Latest Chemicals Headlines
All the headlines from our Chemicals Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Chemical Leak at Texas Water Park Sends 29 to Hospital
Jul 19 2021 // A chemical leak at a Houston-area water park left dozens suffering from minor skin irritation and respiratory issues on July 17, authorities said. Twenty-nine people were taken to local hospitals following the incident at...
State Officials Sue Owners of Illinois Chemical Plant that Burned
Jul 12 2021 // Illinois prosecutors on July 9 sued the owner of a chemical plant where a fire in June sent dark smoke and ash into the air for days and prompted evacuations, saying the company should be held accountable for air and water...
Company Defends Use of Toxic Chemicals to Fight Illinois Plant Fire
Jul 2 2021 // A company whose northern Illinois chemical plant was heavily damaged in a fire defended its use of firefighting foam containing toxic chemicals, saying crews had taken steps to contain the material. An industrial team...
Illinois Chemical Plant Fire Likely Accidental, Fire Chief Says
Jun 27 2021 // An explosion and massive fire at a chemical plant in northern Illinois that filled the sky with black smoke and forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes for days was started accidentally during maintenance work, a senior...
Ship Carrying Chemicals Sinks Near Sri Lanka Capital, Prompting Pollution Fears
Jun 18 2021 // COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – A container ship carrying chemicals sank off Sri Lanka’s capital on Thursday nearly a month after catching fire, raising concerns about a possible environmental disaster. The ship’s...
Half of Cosmetics Contain Toxic PFAS Chemicals
Jun 17 2021 // More than half the cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada are awash with a toxic industrial compound associated with serious health conditions, including cancer and reduced birth weight, according to a new...
Feds Inspected Illinois Chemical Plant Weeks Before Explosion, Fires
Jun 16 2021 // A northern Illinois chemical plant that was rocked by an explosion and massive fires that prompted evacuations was inspected by a federal agency less than a month before the blast sent debris raining down onto nearby...
Explosion, Fire at Illinois Chemical Plant Prompt Evacuations
Jun 15 2021 // An explosion at a chemical plant in northern Illinois sparked massive fires that sent flames and huge plumes of thick black smoke high into the air Monday morning, prompting evacuations. Emergency crews rushed to the scene...
Data Recorder Recovered from Ship Carrying Chemicals Sinking Off Sri Lanka
Jun 7 2021 // COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) – Experts recovered the data recorder of a fire-ravaged ship carrying chemicals that is slowly sinking off Sri Lanka’s capital, as salvage crews stood by to head off a possible environmental...
Meetings to Be Held on Status of PFAS Chemicals in New Hampshire Communities
May 17 2021 // Meetings will be held online for three southern New Hampshire communities to give the public updates on the status of chemicals found in the water, the Department of Environmental Services said. The meetings are scheduled...
Study Warns of Volunteer Firefighters’ Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’
May 5 2021 // Volunteer firefighters — who comprise more than 65 percent of the U.S. fire service — have higher levels of “forever chemicals” in their bodies than the general public. A Rutgers study, which was published...
Firefighter Injured in Blaze at Eastern Missouri Chemical plant
Apr 30 2021 // A firefighter was injured on April 29 during a large fire at a chemical plant in eastern Missouri that forced evacuations in nearby neighborhoods. Fire personnel responded to the scene at the Manor Chemical Plant in...
Worker Group Alleges Unsafe Chemical Releases at Minnesota Refinery: Reuters
Apr 26 2021 // Inadequate safety standards at Marathon Petroleum’s St. Paul Park refinery in Minnesota have caused avoidable hydrocarbon and chemical releases that pose a threat to the community, a local worker advocacy group said...
Massive Fire Breaks Out at Texas Chemical Facility
Apr 8 2021 // A huge industrial fire broke out at a chemical facility in Channelview, Texas, around 4 p.m. on April 7, Harris County officials said. A shelter in place order was issued for neighborhoods near the K-Solve Chemicals plant...
Chemical Site Cleanup on Maine River to Cost More Than $180M
Mar 25 2021 // A settlement that is pending approval from a federal judge would require the former owner of a shuttered chemical plant in Maine to spend more than $180 million to clean up mercury contamination. The settlement concerns...
‘Forever Chemicals’ in 60 Closed Minnesota Landfills Contaminating Groundwater
Mar 22 2021 // Pollution regulators said that contamination from toxic man-made “forever chemicals” has been detected in groundwater at nearly 60 closed landfills in Minnesota, with amounts exceeding levels for safe drinking...
Georgia City Resident Sues Over Chemical Discharge in Water
Mar 17 2021 // A Georgia city, a textile manufacturer and others are being sued by a former Summerville, Georgia, city council member over a water crisis that forced Summerville to distribute bottled water for weeks and still could cost...
Maine Man Sues Paper Mill Over Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’
Mar 11 2021 // A Maine man is suing a paper mill company that operates in the state about levels of long-lasting chemicals in wells and elsewhere. Nathan Saunders of Fairfield filed the lawsuit Friday against Boston-based Sappi North...
Environmental Settlement of $121K Reached with Washington Chemical Company
Feb 10 2021 // The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Emerald Kalama Chemical after inspectors say they found hazardous waste storage and handling violations it its Kalama, Wash., facility. The chemical...
DuPont, Chemours Reach Pact Over Liability for ‘Forever Chemicals’ PFAs Pollution
Jan 25 2021 // The Dupont Co. and its spinoff business Chemours have agreed to resolve legal disputes over environmental liabilities for pollution related to man-made chemicals associated with an increased risk of cancer and other health...
