One learns some interesting chemistry by reading newspaper reports!
Regards
Ernest Lippert

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Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 7:21 AM
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Subject: [DCHAS-L] CHAS Tweets and Chemical Safety headlines (12 articles)

**At_Symbol_Here**ACSDCHAS and **At_Symbol_Here**LabSustain tweets and Chemical Safety Headlines
A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
Tweets available on our ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
(DCHAS) Facebook Page
Tagged Article summaries are available at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas

cornelllabsafe SusChem&Eng: Ag Nanoparticle-Induced Growth of Porous MnO2
Spheres with Supercapacitance http://t.co/DLEv6pb2Br http://t.co/XTv8R0yvQG

labsustain ES&T: Decision Support Framework for Developing Regional Energy
Strategies http://t.co/PqDA5LhpHp http://t.co/pfVn1SgOAU

cornelllabsafe ACS Webinar: Tragic Chemical Accidents: Tales,
Investigations, and Lessons Learned http://t.co/rcNbXpEupN

labsustain Cornell Faculty Senate Urges Fossil Fuel Divestment
http://t.co/7iNDvq3ju4

labsustain Cornell: Aeroponics to Boost NY Potato Production
http://t.co/NcEZrOJoVJ http://t.co/nJaAjWI198

acsdchas JChemEd: Alcohol Pharmacology: Using Chem and Bio Concepts To
Educate Students about Alcohol http://t.co/UGIzRGVKlp http://t.co/2FGAiHoPUY

cornelllabsafe Study links poor dolphin health to Gulf oil spill
http://t.co/NEdIWG2VD9 http://t.co/KnpMevDB9A

Table of Contents (12 articles)

TWO DEAD IN BELGIAN CHEMICAL FACTORY EXPLOSION
Tags: Belgium, industrial, explosion, death, acids

AU CHEMICAL SPILL SENDS GRADUATE ASSISTANT TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_AL, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

HOMES EVACUATED AS BIOFUELS PLANT BURNS
Tags: us_MS, industrial, explosion, response, biodiesel

CRIME BRIEF: CHEMICAL WASTE SPARKS FIRE AT OHIO STATE
Tags: us_OH, laboratory, fire, response, waste

HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS TO CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_NE, transportation, release, response, peroxide

HAZMAT CREW CALLED TO SUN VALLEY
Tags: us_NV, public, follow-up, response, ammonia, bleach

TWO TODDLERS DIE AFTER JERUSALEM HOME SPRAYED FOR PESTS
Tags: Israel, public, release, death, pesticides

SOLVENT LEAK IN OHIO INDUSTRY
Tags: us_OH, industrial, release, response, solvent

WAUNAKEE MANURE DIGESTER HAS SECOND SPILL IN 2 MONTHS; COMPANY NOW SAYS IT
HAS A FIX
Tags: us_WI, public, release, response, waste

CONTAMINATION WORSE THAN SUSPECTED AT S.F. STATE BUILDING
Tags: us_CA, education, discovery, response, asbestos, lead_dust, mercury

WILLIAMS OLEFINS CONTESTS FINDINGS IN EXPLOSION
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, death, flammables

NEWSDAILY: FIRE RAGES AT MISSISSIPPI BIODIESEL PLANT, INJURIES UNKNOWN
Tags: us_MS, industrial, explosion, response, biodiesel

---------------------------------------------

TWO DEAD IN BELGIAN CHEMICAL FACTORY EXPLOSION
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_23/Two-dead-in-Belgian-chemical-factor
y-explosion-0303/
Tags: Belgium, industrial, explosion, death, acids

Two people died in an explosion Thursday at a factory belonging to Belgian
metal manufacturer Umicore, the company confirmed. The accident occurred at
Umicore's site in Olen, 50 kilometres northeast of Brussels.

The two people were working in a silo in which acid fluids were stored, a
spokesman said, adding: "For unknown reasons, there was an explosion and the
silo collapsed."

Umicore is a Belgian-based global materials technology group, with a
background in mining.
It employs more than 1,000 people in Olen, where it handles cobalt, nickel
and germanium and houses a global research department, according to the
company website.
Read more: href="http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_23/Two-dead-in-Belgian-chemical-
factory-explosion-0303/">http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_23/Two-dead-i
n-Belgian-chemical-factory-explosion-0303/

---------------------------------------------

AU CHEMICAL SPILL SENDS GRADUATE ASSISTANT TO HOSPITAL
http://www.oanow.com/news/article_7e042f90-848b-11e3-9a9f-001a4bcf6878.html
Tags: us_AL, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

chemical spill at an Auburn University lab sent one woman to a hospital just
before 5 p.m. Thursday. But according to university officials, she did not
suffer any injuries.
The woman, a graduate assistant, was taken to East Alabama Medical Center as
a precaution after containers of chemicals fell from a storage cabinet onto
the floor in a lab at Funchess Hall. The building is on South College
Street, across from CVS.
The graduate assistant, who was not identified, was released later that
evening, according to university spokesman Mike Clardy.
Clardy said he did not know what chemicals were involved.

---------------------------------------------

HOMES EVACUATED AS BIOFUELS PLANT BURNS
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/01/23/homes-evacuated-biofuels-plant-burns/
Tags: us_MS, industrial, explosion, response, biodiesel

NEW ALBBNY - Authorities say a fire is still burning at a north Mississippi
biofuels plant and there has been a third explosion at the facility.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesman Brett Carr said today that
authorities are trying to figure if they should extinguish the fire or let
it burn out.

No injuries have been reported, but classes were cancelled today as a
precaution at schools in nearby New Albany. There was a voluntary evacuation
order for about 50 homes.

Carr said the fire began with an explosion yesterday morning at the plant,
which he said was formerly known as North Mississippi Biodiesel, but is now
known as JNS Biofuels.

He said the plant makes poultry-based biofuel.

Carr says officials believe glycerol and poultry fat are what's burning.

---------------------------------------------

CRIME BRIEF: CHEMICAL WASTE SPARKS FIRE AT OHIO STATE
http://thelantern.com/2014/01/crime-brief-chemical-waste-sparks-fire-ohio-st
ate/
Tags: us_OH, laboratory, fire, response, waste

A box of chemical waste caught fire at the Bulk Chemical Warehouse Friday at
about noon. The small fire started when movers were disposing of waste from
the building, located at 2600 Kenny Road.

A box, brought up from the basement of Dreese Laboratory two days prior to
the incident, began smoking while it was being moved and then caught fire. A
staff member was able to extinguish the fire and no one was injured. The box
was filled with multiple black garbage bags containing chemical waste,
according to a University Police report.

---------------------------------------------

HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS TO CHEMICAL SPILL
http://columbustelegram.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/hazmat-team-respond
s-to-chemical-spill/article_dc66cafe-a365-589b-a947-95714b0d0f64.html
Tags: us_NE, transportation, release, response, peroxide

COLUMBUS - Columbus Fire Department's hazardous materials team responded to
a chemical spill Monday afternoon at a local manufacturing plant.

According to Fire Chief Dean Hefti, the hazmat team was activated around
4:30 p.m. Monday after a chemical spill was reported at FLEXcon, 2021 E.
23rd St.

Hefti said organic hydrogen peroxide was leaking from a semitrailer parked
at the plant.

The hazmat team took measures to prevent the chemical from flowing into the
stormwater system and contain the fumes, according to Hefti, who estimates
about 140 gallons spilled from a container that was being delivered to a
different company.

The spill did not cause any health problems for FLEXcon employees or hazmat
team members, he said.

---------------------------------------------

HAZMAT CREW CALLED TO SUN VALLEY
http://www.mynews4.com/news/story/Hazmat-Crew-Called-to-Sun-Valley/tr7NhVksz
EWv5jemttNGCg.cspx
Tags: us_NV, public, follow-up, response, ammonia, bleach

SUN VALLEY, Nev. (MyNews4.com & KRNV) - An apparent chemical cleaning
mishap shut down a Sun Valley neighborhood for several hours as hazmat teams
cleared the area Wednesday night, January 22nd.

According to Washoe County Sheriff's Deputies, crews were called to the 5100
block of Carol Dr. in Sun Valley at around 7 Wednesday night and parts of
the street had to be shut down. Sheriff's Deputies say an individual was
cleaning a cage and was overwhelmed with bleach and ammonia. Sparks Police
called the hazmat crew to do a sweep of the neighborhood to make sure there
was no threat.

---------------------------------------------

TWO TODDLERS DIE AFTER JERUSALEM HOME SPRAYED FOR PESTS
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.570036
Tags: Israel, public, release, death, pesticides

Two young girls died on Wednesday after their family's Jerusalem apartment
was sprayed for pest control. Their two older brothers were hospitalized in
very serious condition and their parents were in good condition.

The entire building was evacuated, and will remain empty for at least
another day. Police detained the exterminator for questioning.

At 11 A.M. Wednesday a Magen David Adom ambulance was dispatched to an
apartment on Hashahal Street in the capital. The responders found the six
members of the Gross family in states ranging from woozy to unconscious: the
parents, both in their thirties; the two boys, aged 5 and 7; and two girls,
one, Abigail, aged 4 years, the other, Yael, 18 months. After determining
that the family appeared to have been poisoned by pesticides that were
sprayed in the home on Monday, Magen David Adom officials contacted police
and the Environmental Protection Ministry's hazardous materials unit.

---------------------------------------------

SOLVENT LEAK IN OHIO INDUSTRY
http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/556537/Kraton-solvent-le
ak-contained.html
Tags: us_OH, industrial, release, response, solvent

BELPRE - A process solvent Sunday night leaked and was contained at Kraton
where officials sounded the alert system, a Kraton spokesman said.

The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. when an employee tightening a gauge
on a pump broke part of the pipe where the gauge went into, plant spokesman
Mike White said. White called the release minor.

About 20 gallons of the solvent, cyclohexane, leaked from the pipe, but went
into the in-plant water treatment center, White said. Nothing leaked
off-plant as all 20 gallons were contained on site, he said.

The in-plant treatment system is not part of the retention pond that flows
into Davis Creek or the Ohio River and there was no impact to the community
or fish, White said.

---------------------------------------------

WAUNAKEE MANURE DIGESTER HAS SECOND SPILL IN 2 MONTHS; COMPANY NOW SAYS IT
HAS A FIX
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/waunakee-manure-digester-has-second-s
pill-in-months/article_32ca6f9d-7cf8-52ec-8750-c8821b565cc1.html
Tags: us_WI, public, release, response, waste

For the second time in two months, a short section of above-ground pipe
burst at a biodigester near Waunakee, discharging thousands of gallons of
animal waste.
Meanwhile, the biodigester operators said Wednesday they were told by a
consultant last week of a fix that probably would have prevented both
releases.

"We were evaluating the engineering proposal and preparing a recommendation
to present to the DNR and Dane County," said Jim Ditter, CEO of PPC
Partners, which owns the Clear Horizons biodigester.

About 20,000 gallons spilled onto the ground at about 4 p.m. Monday, said
county lakes and watersheds director Kevin Connors, who visited the site
Tuesday. Workers stopped the breach within 15 minutes, and the manure flowed
into a retention basin without reaching waterways outside of the biodigester
property on Cuba Valley Road, Connors said.

"Fortunately they had people on the site this time and we didn't have as big
a mess as we did last time," said Josh Wescott, chief of staff to Dane
County Executive Joe Parisi.

The Clear Horizons facility has been scrutinized since Nov. 24 when 300,000
gallons spilled and at least some flowed a mile away to reach Six Mile
Creek, which leads to Lake Mendota.

---------------------------------------------

CONTAMINATION WORSE THAN SUSPECTED AT S.F. STATE BUILDING
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Contamination-worse-than-suspected-at-
SFSU-5165939.php
Tags: us_CA, education, discovery, response, asbestos, lead_dust, mercury

A second inspection of the science building at San Francisco State
University has revealed a level of contamination worse than suspected, so
the building that typically houses more than 2,500 students, faculty and
staff will remain closed for the entire spring semester, the campus
president said in a letter to employees.

The inspection found uncontained mercury, lead paint and asbestos dust
throughout the building just days before the new semester is to start
Monday.

As students return to class, campus officials are scrambling to figure out
where to put the thousands taking classes in the business, liberal and
creative arts, science and engineering, and health and human services
departments that are housed in the science building.

"Contingency teams are attempting to relocate classes, offices and
laboratories assigned to the building," President Les Wong wrote to faculty
and staff, noting that employees can find updates on the class schedule
online.

The latest inspection report has been posted online at href="http://bit.ly/1biW5BD">http://bit.ly/1biW5BD. It found asbestos in
the basement and first and second floors.

---------------------------------------------

WILLIAMS OLEFINS CONTESTS FINDINGS IN EXPLOSION
http://www.kansas.com/2014/01/22/3242249/williams-olefins-contests-findings.
html
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, death, flammables

BATON ROUGE, La. - Officials say Williams Olefins is contesting six
workplace safety violations and $99,000 in civil penalties federal
regulators proposed last month for a fatal explosion June 13 at the
company's Ascension Parish plant.

The blast at Williams' Geismar ethylene and propylene facility killed two
and injured 114 after a flammable vapor cloud ignited from ruptured
equipment in the company's propylene fractionation unit, causing a massive
fireball.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for
six process safety management standard violations, including one willful.

---------------------------------------------

NEWSDAILY: FIRE RAGES AT MISSISSIPPI BIODIESEL PLANT, INJURIES UNKNOWN
http://www.newsdaily.com/article/2d2de5339c7dc8330e07859ba230e258/fire-rages
-at-mississippi-biodiesel-plant-injuries-unknown
Tags: us_MS, industrial, explosion, response, biodiesel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A fire raged at a biodiesel complex after an explosion
that was felt miles away in northern Mississippi on Wednesday, a county
sheriff dispatcher said, and while there were no reports of injuries, it was
unclear whether all workers were accounted for.

The dispatcher for the Sheriff of Union County, who declined to be named,
said the fire began at about 5:30 a.m. CST (1130 GMT) after an explosion
that she herself felt.

Earlier, the Mississippi Highway Patrol said the blaze was so hot,
firefighters could not get close enough to fight it. The dispatcher said the
fire was still burning at 9:30 a.m. CST.

The complex lies by the Mississippi Highway 15 about 4 miles north of New
Albany, a town of about 8,500 residents.

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