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Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:57:47 -0400
Author: Ralph Stuart 		Next by Date:
Subject: Re: Baylor University evacuates science building after cyanide
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:35:49 -0700
Author: "Debbie M. Decker"


Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:02:40 +0000
Reply-To: drsamples**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: drsamples**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET
Subject: Re: Baylor University evacuates science building after cyanide
spill
Comments: To: List Moderator
In-Reply-To: <4720DC8C-64B7-48B8-B602-ADDDF1237F7A**At_Symbol_Here**uvm.edu>
< div style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'>This brin gs up an interesting point. Perhaps the "staff" who were in the know were n ot allowed to speak to the local responders! At our institution, our Chem ( and Bio) dept staff have been repeatedly told that "we are not allowed to h ave any contact with local fire agencies, etc" and that they (administratio n) will exclusively deal with these outside groups.

Marjorie Samples
Folsom Lake College

----- Original Message -----
From: "List Moderator" <ecgrants**At_Symbol_Here**UVM.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Th ursday, October 15, 2009 4:30:43 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject : Re: [DCHAS-L] Baylor University evacuates science building after cyanide spill

From:         Arvedson , Steve <stephena**At_Symbol_Here**amgen.com>
Subject:         RE: [DCHAS-L] Baylor University evacuates science build ing  
after cyanide spill
Date:         October 14, 2009 8:27:13 PM EDT

It appears that this situation was created by an incomplete  
understanding of the mean ing of the term "cyanide=" in this context.  
If th ey had called in an isovaleronitrile spill instead (same  
material , different name), they probably could have just cleared the  
room and cleaned up the spill wearing the appropriate respirator and  
other PPE.  The material has an NFPA health rating of 2, a boiling  
point of 128 degrees C and an oral LD50 in mouse of 233 mg/kg.   ;Did  
anybody on staff at Baylor pull up the MSDS and try to work with the  
emergency responders to ease their concerns?  This is a good reminder  
that all chemical-using institutions, whether academic or industrial,  
should be trying to work with their local responders to establish two-
way communication, so that the appropriat e level of response can be  
applied to each incident.

Steve

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