Contractors Fined At Savannah River Site For Safety Voilations

October 12th, 2010 | Environment | | Leave a comment

 DOE is withholding over $3 million from two contractors whose employees were burned in an electrical accident, an acid spill and a finger destroying crane incident. These accidents were from 2009 and do not include the recent plutonium exposure case for last June.

Rob Pavey of the Augustra Chronicle reports that Savannah River Nuclear Solutions and Parsons Innovations and Technology Group are the accident prone contractors at the Savannah River Site finally got the attention of the Department of Energy.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2010-10-09/safety-violations-cost-srs-contractors

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WaPo: NATO helicopter rockets accidentally kill five Afghan soldiers

July 7th, 2010 | National Security | | Leave a comment

Rockets fired by a NATO helicopter mistakenly killed five Afghan soldiers who were pursuing insurgent fighters Wednesday in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan and NATO officials said. Two soldiers were also wounded.

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AP: Recall on children’s jewelry due to toxic cadmium

July 1st, 2010 | Environment | | Leave a comment
Photo: Flickr / vieux bandit
Photo: Flickr / vieux bandit
Federal regulators announced today a recall of about 70,000 children’s charm bracelets and rings that were being distributed for free at doctor and dentist offices. High levels of toxic metal cadmium were found in the Chinese-manufactured jewelry.

If ingested, cadmium may weaken bones and kidneys. The Consumer Product Safety Commission was concerned that children who bite, suck on or swallow the jewelry would be at risk for exposure.

Currently there are no laws that require testing for cadmium in children’s jewelry. Due to media attention that reported that some children’s jewelry manufacturers were substituting cadmium for lead following a 2008 ban, some companies have been privately testing imports for cadmium.

The commission said parents should immediately dispose of the approximately 66,200 colorful beaded bracelets and 2,200 football-shaped rings. So far, no reports of incidents or injuries involving either product have been received.

READ THIS STORY AT TIME.COM

Continue reading AP: Recall on children’s jewelry due to toxic cadmium

The Times-Picayune: Formaldehyde causes cancer, EPA declares

June 3rd, 2010 | Environment | | Leave a comment

epThe Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that formaldehyde, used in countless consumer products, is carcinogenic when inhaled by humans. The EPA also identified seven other non-cancer health effects of the chemical: sensory irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; upper respiratory tract pathology; pulmonary function; asthma and atopy; neurologic and behavioral toxicity; reproductive and developmental toxicity; and immunological toxicity. The findings could lead to new stringent regulations of the widely used chemical.

Formaldehyde garnered national attention after Hurricane Katrina when some people living in the 120,000 FEMA trailers as temporary housing reported respiratory and other health problems. Trailer occupants had prolonged exposure to the chemical which is contained in wood products in the trailers.

The National Academy panel will hold its first meeting on the EPA’s draft assessment Monday in Washington.

READ THIS STORY AT NOLA.COM

Continue reading The Times-Picayune: Formaldehyde causes cancer, EPA declares

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