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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at 4:45:24 AM
A membership benefit of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
All article summaries and tags are archived at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__pinboard.in_u-3Adchas&d=DQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=HtB5OgNKseqrG4hGEcde3JjpaZnLlYrG47tQS_4xJ_A&s=zhMx0HlDambKWGAjZX0bC1J_toquUusT2v9MIINLUQQ&e=
Table of Contents (12 articles)
THYROID DISRUPTING CHEMICALS FOUND IN HOUSEHOLD DUST
Tags: Swaziland, laboratory, discovery, environmental, ag_chems, dust
NEW CHEMICALS ADD CONCERN OVER E-CIGARETTES‰?? HEALTH IMPACT
Tags: laboratory, discovery, environmental, acrolein, ethylene_glycol, formaldehyde
BURIED BATTERY CASINGS PROMPT HEALTH SCARE IN NJ
Tags: us_NJ, public, discovery, response, batteries, waste
JUDGE ORDERS HANFORD CHEMICAL VAPOR SAFETY MEASURES SUGGESTED BY DOE
Tags: us_WA, industrial, follow-up, response, metals
UNION COUNTY BUSINESS EXPOSED WORKERS TO CHEMICAL, OTHER SAFETY HEALTH HAZARDS: OSHA
Tags: us_NJ, industrial, discovery, response, dust
WOMAN ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE AFTER FIRE
Tags: us_WV, public, fire, response, illegal, meth_lab
CHEMICALS MANUFACTURER CITED BY OSHA FOLLOWING EXPLOSION
Tags: us_MA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, flammables, waste
TEPCO'S HAZMAT SUIT GUIDELINE DECREASES BURDEN ON WORKERS DURING SUMMER HEAT
Tags: Japan, industrial, follow-up, environmental, radiation
UPDATE: DRAIN OPENER CHEMICAL BLAMED FOR DEATH OF MOTHER AND ADULT SON
Tags: us_FL, public, release, death, cleaners
COMPANY FINED DH100,000 FOR DUMPING CHEMICAL WASTE IN SHARJAH
Tags: United_Arab_Emirates, transportation, release, response, flammables, used_oil, waste, illegal
FIREFIGHTERS ATTEND WEST AUCKLAND CHEMICAL INCIDENT
Tags: New_Zealand, public, release, response, hydrogen_peroxide
THE CHEMICAL REACTIONS TAKING PLACE IN YOUR SWIMMING POOL
Tags: us_CO, public, discovery, environmental, pool_chemicals
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THYROID DISRUPTING CHEMICALS FOUND IN HOUSEHOLD DUST
Tags: Swaziland, laboratory, discovery, environmental, ag_chems, dust
Thyroid hormone signaling helps regulate many processes, including metabolism, cardiovascular function, and brain development. But manmade chemicals like herbicides and plasticizers that can disrupt this signaling have found their way into the environment. And part of that environment is pretty close to home: household dust.
Researchers at UmeÌ´ University have developed a model to help identify which of the chemicals found in household dust might be binding to the thyroid receptor and thus disrupting the signaling process.
Kwangho Nam, Patrik L. Andersson, and coworkers incorporated into their model multiple crystal structures of the ë21 form of the human thyroid receptor, each complexed with a different ligand and with a slightly different conformation of the ligand binding site (Chem. Res. Toxicol. 2016, DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00171). They used a set of compounds known to bind to the thyroid receptor to develop computational methods for predicting compounds that interact with the binding site. To get better predictions, they used a molecular mechanics method that better estimates how the solvent affects ligand binding.
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NEW CHEMICALS ADD CONCERN OVER E-CIGARETTES‰?? HEALTH IMPACT
Tags: laboratory, discovery, environmental, acrolein, ethylene_glycol, formaldehyde
Two new chemicals of concern have been connected to electronic cigarettes: Glycidol, a probable carcinogen, is found in e-cigarette vapor; and propylene oxide, a respiratory irritant and possible carcinogen, is found in the flavored liquid heated by the device to produce the vapor. Hugo Destaillats of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and his colleagues also confirmed the presence of the probable carcinogens formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, as well as the strong respiratory and eye irritant acrolein, in the vapor (Environ. Sci. Technol., DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01741).
Notably, the researchers conclude that several of these compounds come from heating the liquid‰??s solvents, propylene glycol and glycerin. Glycidol, acrolein, and formaldehyde are thermal by-products of glycerin, and propylene glycol degrades into acetaldehyde and formaldehyde.
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BURIED BATTERY CASINGS PROMPT HEALTH SCARE IN NJ
Tags: us_NJ, public, discovery, response, batteries, waste
WEST DEPTFORD, N.J. (WPVI) -- Dangerous chemicals have been found lurking in contaminated soil in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
The cleanup is costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and has an entire neighborhood worried about its health.
It all began a few months ago the Martins Family of West Deptford hired someone to repair a damaged sewer line beneath their home.
"As they are digging, it looked like they found battery parts. They called hazmat and they started digging," said Wilma Martins.
The hazmat team, in turn, called in EPA officials, who determined that sometime before the house was built, someone had buried tons of toxic car battery casings beneath the property.
"Essentially our investigation is collecting soil samples, mainly looking for lead contamination associated with the battery casings. Also, obviously, looking for the batter casings themselves because the battery casings en masse are a hazardous waste," said David Rosoff of the EPA.
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JUDGE ORDERS HANFORD CHEMICAL VAPOR SAFETY MEASURES SUGGESTED BY DOE
Tags: us_WA, industrial, follow-up, response, metals
The Department of Energy and its tank farm contractor have been ordered to continue using supplied-air respirators and take other steps already proposed by DOE to protect Hanford workers from chemical vapors.
U.S. Judge Thomas Rice ordered DOE and its contractor at a hearing Tuesday to take the steps until he rules on immediate protections requested by the state of Washington and other plaintiffs in a motion for preliminary injunction they filed last month.
DOE had asked for reasonable time to prepare arguments and retain expert witnesses before Rice ruled on the preliminary injunction but offered to take steps to protect workers until the ruling.
It said it would continue using supplied air respirators within all Hanford tank farms. It had already taken that action in response to demands made in June by the Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council, an organization of Hanford unions.
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UNION COUNTY BUSINESS EXPOSED WORKERS TO CHEMICAL, OTHER SAFETY HEALTH HAZARDS: OSHA
Tags: us_NJ, industrial, discovery, response, dust
RAHWAY, NJ ‰?? A Union County furniture manufacturer has been cited for exposing workers to chemical and other safety, health hazards by the U.S. Department of Labor‰??s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The Spoon Group, doing business as ‰??Prop N Spoon‰?? at 970 New Brunswick Ave., Bldg. 1 in Rahway was issued citations for 19 serious and one other-than-serious health and safety violations and could face $47,600 in penalties.
‰??If not addressed immediately, the hazards cited at Prop N Spoon‰??s warehouse will continue to pose serious safety and health dangers to employees. This is especially true for workers handling chemicals and working in areas with combustible dust,‰?? said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA‰??s Avenel Area Office. ‰??This employer and all employers should take steps to anticipate, recognize, evaluate and control potential safety and health hazards in their workplace."
A health inspection by OSHA was started on Feb. 25 after a complaint stated the employer was exposing workers to chemical hazards and not providing them with a respiratory protection program, according to OSHA.
On May 5, a safety inspection followed where an OSHA compliance officer observed and reported combustible dust hazards and a lack of safety guards on machines, according to OSHA.
---------------------------------------------
WOMAN ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE AFTER FIRE
Tags: us_WV, public, fire, response, illegal, meth_lab
FAIRMONT ‰?? A Harrison County woman was arrested on a drug charge following a fire in her Fairmont hotel room.
Lisa Michelle Brady, 39, of Shinnston, is charged with attempting to operate a clandestine drug laboratory. She was arrested Aug. 1 and is being held at North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.
According to a criminal complaint: The Fairmont Fire Department responded to a fire July 27 at the Country Club Motor Lodge. The blaze was determined to be suspicious because the fire was contained to a bathtub, with burn marks visible on the walls and ceiling.
Items consistent with methamphetamine production were found in the room and a trash can outside.
The occupants had left, but Brady paid for the room and surveillance footage showed her purchasing some of the meth-making materials at Food Lion.
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CHEMICALS MANUFACTURER CITED BY OSHA FOLLOWING EXPLOSION
Tags: us_MA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, flammables, waste
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (AP) ‰?? A Massachusetts chemicals manufacturer has been cited by federal labor officials following a January explosion that injured four workers.
The U.S. Department of Labor says an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that Rohm-Haas Electronics Material LLC failed to adequately design, inspect, maintain and operate the chemical process that led to the fire and explosion at the company's North Andover plant.
The Labor Department says the investigation also uncovered 11 workplace safety violations, including that the plant stored flammable liquids improperly and failed to empty a waste container of flammable liquids on a daily basis.
OSHA has proposed penalties of $129,200.
Rohm-Haas has filed a notice of contest to its citations and penalties.
Philadelphia-based Rohm-Haas is a subsidiary of chemicals company Dow Chemical, headquartered in Midland, Michigan.
---------------------------------------------
TEPCO'S HAZMAT SUIT GUIDELINE DECREASES BURDEN ON WORKERS DURING SUMMER HEAT
Tags: Japan, industrial, follow-up, environmental, radiation
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 power plant, has been revising guidelines for when workers need to wear full masks with hazmat suits or less-bulky outfits to improve their working conditions during the scorching summer.
While a full-body outfit limits radiation exposure, hazmat suits and full masks have been a heavy burden for workers because they restrict movement and make it difficult to breathe, prompting Tepco to revise the guidelines on their usage.
In March, Tepco changed the guidelines, dividing the premises into three areas.
In the area where radiation levels remain high, including inside reactor buildings 1, 2 and 3, workers will need to wear a full mask and disposable hazmat suit with a raincoat-like outer layer.
Workers meanwhile will need to wear full or half masks with hazmat suits in areas where radiation levels are lower, such as near tanks filled with radiation-tainted water. In the remaining area, the majority of which has low levels of radiation, workers only need to use disposable masks and their usual work outfits, Tepco said.
---------------------------------------------
UPDATE: DRAIN OPENER CHEMICAL BLAMED FOR DEATH OF MOTHER AND ADULT SON
Tags: us_FL, public, release, death, cleaners
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Sarasota Police Department says two people have died after exposure to a chemical some of you might have in your home right now.
Detectives think exposure to a drain unclogger in the home is to blame for the deaths. No more specific details were given about the type of cleaner or where it was in the home.
Two people were found unconscious by a family member this morning and both have since passed away. This happened in a home off of Margaret Street.
We do know the victims are a 78 year old mother and her 58 year old son, but no names are being released at this time.
The Sarasota County Hazmat Team has cleared the house after spending much of the day on the scene.
---------------------------------------------
COMPANY FINED DH100,000 FOR DUMPING CHEMICAL WASTE IN SHARJAH
Tags: United_Arab_Emirates, transportation, release, response, flammables, used_oil, waste, illegal
A company was slapped with Dh100,000 fine and its driver was held for dumping chemical waste near a building under construction in Sharjah.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Mohammed Al Kabi, Head of the Field Inspection Section at Sharjah Municipality said that an inspection team has seen a truck driver unloading barrels of used oil and other hazardous chemical waste and they caught him red-handed.
He added that the driver belongs to a company based in other emirate, has come all the way to Sharjah to dump the waste.
The chemical materials that he tried to dump could cause severe damage to the environment because it cannot be dissolved and considered flammable.
He added that the inspection teams are working around the clock to detect any kind of violations that affect the environment and public health.
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FIREFIGHTERS ATTEND WEST AUCKLAND CHEMICAL INCIDENT
Tags: New_Zealand, public, release, response, hydrogen_peroxide
Firefighters are attending a chemical incident in West Auckland involving a 1000-litre drum of hydrogen peroxide.
A Fire Service hazardous materials vehicle and three fire engines are at the Rosebank Rd, Avondale address.
A Fire Service spokesman said the drum was foaming.
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THE CHEMICAL REACTIONS TAKING PLACE IN YOUR SWIMMING POOL
Tags: us_CO, public, discovery, environmental, pool_chemicals
Audrey Eldridge brings an inhaler with her whenever she gets in the pool. An elite Masters swimmer from Colorado Springs, she swims between 3,000 and 4,000 meters per day. She notices respiratory effects that can strike depending on the conditions where she‰??s swimming.
Eldridge hasn‰??t been diagnosed with asthma, but many elite swimmers have been. In fact, studies have shown a statistically significant link between professional swimming and the respiratory ailment. Professional swimmers like the ones who will dive into the pool at the Summer Olympics this week in Rio de Janeiro can log upward of 10,000 meters per day during training. That‰??s a lot of time spent exposed to the chemicals in and around swimming pools.
It takes a lot of chemicals to make pool water safe for swimming. Untreated water can accumulate harmful Escherichia coli and Salmonella bacteria and protozoans such as Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia. So the disinfection chemicals are necessary for killing pathogens, but at the same time, they don‰??t just float around inertly in the water: Many of them react with organic material in the water‰??dirt, sweat, urine, and even skin moisturizers‰??to form disinfection by-products (DBPs).
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