Transportation handling emergencies

Emergency Response Information — No person may offer for transport, accept for transport, transfer, store, or otherwise handle hazardous materials during the course of transportation tmless emergency response information ... 

The handling, transportation, communications, emergency response, training requirements, and security plans for hazardous materials can be found in 49 CFR 171-179. 

A DOT regulation covers both domestic and international shipping (9). For transportation safety, the DOT has information for first responders to incidents involving elemental phosphoms (10). In addition, the Chemtrec phone number 1-800-424-9300 accesses DOT emergency information and assistance in the United States. Also, the phosphoms producers in the United States have estabUshed a Phosphoms Emergency Response Team (PERT) to assist in handling P emergencies. 

Others involved in a more general way with the storage, handling, packing, transport and distribution of chemicals, or emergencies related thereto, are likely to find information of relevance to their activities. 

For the last forty years, many reports have emerged on the hormone-like effects of chemical compounds such as pesticides and industrial chemicals upon wildlife and humans. The effects of these materials are believed to be either direct or indirect. Direct effects involve positive or negative interactions with the hormone receptors. Indirect effects may result when the synthesis of hormones or their receptors is altered, or the transport, metabolism, or elimination of hormones is modified in some way. The discovery of hormone-like properties of some compounds was made long after their release into the environment. It was shown soon after their introduction that aviation crop dusters handling DDT had low sperm counts and workers at a plant producing the insecticide kepone were reported to have low libido, sperm counts and to be impotent. Subsequently, experiments conducted in laboratory animals demonstrated unambiguously the oestrogenic activity of these pesticides. 9 refs. 

Both Article 6(1) and Annex VII require notifiers to provide information concerning recommended methods and precautions for safe handling, storage, use, and transport of their substances. Annex VII also specifies that notifications must include emergency measures in the case of "accidental spillage" or "injury to persons (e.g. poisoning). ... 

Chemosis A swelling around the eye - a consequence of oedema of the conjunctiva. CHEMTREC An organization established in the United States, which stands for the Chemical Transportation Emergency Center. CHEMTREC is an emergency information center that can provide technical advise on how best to handle a specific hazard materials incident. In the U.S., the toll free number is 1-800-424-9300. Further information can be found in Chapters 1 and 8 of the handbook. 

CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (CMA). Founded in 1863, this nonprofit trade association of chemical manufacture represents more than 90% of the chemical industry of the U S. and Canada. It is located at 2501 M St., N. W., Washington, DC 20037. It is particularly active in the fields of packaging, transportation, and safe handling of hazardous chemicals and wording of precautionary labels, as well as in general chemical education and all aspects of pollution control. It has instituted an emergency telephone information service called ChemTrec to provide instant information for safety precautions in accidents involving chemicals. 

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