Latest ‘Fatal Facts’ explores risk of hydrogen sulfide poisoning

Safety+Health  — OSHA is warning employers and workers about the risk of hydrogen sulfide poisoning in the agency's latest edition of Fatal Facts.

The resource details the Chemical Safety Board's investigation into the October 2019 hydrogen sulfide release at the Aghorn Operating Waterflood Station in Odessa, TX. During the incident, a worker responded to an alarm from a water pump, which was part of the process of extracting natural gas and crude oil. The worker was alone in the pump house when he tried to close process valves to isolate the pump.

"Either before the worker's arrival or during his work, the pump unexpectedly energized, releasing water containing H₂S gas into the pump house," the newsletter states. "The H₂S concentration reached fatal levels, killing the worker."

OSHA offers likely causes for the incident and lists steps to prevent future incidents. Recommendations include:

• Mandate the use of personal hydrogen sulfide detection devices as an integral part of every employee or visitor personal protective equipment kit before entering the vicinity of the facility.
• Ensure detector use is in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
• Commission an independent and comprehensive analysis of each facility's ventilation design and mitigation systems to ensure workers are protected from exposure to toxic gas.
• Ensure the hydrogen sulfide detection and alarm systems are properly maintained and configured, and develop site-specific detection and alarm programs and associated procedures based on manufacturer specifications, current codes, standards and industry good practice guidance.

Read full via source: Safety+Health

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/23500-latest-fatal-facts-explores-risk-of-hydrogen-sulfide-poisoning

Stars Are Disappearing From Sight at an Astonishing Rate - 80% of people in the United States can’t even see the Milky Way swirl of our galaxy anymore.

For decades, light pollution has been vexing sky lovers and scientists alike. Not to mention the impact light pollution has on the natural world, from affecting human health and birds' nighttime navigation to disorienting baby sea turtles and disrupting the mating patterns of fireflies. And lest we forget: the lighting that causes light pollution wastes important resources.

Yet despite this knowledge, light pollution has been challenging to document, especially on a global scale. But now, a new study shows that light pollution is rapidly worsening. 

The analysis comes from Globe at Night, a citizen science program run by the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab. The study concludes that stars are disappearing from human sight at a stunning rate. By relying on the observations of sky-gazers across the globe, the researchers found that light pollution has had much more of an impact than indicated by satellite measurements. 

From the glimmering swath of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, to a multitude of constellations, the human eye should be able to see thousands of stars on a clear, dark night. Yet thanks to light pollution, 80% of people in the United States can't even see the Milky Way swirl of our galaxy anymore. 

​A Mass Extinction Is Taking Place in the Human Gut

"Trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes live in the digestive tract. Many of them are beneficial to human health—influencing our metabolism and immune system, for example. But their diversity is under threat from industrialization, urbanization, and environmental changes."

As more people move to cities, they adopt new eating habits and are exposed to a different environment. Pastoralists in Ethiopia are also starting to buy more foods such as rice and pasta. This could change the composition of their microbiome and push the specialized bacteria living in their guts to extinction, according to public health researcher Abdifatah Muhummed

Please read full at:
https://www.wired.com/story/microbiota-vault/

Japan estimates Fukushima water release to start in 'spring or summer'

(Reuters) - The Japanese government gave an estimation for when the water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant will be released into the sea, saying at a cabinet meeting held on Friday it could happen sometime "around this spring or summer."

In April 2021, the government approved the release of more than 1 million tonnes of irradiated water from the site after treatment into the ocean. It said the release would happen "in about two years" at the time.

Japan's foreign ministry said in July that regulators deemed it safe to release the water, which would be filtered to remove most isotopes but would still contain traces of tritium, an isotope of hydrogen hard to separate from water.

Read full at:

https://www.reuters.com/article/disaster-fukushima-water-release-idAFKBN2TS010

​DNR Now Accepting Brownfield Assessment Grant Applications

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for the Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) brownfield assessment grant program.

Brownfields are properties where the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of contamination. Brownfields vary in size, location, age and past use; they can be anything from a 500-acre former automobile assembly plant to a small, abandoned gas station.

The WAM program provides services and funding to investigate brownfield sites where potential or known contamination is impeding redevelopment. Since 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the DNR and its partners $5.3 million in brownfield assessment grant funding. The DNR uses the money to help local governments and others in investigating brownfield properties throughout the state.

"Conducting an environmental assessment is the first step to bring a brownfields site closer to revitalization," said Jodie Peotter, DNR Brownfields, Outreach and Policy Section Chief.

Factors that may be considered in award selection are projects in rural or disadvantaged communities, community involvement and support, sites that are impediments to large-scale redevelopment projects, positive community outcomes (e.g., economic, health, livability), financial need and projects with redevelopment plans consistent with local redevelopment objectives.

Applicants may apply for up to approximately $54,000 in contractor services, where the DNR contracts directly with and oversees qualified environmental professionals to complete the assessment work. Alternatively, subgrants of up to $75,000 are available to communities who prefer to select a qualified consultant and oversee the assessment work.

Please read full at:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/65501