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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at 6:40:42 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)
FATAL LAB EXPLOSION IN CHINA HIGHLIGHTS WIDER SAFETY FEARS
Tags: China, laboratory, follow-up, death
IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, 17 CHILDREN RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS AFTER SWIMMING IN THE POOL
Tags: Russia, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
HAZMAT INCIDENT CLOSES MAIN STREET IN SPRINGFIELD, ONE PERSON FOUND DEAD
Tags: us_IL, public, release, death, hydrogen_sulfide, suicide
ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING FINDS PRESENCE OF CHEMICAL STYRENE AT SPOONER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Tags: us_WI, education, follow-up, environmental, styrene
PANTENE, HERBAL ESSENCES SHAMPOOS RECALLED OVER CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICAL ‰?? SAN BERNARDINO SUN
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, environmental, benzene
AQUARIUM AT JERUSALEM ZOO EVACUATED AMID FEARS OF POSSIBLE CHEMICAL LEAK
Tags: Israel, public, release, response, chlorine
FAMILY OF MAN KILLED IN BELLE CHEMICAL EXPLOSION FILES WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT
Tags: us_WV, industrial, follow-up, death, bleach
DEADLY INCIDENTS AT INDIAN CHEMICALS PLANTS
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, death, hvac_chemicals, plastics
FINDING BENZENE EVERYWHERE WE LOOK
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, benzene
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FATAL LAB EXPLOSION IN CHINA HIGHLIGHTS WIDER SAFETY FEARS
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03589-x
Tags: China, laboratory, follow-up, death
The deaths of two people following a laboratory explosion at a Chinese university in October have raised alarm among researchers. The full circumstances that led to the deaths at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), in Jiangsu province, are not yet known ‰?? but they come amid wider concerns about safety in university teaching labs in China.
The deaths are the latest in a series of fatalities caused by explosions in academic laboratories in China, often involving students in chemistry departments, that have been reported in recent years. Some researchers are optimistic that the situation is improving. But others say China‰??s government needs to do more to improve safety.
Be mindful of your safety in the lab
In the recent incident, nine people were injured and two died as a result of an explosion just before 4 p.m. in the NUAA‰??s College of Materials Science and Technology, according to a 24 October post by the university on the social-media network Weibo. The NUAA said this week that an investigation was ongoing, but declined to answer Nature‰??s questions regarding the safety of its laboratories.
Earlier this year, on 31 March, a graduate student was killed following an explosion at the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. Previous lab blasts led to deaths of three students conducting a sewage-treatment experiment at Beijing Jiaotong University in December 2018; one death in the chemistry department at Tsinghua University in Beijing in December 2015; and one death in a chemistry lab at the China University of Mining and Technology in Xuzhou in April 2015.
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IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, 17 CHILDREN RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS AFTER SWIMMING IN THE POOL
https://thetimeshub.in/in-the-russian-federation-17-children-received-chemical-burns-after-swimming-in-the-pool
Tags: Russia, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
In the Russian city of Ulan-Ude in Buryatia, 17 children received chemical burns after swimming in a pool in one of the local spa complexes. The victims needed medical help. This is reported by the Russian media.
children were diagnosed with chemical burns of the mucous membranes of the eyes, respiratory tract and skin. According to one of the versions, this could have happened due to the increased concentration of disinfectants in the water.
Experts took samples from the pool for examination. Law enforcement officers are checking.
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HAZMAT INCIDENT CLOSES MAIN STREET IN SPRINGFIELD, ONE PERSON FOUND DEAD
https://news.yahoo.com/hazmat-incident-fire-police-officials-023532091.html
Tags: us_IL, public, release, death, hydrogen_sulfide, suicide
A hazmat incident closed four blocks of Main Street in Springfield and asked residents to shelter in place for several hours Monday night, as police and firefighters respond to what officials say was hazardous gas released inside a vehicle in a suspected suicide.
Early investigation found that one victim was found dead in a vehicle, Eugene-Springfield Battalion Chief Mike Caven said.
"It sounds like we had somebody commit suicide with a hazardous gas in the vehicle," Caven said Monday night. "They're locking down the area, (asking people) shelter in place until they can make sure everything's ventilated."
The gas released was hydrogen sulfide, and the chemicals have been isolated to the one vehicle, said Battalion Chief Anthony Bucher, who responded initially.
"They've just been mitigating the hazard, which will probably take a couple more hours, that's why the area is cordoned off," Bucher said.
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ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING FINDS PRESENCE OF CHEMICAL STYRENE AT SPOONER MIDDLE SCHOOL
https://www.fox21online.com/2021/12/20/environmental-testing-finds-presence-of-chemical-styrene-at-spooner-middle-school/
Tags: us_WI, education, follow-up, environmental, styrene
SPOONER, Wis. ‰?? After a chemical exposure forced an evacuation of the Spooner Middle School, sickening several students and staff last month, district officials say in-person will resume tomorrow.
Environmental testing, industrial hygiene, and occupational medicine reviews were conducted in the school, which indicated the presence of the chemical styrene.
According to the school district, symptoms of styrene exposure include dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.
These symptoms are consistent with the symptoms reported by dozens of students and staff on the day of the evacuation.
The middle school has been aired out, and district leaders say the chemical is no longer present in the building.
‰??We have been told that a single exposure such as this does not constitute a risk for long-term health effects,‰?? the district said in a Monday press release.
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PANTENE, HERBAL ESSENCES SHAMPOOS RECALLED OVER CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICAL ‰?? SAN BERNARDINO SUN
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/12/20/dozens-of-pantene-and-herbal-essences-shampoos-recalled-for-cancer-causing-chemical/
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, environmental, benzene
Procter & Gamble has recalled more than 30 aerosol spray haircare products, including many dry shampoos and dry conditioners, warning that the products could contain benzene, a cancer-causing agent.
The affected items include assorted Pantene, Herbal Essences, Hair Food, Old Spice and Aussie products, according to Friday‰??s recall notice, which is P&G‰??s second within a month. A full list of recalled products is available on the company‰??s website, including the production code numbers affected by the recall.
P&G said in a statement that the affected products likely will not expose people to levels of benzene high enough to cause health issues. However, the company noted it has not ‰??received any reports of adverse events,‰?? but it‰??s moving forward with the recall out of ‰??an abundance of caution.‰??
‰??Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it can result in cancers, including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life-threatening,‰?? the recall notice said. Retailers have been told to remove the recalled products from shelves.
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AQUARIUM AT JERUSALEM ZOO EVACUATED AMID FEARS OF POSSIBLE CHEMICAL LEAK
https://www.timesofisrael.com/aquarium-at-jerusalem-zoo-evacuated-amid-fears-of-possible-chemical-leak/
Tags: Israel, public, release, response, chlorine
The aquarium at Jerusalem‰??s Biblical Zoo was evacuated on Monday over a potential hazardous material leak.
There were no casualties reported in the incident.
According to the Walla news site, there was a strong smell of chlorine during a routine disinfection of the aquarium at the zoo.
Channel 13 news reported that it appeared the incident had been caused by the incorrect mixing of chemicals during the cleaning process.
Visitors and staff were evacuated from the area, while fire and rescue services came to the scene to ensure it was safe.
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FAMILY OF MAN KILLED IN BELLE CHEMICAL EXPLOSION FILES WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT
https://wvrecord.com/stories/615181114-family-of-man-killed-in-belle-chemical-explosion-files-wrongful-death-suit
Tags: us_WV, industrial, follow-up, death, bleach
CHARLESTON ‰?? The wife of a Putnam County man who died in a chemical plant explosion last December has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his employer and the owners of the facility.
Tina Gillenwater filed her complaint December 8 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Optima Belle LLC, Chemours Company PC LLC, The Chemours Company, Clearon Corp. and 10 unnamed defendants. She filed the complaint individually and as administratrix of her husband‰??s estate.
The lawsuit was filed exactly one year after the explosion that killed John Mark Gillenwater II, who worked for Optima as a chemical operator at the company‰??s Belle location. The 723-acre plant that consists of three buildings is owned by Chemours. Clearon contracted with Optima to perform a process to remove water/moisture from chlorinated dry bleach at the plant.
Scott S. Segal | segal-law.com
According to the complaint, December 8, 2020, was the first time Clearon had supplied CDB to Optima in any form, and it was the first time Optima and its employees had ever performed the CDB drying process.
"The Gillenwater tragedy is a prime example of why when chemical manufacturers try something for the first time, it's all hands on deck," attorney Scott Segal, one of the attorneys representing the estate, told The West Virginia Record.
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DEADLY INCIDENTS AT INDIAN CHEMICALS PLANTS
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/deadly-incidents-at-indian-chemicals-plants/4014960.article
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, death, hvac_chemicals, plastics
Five dead and at least 15 injured by explosion and fire at Gujarat Fluorochemicals
Five people were killed and at least 15 others injured during an explosion and subsequent fire at a fluorochemicals plant in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat, India, on 16 December, according to local news reports. The cause of the fatal blast, which was apparently heard several kilometres away, remains undetermined.
Gujarat Fluorochemicals is owned by Indian conglomerate Inox group. It produces products like fluoropolymers and refrigerants.
An explosion and fire at RP industries in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, on 7 December killed one worker and hospitalised five others; while an incident fire in February at agrochemical maker UPL, also in Gujarat, killed two workers and injured more than two dozen others in February of this year.
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FINDING BENZENE EVERYWHERE WE LOOK
https://cen.acs.org/business/consumer-products/Finding-benzene-everywhere-look/100/i1
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, benzene
Hand sanitizers. Spray sunblock and sun aftercare lotions .Athlete‰??s foot and jock itch sprays. Deodorant and antiperspirant sprays. Dry shampoo and conditioner sprays.
These are all products found to contain benzene over the last year. The rash of discoveries raises three big questions: How big of a problem is this? Where is the benzene coming from? And, is it a new problem, or just one that no one had noticed? None are easy questions to answer.
Benzene is found in petroleum and most kinds of smoke, and its derivatives are ubiquitous in natural and synthetic materials. Acute exposure to benzene carries the normal asphyxiation and central nervous system depression risks associated with inhaling organic solvents. Benzene can also be absorbed through the skin or digestive tract. Chronic exposure is linked to leukemia and other blood disorders.
People use many of the contaminated products on a daily basis. ‰??That is chronic exposure, if you‰??re using it every day,‰?? says Mary Fox, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies air pollutants.
Benzene‰??s metabolites seem to do the damage, according to a 2010 World Health Organization report. Benzoquinone, benzene oxide, and muconaldehyde, in particular, make their way into bone marrow, where they interfere with DNA chromosomes, leading to structural changes, cell death, and cancer, among other ill effects.
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