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From: Ralph Stuart <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (11 articles)
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2022 07:07:28 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 31067ADE-CB38-4415-9B24-77FE6E48BA1F**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, April 8, 2022 at 7:07:05 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 (11 articles)
MILK SPECIALTIES GLOBAL EVACUATES FACTORY AFTER CHEMICAL GAS LEAK
Tags: us_WI, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: FIRE AT OIL & CHEMICAL STORAGE FACILITY, NO CASUALTIES REPORTED
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, other_chemical
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS GROUND MERCURY-BASED SATELLITE THRUSTERS
Tags: us_CA, industrial, discovery, environmental, illegal, mercury
EXPLOSIONS OCCUR IN DIBORANE MANUFACTURER IN BOEUN, NO CASUALTIES REPORTED L KBS WORLD
Tags: Republic_of_Korea, industrial, explosion, response, diborane
THREE KILLED IN EXPLOSION AT AMMUNITION FACTORY IN GREECE
Tags: Greece, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
MERCURY, OTHER CONTAMINATION FOUND IN WATER TESTS AT PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM AS NAVY ANNOUNCES NEW FUEL SPILL
Tags: us_HI, education, discovery, response, mercury
NO SERIOUS INJURIES IN FIRE INVOLVING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
Tags: us_KS, industrial, explosion, response, propane
RESIDENTS MAY RETURN HOME AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL EVACUATION
Tags: us_WV, transportation, release, response, hydrochloric_acid
COMMUNITY MEETING ADDRESSES CONCERNS OVER RECENT SOUTH LOUISVILLE CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_KY, public, follow-up, environmental, styrene
CHINA GRAPPLES WITH LAB SAFETY FOLLOWING HUGE GROWTH IN STUDENT NUMBERS
Tags: China, laboratory, follow-up, environmental
US EPA'S PROPOSED ASBESTOS BAN FACES INDUSTRY FIGHT
Tags: public, follow-up, environmental, asbestos
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MILK SPECIALTIES GLOBAL EVACUATES FACTORY AFTER CHEMICAL GAS LEAK
https://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/2022/04/07/milk-specialties-global-evacuates-factory-after-chemical-gas-leak/9500990002/
Tags: us_WI, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
FOND DU LAC ' The city's hazardous materials crew worked for over five hours Thursday to stop a chemical leak at the Milk Specialties Global factory that forced the evacuation of the plant and the neighborhood.
Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue announced Thursday evening that they safely plugged the leak with no injuries.
The incident started at 11:38 a.m. when fire crews responded to a report of a gas plume emitting a cloud with a yellow hue into the air from the factory, located at 325 Tompkins St., according to Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue.
The building, filled with 90 to 100 employees, was evacuated.
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PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: FIRE AT OIL & CHEMICAL STORAGE FACILITY, NO CASUALTIES REPORTED
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-moshi-industrial-unit-fire-casualty-7858876/
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, other_chemical
A fire at an industrial unit storing chemicals and oil, that started on Thursday night in the Moshi area of Pimpri Chinchwad, is yet to be brought under control.
No casualties have been reported and the local police suspect that the facility was flouting several fire safety norms. Around 15 fire tenders, aided by multiple refilling tankers, were trying to control the blaze on Friday morning. The preliminary cause of the fire, which started at around 9 pm on Thursday, is still unclear.
The blaze, visible from a distance, led to accumulation of intense smoke in the area and caused panic among the residents.
Pimpri Chinchwad Fire Brigade chief, Kiran Gawade, said the facility in the Borhadewadi area of Moshi stored oil and chemicals in large plastic drums. 'The facility seemed to have been flouting many norms. It's a complicated operation because of the substances stored and the way they have been stored. No casualties have been reported though,' he added.
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ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS GROUND MERCURY-BASED SATELLITE THRUSTERS
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/environmental-concerns-ground-mercury-based-satellite-thrusters/4015488.article
Tags: us_CA, industrial, discovery, environmental, illegal, mercury
Using mercury as a propellant for manoeuvring satellites in Earth's orbit has been outlawed by a UN resolution before it ever made it into orbit. The ban follows interest in mercury-thruster technologies, which could have seen the toxic heavy element fall back to Earth from the upper atmosphere, posing significant environmental and health risks.
Ion drives that propel small satellites traditionally use xenon and krypton because they have suitably high atomic masses for ion propulsion systems. However, their scarcity means alternatives are needed if demand is to be met by the tens of thousands of mini-satellites that are expected to be launched in the next decade, and beyond, as companies such as SpaceX and Amazon populate low Earth orbit with satellite 'megaconstellations' for broadband communications.
Mercury's appeal is that it is cheap and it can be stored and ionised easily to achieve excellent thrust. Nasa had previously used mercury as an experimental propellant in the first ion thruster demonstration in space in 1964. However, by the 1970s Nasa and industry had largely rejected it as a propellent because of its toxicity. Mercury bioaccumulates in the food chain and as a neurotoxin it can cause vision loss, developmental disorders in children and cut IQ.
But in 2018, Kevin Bell at the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer), a US environmental organisation, was contacted by a space industry whistleblower. The insider told Bell that California-based Apollo Fusion had developed a new mercury-based thruster and was beginning to promote it to satellite manufacturers.
'The whistleblower had contacted at least two other environmental organisations before us who had not responded or taken them seriously, as well as at least one state regulatory agency,' says Bell. 'I suppose they were just working their way through the environmental phone book and I happened to be the one that believed them.'
In his first ever case involving space law, Bell soon learned that regulations were lacking when it came to sending things into orbit on board satellites unless it involved weapons. Peer raised the issue with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has regulatory authority to approve or deny proposed communication satellite networks. 'But the FCC has continued to deny that there might be any environmental harm caused by approving networks of thousands of satellites.'
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EXPLOSIONS OCCUR IN DIBORANE MANUFACTURER IN BOEUN, NO CASUALTIES REPORTED L KBS WORLD
https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?Seq_Code=168683
Tags: Republic_of_Korea, industrial, explosion, response, diborane
Explosions occurred at a manufacturer of the endothermic gas, diborane, at an industrial complex in Boeun County, North Chungcheong Province at around 8 a.m. on Friday.
Fire service officials said that the explosions did not result in casualties as they occurred before the factory began its working day and did not ignite flames that spread. Gas was not leaked in the incident.
The manufacturer supplies diborane, used in chip production, to SK hynix.
Emergency officials mobilized some 50 first responders and 35 vehicles and equipment to conduct safety measures and entered the site two and a half hours later.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the gas leak and the damage toll.
When coming in contact with oxygen, diborane has a tendency to form an explosive mixture.
---------------------------------------------
THREE KILLED IN EXPLOSION AT AMMUNITION FACTORY IN GREECE
https://greekreporter.com/2022/03/21/three-killed-explosion-factory-greece/
Tags: Greece, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
Three people were killed after a powerful explosion on Monday morning destroyed an ammunitions factory near the city of Grevena, northern Greece.
The three people were employees of the factory. One more employee who had just come off his shift and was leaving to go home was injured in the explosion and transferred to Grevena hospital in a state of shock.
The director of Grevena hospital, Eftychia Kapatou, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency that the guard has received first aid and his condition gives no cause for concern.
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MERCURY, OTHER CONTAMINATION FOUND IN WATER TESTS AT PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM AS NAVY ANNOUNCES NEW FUEL SPILL
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/04/04/mercury-other-contamination-found-water-tests-pearl-harbor-hickam-navy-announces-new-fuel-spill.html
Tags: us_HI, education, discovery, response, mercury
Mercury was found last month in a sink at an Oahu elementary school, not far from another elementary school where elevated levels of beryllium were detected during widespread testing of the Navy's water system in Honolulu.
The service announced Friday that a sample taken March 16 at Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School contained mercury levels nearly twice the limit set by the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The sample was taken from an indoor sink located in an administrative building "not regularly used by students," according to the Navy, and was isolated to the sink.
News of the mercury finding was followed Saturday by an announcement from the Navy that "no more than" 30 gallons of fuel and water had spilled at the Red Hill Fuel complex. The accidental release occurred while workers were removing water from the fuel tanks, a process known as "dewatering."
Navy personnel halted the process, and the Hawaii Department of Health was called in to monitor the cleanup, according to a service press release.
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NO SERIOUS INJURIES IN FIRE INVOLVING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
https://www.kake.com/story/46238207/no-serious-injuries-in-fire-involving-hazardous-material
Tags: us_KS, industrial, explosion, response, propane
WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) ' Fires crews respond to a fire involving hazardous material in north Wichita Wednesday.
At approximately 5:20 p.m. the Wichita Fire Department responded to a building fire with hazardous product involved near 37th and Hydraulic.
According to Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow, when crews arrived on the scene, they saw fire on the exterior of the building near the loading dock. Crews also saw multiple explosions, as propane tanks were involved.
Two trailers that were near the loading dock had also caught on fire. Crews called for additional help making the fire a three-alarm fire.
Crews were able to establish waterlines, putting out the fire on both the exterior and interior of the building.
Chief Snow said some of the propane tanks were exploding and landing into the parking lot, at which crew members were established outside the building to put out any grass fires.
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RESIDENTS MAY RETURN HOME AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL EVACUATION
https://www.wdtv.com/2022/04/07/residents-may-return-home-after-chemical-spill-evacuation/
Tags: us_WV, transportation, release, response, hydrochloric_acid
FAIRMONT, W.Va (WDTV) - Residents were able to return home after being evacuated due to a chemical spill on April 6.
Hazmat teams and other emergency responders were still on the scene of the incident at 8:30 p.m. that night.
A truck spilled around 4,000 gallons of chemicals outside of Farmington.
'The truck through either a faulty valve or some sort of malfunction. Began leaking Hydrochloric acid. The driver noticed it, pulled off, evacuated the truck, and called emergency services,' Marion County Sheriff Jimmy Riffle explained.
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COMMUNITY MEETING ADDRESSES CONCERNS OVER RECENT SOUTH LOUISVILLE CHEMICAL SPILL
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/community-meeting-set-to-address-concerns-over-recent-south-louisville-chemical-spill/ar-AAVWvmW
Tags: us_KY, public, follow-up, environmental, styrene
tro Councilwoman Nicole George held a community meeting to update residents who live near Crittenden Drive in South Louisville about a recent waterway contamination.
"I think there's some general anxiety from neighbors because anytime someone smells something, there's fear that it could have a potential health impact and ecological impact," she said.
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On March 11, people living in east Beechmont reported an overwhelming odor that George says was so strong it caused their eyes to burn, and many chose to leave their homes.
An investigation revealed 400 gallons of the liquid chemical Styrene spilled in a sewer system at Allnex, a manufacturing company on Crittenden Drive.
According to George, this is not the first time this has happened at this site.
"The company has a different name," the councilwoman said. "It previously was called Newplex and in 2011 there had been a spill that resulted in a settlement."
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CHINA GRAPPLES WITH LAB SAFETY FOLLOWING HUGE GROWTH IN STUDENT NUMBERS
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/china-grapples-with-lab-safety-following-huge-growth-in-student-numbers/4015486.article
Tags: China, laboratory, follow-up, environmental
In 2016, an explosion involving hydrogen and oxygen at the University of Hawaii in Manoa shocked the scientific world after it led to a postdoc losing her arm and ultimately suing the university, her supervisor and others, arguing that she had been provided with equipment and materials that were inappropriate and unsafe.
But the Hawaii incident was not an isolated one and serious accidents continue to occur all around the world. In mainland China alone, there have been 110 publicly reported accidents in laboratories located between 2000 and 2019, a new analysis has revealed. Data for the rest of the world remains scarce.
The authors of the new study sifted through media reports and government websites, searching for details about lab accidents that had occurred in China since 2000. According to the analysis, around 80% of the reported accidents, fatalities and injuries are caused by fires, explosions or exposure to hazardous chemicals. The study authors say inadequate lab safety training for students is responsible but say the trend has improved, with fewer incidents in recent years.
University lab accidents in China spiked in 2009'10 as a result of two major incidents
Among the 110 accidents analysed, violating lab procedure is one of the biggest causes of such incidents in China, the study found, where lab safety rules have been implemented but not enforced in many cases. Other reasons behind lab accidents were use of defective equipment, operating errors, hazardous chemicals and lack of supervision.
'That is unacceptable in my eyes,' says Imke Schroder, research project manager at the Center for Laboratory Safety at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which was established in March 2011 following a 2008 incident involving a pyrophoric substance at the institution that resulted in the death of research assistant Sheri Sangji. 'The infrastructure at the Chinese universities seems to be really below par as compared to here in the US and also UK and other European universities.'
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US EPA'S PROPOSED ASBESTOS BAN FACES INDUSTRY FIGHT
https://cen.acs.org/policy/chemical-regulation/US-EPA-proposed-asbestos-ban-faces-industry-fight/100/i12
Tags: public, follow-up, environmental, asbestos
US imports of chrysotile asbestos, used exclusively by the chlor-alkali industry, would be banned under a landmark rule proposed April 5 by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The rule would also prohibit importing asbestos in products such as sheet gaskets and automotive brake parts.
The proposed ban marks the EPA's first action to manage the risks of a high-priority chemical under the 2016 revisions to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Asbestos, a human carcinogen, is one of the first 10 chemicals the EPA is scrutinizing under the amended law.
Most uses of asbestos have been discontinued in the US, but chlor-alkali producers have long fought to keep using the substance in diaphragms that separate chlorine and sodium hydroxide. Ten chlor-alkali facilities in the US, or about one-third, still use asbestos-containing diaphragms, according to the EPA. But alternatives are available. Nearly half of the US chlor-alkali industry uses fluoropolymer ion-exchange membranes, the EPA says in a press release.
Chlorine makers are urging the EPA to withdraw the proposed asbestos ban, claiming it would have unintended consequences on water disinfection and chemical supply chains. Chlorine is essential in the production of pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and products like batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels needed to achieve climate and sustainability goals, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), which represents chemical manufacturers, says in a statement.
The group argues that the EPA's asbestos risk evaluation, finalized in 2020, overestimated worker exposure because it did not consider protocols required under Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. 'EPA failed to consider federal handling and worker protection requirements in its assessment and should re-evaluate and reconsider the proposal,' Kimberly Wise White, the ACC's vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs, says in the statement.
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