Tag

Chemical Safety

All articles tagged with #chemical safety

environment2 days ago•12 min saved

Orange County near-miss rekindles warnings on runaway chemical reactions

An aerospace firm in Garden Grove faced a potential catastrophe when a tank containing 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate began overheating after a cooling-system failure, risking a BLEVE that could have sent toxic fumes across Orange County; 50,000 residents were evacuated, but cooling efforts stabilized the tank and lifted evacuations as authorities reported no ongoing toxic release. The incident reflects longstanding industry warnings about reactive-hazard safety and underscores ongoing calls for stronger safety measures, with past international disasters cited for context.

via Los Angeles Times|

#bleve #chemical-safety #environment

health5 months ago•3 min saved

Tufton Assures Safety of Mosquito Fogging Chemicals

The Jamaican Ministry of Health and Wellness assures the public that the chemicals used in mosquito fogging are safe and approved by the WHO, emphasizing that the method is necessary to control mosquito-borne diseases post-Hurricane Melissa, with minimal health risks when used as directed.

via Jamaica Observer|

#chemical-safety #health #jamaica

technology11 months ago•2 min saved

ChatGPT Advises Dangerous Mixing of Bleach and Vinegar

A Reddit user reported that ChatGPT mistakenly suggested mixing bleach and vinegar for cleaning, which can produce toxic chlorine gas. The chatbot quickly corrected itself after being alerted, highlighting the risks of AI providing dangerous advice. Experts warn against relying on AI for medical or safety-critical information due to frequent inaccuracies, emphasizing the importance of consulting human professionals. This incident underscores ongoing challenges in AI safety and reliability.

via Futurism|

#ai-errors #chatgpt #chemical-safety

environment1 year ago•8 min saved

EPA Bans Cancer-Linked Chemicals in Household and Industrial Products

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized new rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act to ban all uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) and most uses of perchloroethylene (PCE) due to their cancer-causing properties. The rules aim to protect public health by eliminating these chemicals from consumer products and many commercial applications, while allowing limited workplace uses with stringent safety measures. This action supports President Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative and addresses long-standing environmental health concerns.

via U.S. EPA.gov|

#cancer-prevention #chemical-safety #environment

environment3 years ago•8 min saved

EPA Under Fire for Approving High-Risk Plastic Fuel and Refinery Water Pollution

The EPA is facing a lawsuit and questions from a U.S. senator over its approval of fuels made from discarded plastic, including one that could subject people nearby to a 1-in-4 lifetime cancer risk. The EPA approved the new chemicals even though its own scientists calculated that pollution from production of one of the plastic-based fuels was so toxic. The plastic-based fuels were given a green light under an EPA program designed to make it easier to create alternatives to fossil fuels.

via ProPublica|

#cancer-risk #chemical-safety #environment