Czech Republic: Toxic chemicals and radioactive thorium found in Prague 4 house

Firefighters intervened this afternoon after hazardous chemicals were discovered in a house on Nad Studánkou Street in Prague 4. Among the substances found were toxic arsenic, cyanide, mercury, radioactive thorium, and picric acid, which was historically used as an explosive. Read More …

West Virginia: Chemical leak kills 2 people and injures 30 more including ambulance workers

A chemical leak at a West Virginia silver recovery business on Wednesday killed two people and sent about 30 others to hospitals, including one in serious condition, authorities said. The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute as Read More …

Landmines pose growing threat to people and environment, UNDP warns

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Tuesday called for stronger political commitment to clear landmines and other explosive ordnance as a precondition for longer-term recover, warning that they are also causing lasting environmental damage. Speaking at the 29th International Read More …

Israel: MDA warns of chemical exposure risk, ‘two-phase poisoning process’ from Iranian missile fuel

The Israeli healthcare system is preparing for the potential exposure to chemical substances from Iranian missile fuel launched toward Israel. A document recently published by Magen David Adom (MDA) and distributed to emergency teams warned that some of the missiles Read More …

UK: Man convicted of making explosive and poisonous substances

A man who was found with a large amount of dangerous chemicals in his garden shed has been convicted of various offences linked to explosive and poisonous substances. Harry Whittaker, aged 31, was arrested on 6 May 2024 after Bedfordshire Read More …

Sweden: Military sprayed PFAS directly into the countryside for decades

For decades, the Swedish Armed Forces shot PFAS-containing firefighting foam directly into the countryside near an air force base in the country’s south. And in a secret recording, the then-boss of that base in the town of Kallinge says he Read More …

Tracking the Invisible Threat: Persistent Explosive Residues in Raw and Drinking Water Bodies

This study provides a comprehensive nationwide assessment of explosive residues and their degradation products in French water resources and drinking water, including mainland and overseas territories. A total of 54 target compounds were selected based on historical usage, environmental persistence, Read More …

SERS nose arrays based on a signal differentiation approach for TNT gas detection

TNT, a well-known explosive, is highly toxic and difficult to decompose, making the detection of trace amounts of residual TNT in the environment a topic of significant research importance. Label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been demonstrated to be capable Read More …

Iraq: More than 600 Shia pilgrims hospitalised due to chlorine gas leak

More than 600 Shia pilgrims in Iraq have been briefly hospitalised with respiratory problems after inhaling chlorine as the result of a leak at a water treatment station, according to authorities. The incident took place overnight on the route between Read More …

Turkey: 12 soldiers die in methane gas incident in northern Iraq

Twelve Turkish soldiers died after being exposed to methane gas during a search operation in northern Iraq, the Turkish National Defense Ministry reported on Monday. The soldiers were carrying out a sweep operation in a cave at an altitude of Read More …

Massachusetts Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing Ammunition and Explosives

A Hadley, Mass. man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for allegedly possessing ammunition and explosives after being convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. Jacob D. Miller, 43, was indicted Read More …

Declassified satellite photos reveal impacts of Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, the United States dropped more than 8 million tons of bombs and sprayed 74 million liters of Agent Orange and other herbicides in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Nearly 50 years after the war’s end, the deadly Read More …

Georgia: New details emerge on BioLab fire that forced thousands to shelter outside Atlanta

Federal authorities have released an update on the investigation into fires at the BioLab chemical plant near Atlanta that produced a toxic chemical cloud and forced nearby residents to shelter in place. The fires broke out Sept. 29 at the Read More …

Fourth tourist dies after suspected mass poisoning in Laos

Australian teen Bianca Jones has become the fourth tourist to have died in a suspected mass poisoning in Laos. The 19-year-old’s family confirmed her death to the media on Thursday. Hours earlier, the US State Department told the media that Read More …

Ukraine says it launched drone attack on Russian chemical plant

Ukraine launched a drone attack on a Russian chemical plant in the western city of Tula overnight on Friday into Saturday, according to the country’s security service. Russian authorities have not acknowledged the attack. According to the SBU, Aleksinsky chemical Read More …

Shelter-in-place advisory extended in Georgia county after chlorine detected in air

A shelter-in-place advisory has been extended for an entire Georgia county Monday after chlorine was detected in the air, emitting from a chemical lab where there was a fire the day before. A chemical fire ignited on the roof of Read More …

Ohio: Leak of toxic chemical near Cincinnati prompts evacuations

Hundreds of residents of southeastern Ohio  were ordered to evacuate their homes after a chemical leak from a rail car prompted warnings from authorities about a possible explosion. Firefighters in Whitewater Township were notified at 12:46 p.m. Tuesday about an Read More …

Why is Switzerland offering cash prizes to retrieve munitions from lakes?

The Swiss Federal Department of Defence Procurement (Armasuisse) is offering 50,000 Swiss francs ($57,800) for the three best ideas on how to retrieve some 12,000 tonnes of old munitions from the country’s lakes, including Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and Lake Read More …

UK: Urgent tests under way on canal sodium cyanide spill

Public health bosses say they hope to start reducing restrictions “very quickly” on a 12-mile stretch of canals in the West Midlands following a toxic chemical spillage. Sodium cyanide, which can cause seizures, vomiting and loss of consciousness, was confirmed Read More …

Kenya: Health crisis looms in Kiambu as residents store looted toxic sodium cyanide

A road accident in Kiambu County has rapidly escalated into a potential public health disaster with far-reaching consequences. On Saturday, a truck ferrying 22 tonnes of sodium cyanide en route to Uganda overturned, spilling its lethal cargo in Kambembe, Rironi. Read More …