Is MCHM toxic?

Crude MCHM, its other constituents and its metabolites have low to moderate acute and subchronic oral toxicity. Crude MCHM has been shown not to be a skin sensitizer below certain doses, indicating that at plausible human exposures it does not cause an allergic response.

What is MCHM used for industrially?

MCHM is used in washing coal, helping separate the burnable fossil fuel from the unburnable rock and dirt and other impurities. In the taxonomy of chemistry, it’s an alcohol, which means a molecule with a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom bound to one of its carbon atoms.

What were the effects of the Elk River chemical spill?

The river provides drinking water to multiple counties in West Virginia, including the state capital of Charleston. The spill led to a shut-down of restaurants, hotels, and the local mall and created a drinking water emergency that involved responses from local, state, and national agencies.

What caused Elk River chemical spill?

Remember that chemical spill we all heard about in West Virginia’s Elk River not too long ago? The culprit was 10,000 gallons of crude methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), a chemical mixture that had leaked out of an old, but active storage tank sitting along the banks of the river.

What is the chemical PPH?

Glycol Ether PPH, also known as Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether, is a slow evaporating glycol ether. The substance is a clear, slightly yellow liquid and it’s odor is low and faint. It is very hydrophobic, while it’s molecular weight is heavier than other similar solvents.

What happened in Woburn Massachusetts?

In May of 1979 a major story broke in Woburn. Several barrels of chemicals had been found dumped near the Aberjona River. When state investigators tested Wells G and H, they found that they were contaminated with TCE (tetrachloroethylene — a suspected carcinogen) and other industrial byproducts.

How long did the Elk River chemical spill last?

five years
The chemical spill was the third chemical accident to occur in the Kanawha River Valley within the last five years…

What is propylene glycol phenyl ether?

Product Description. DOWANOL™ PPh glycol ether is a slow-evaporating, very hydrophobic glycol ether. ideal in coalescing and carrier solvent applications. DOWANOL™ PPh glycol ether is a slow evaporating, very hydrophobic glycol ether — more hydrophobic than would be expected based simply on its molecular weight.

Is Woburn MA water safe to drink?

Both Woburn and the MWRA follow and meet the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s strict rules and guidelines. The water provided by both the MWRA, and Woburn is virtually lead-free at the source.

Is Woburn still contaminated?

Yet today, nearly 30 years after that landmark court case, the wells that supplied both toxic drinking water and a legacy of cancer to Woburn remain contaminated despite a $21 million cleanup effort. From Cape Cod to the Berkshires and beyond, few communities are left untouched by the contamination.

Which is more toxic 4-MCHM or 4 MCHM?

These results suggested that, although 4-MCHM is considered only moderately toxic based on the previous limited acute toxicity evaluation, 4-MCHM metabolites were likely more toxic than 4-MCHM in both yeast and human cells, with different toxicity profiles and potential mechanisms.

What was the problem with the MCHM spill?

In most cases, the specific chemical makeup and toxicity of chemicals in the contaminated source water were either poorly understood or unknown, and contaminated water was distributed to the communities.

What was the purpose of the MCHM case study?

The study goal was to identify key decisions during a large-scale chemical drinking water contamination incident. Results were intended to assist the water, public health, and government sectors improve their decision-making judgments during incident response and recovery. This case study was also conducted to identify research needs.

Can a person get 4-methylcyclohexane methanol poisoning?

Ingestion or exposure to 4-MCHM can lead to 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol Poisoning. This may be accidental or intentional The condition is diagnosed based upon the clinical history, combination of signs and symptoms, and additional tests (that may include, in some cases, radiological studies and laboratory tests)