "
The siren across the street from his house never kicked on that night. It worked Wednesday, along with the wireless emergency alert or WEA. .
While sirens have a role in a weather or chemical emergency, they're not the main method that they once were. The county‰??s emergency management director is confident officials can get the word out in an emergency including people outdoors.
---------------------------------------------
MISSING DUBLIN SCHOOL JANITORS FOUND ON CAMPUS AMID MYSTERY CHEMICAL ODOR; 1 DEAD, 2ND HOSPITALIZED ‰?? CBS SAN FRANCISCO
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/12/23/missing-dublin-school-janitors-fallon-middle-school-mystery-chemical-death/
Tags: us_CA, education, release, death, unknown_chemical
DUBLIN (CBS SF) ‰?? Two school janitors reported missing in Dublin were found in medical distress in a campus library amid a mystery chemical smell, with one dying at the scene and the second taken to a hospital, police reported Wednesday.
Dublin police responded to Fallon Middle School at 7 a.m. Wednesday after the two janitors failed to return home after their shifts Tuesday. Officers arrived to find a vehicle belonging to the missing workers at the rear of the school.
A search of the campus resulted in the discovery of the workers, a 29-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man, both in the library and suffering from an unknown medical issue.
Officers detected an unknown chemical smell, and both janitors were carried out of the library and into the open air school courtyard, police said.
Medics arrived but the male janitor was pronounced dead at the scene, while the female janitor was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries. The Alameda County Fire Department and the department‰??s Hazardous Materials Unit were summoned but no hazardous chemicals or material were found in the building or at the school, police said.
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