DCHAS-L Archives, Jan 11 2014 - Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Leak in WV

It reminds me of the guy who in 1858 first synthesized phenolphthalein, drank some and got a raging case of the Aztec two-step. His response was "Eureka, I've invented a laxative," and it immediately became the most common laxative sold world wide. FDA finally got around to studying it 130 years later. When the data came out in 1992, it was found to be not only a carcinogen, but one of the most potent ever studied producing multiple types of cancer at multiple sites. It was banned with no fanfare. The public was not even aware that the Ex-Lax they used for decades was a carcinogen.

So who knows what this rotten, licorice-smelling, ore floatation chemical can do to people? There is an experiment going on in West Virginia, and guess who the lab rats are? And instead of providing them with information so they can provide "informed consent" they are being told it is pretty innocuous. I object unless the industry can provide references. And my question to everyone, is why don't we ALWAYS demand to see the data? Aren't we chemists?

-----Original Message-----
From: Melissa Charlton-Smith <charltonsmith**At_Symbol_Here**WVWC.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Sat, Jan 11, 2014 9:10 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Leak in WV

4-Methyl-1- cyclohexanemethanol of course there are multiple names for it all about the same but the CAS# is 34885-30-5 and like Manona says you really can't find much out there on it. I talked to a HazMat tech Emergency responder friend of mine who also is a certified Class III wastewater operator and he said it really depends on the levels released. It's soluble to 0.2% in water but at 10 ppm or so it is pretty innocuous by ingestion-.though it might give you a good case of the-.ummm-.runs.

Mel Charlton-Smith

WVWC Chemical Hygiene Officer-NRCC

Chemistry Lab Coordinator, Lecturer

BS-CHO Program Coordinator

Department of Chemistry

WV Wesleyan College

Buckhannon, WV 26201

charltonsmith**At_Symbol_Here**wvwc.edu

304-473-8355

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED..CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Frankie Wood-Black
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 6:21 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Leak in WV

Do you know what was released? The report I saw was that it was an antifoaming agent.

On Jan 10, 2014 4:30 PM, "Melissa Charlton-Smith" <charltonsmith**At_Symbol_Here**wvwc.edu> wrote:

Just thought I would share this with everyone from my home state

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/some-people-treated-for-water-related-issues-in-w-va/