Trending...
- "Fearless and Free": Long Beach Pride 2026 Celebrates Resilience, Family, and Multicultural Connection
- Creator Space LA brings together industry leaders for an immersive AI showcase, demonstrations, and film hackathon
- $112 Million Contract Backlog for Cycurion (N A S D A Q: CYCU) Enters Hyper-Growth Phase With, Strategic Acquisitions, & Exploding AI Cybersecurity
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League released a report which shows that hazardous air quality during the Weaver Fertilizer Plant fire was downplayed.
The report Winston-Salem Weaver Fertilizer Plant Fire - Analysis of Publicly Disseminated Air Quality Information During Facility Fire Incident highlights instances when local officials told the public that the air quality was okay and pollutants were just "irritants" when, in fact, levels of Particulate Matter 2.5 were in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's hazardous and very unhealthy categories.
It has been six months since the Weaver fertilizer plant fire which began on the evening of January 31. BREDL has recently received EPA air quality data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) which show that hazardous air quality conditions were downplayed during this industrial incident. We are still waiting for information from a March 22, 2022 open records request with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
More on ncarol.com
The report compares official statements to the then current air quality data, specifically PM 2.5. This air quality data was available to the fire command center in real time but was not available to the general public.
Once EPA set up temporary air monitors around the perimeter of the fire, 29 hours into the incident, the PM 2.5 readings were well into the hazardous category. These air monitors became operational around midnight on Wednesday, February 2.
Five hours later during a press conference officials stated that "all levels have been in the acceptable range". While, in fact, PM 2.5 concentrations were as high as 9200 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) at the temporary air monitor located at the Wake Forest University police station. EPA community action hazardous conditions start at a concentration of 500 ug/m3.
Mark Barker, author of the BREDL Report, said, "On the afternoon of February 2 a Wake Forest University alert stated that the EPA indicated air quality readings on and near campus posed no threat to individual health and was safe to breathe. However, the on campus EPA air quality data indicated hazardous and very unhealthy PM 2.5 levels."
More on ncarol.com
PM 2.5 has long been associated with significant health effects especially impacting respiratory and heart conditions.
The community within a one-mile radius of the Weaver facility has a high prevalence of asthma and heart disease according to EPA's EJScreen tool.
Barker said, "Our analysis leads us to make several recommendations for local, state and federal officials during industrial incidents: be transparent in reporting air quality and associated health impacts, make air quality data available to the public, include an air quality expert in incident press briefings and statements, utilize EJScreen to identify vulnerable communities, and incorporate temporary air monitors into existing EPA current air quality maps."
The BREDL report is available online at www.bredl.org/reports.htm.
Contact: Mark Barker
(540) 342-5580 (landline)
(540) 525-5241 (mobile)
[email protected]
SOURCE Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League Inc
The report Winston-Salem Weaver Fertilizer Plant Fire - Analysis of Publicly Disseminated Air Quality Information During Facility Fire Incident highlights instances when local officials told the public that the air quality was okay and pollutants were just "irritants" when, in fact, levels of Particulate Matter 2.5 were in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's hazardous and very unhealthy categories.
It has been six months since the Weaver fertilizer plant fire which began on the evening of January 31. BREDL has recently received EPA air quality data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) which show that hazardous air quality conditions were downplayed during this industrial incident. We are still waiting for information from a March 22, 2022 open records request with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
More on ncarol.com
- Dual-Engine Growth Strategy Ignited: AI Infrastructure Breakout Meets Scalable Circular Economy Expansion: Marwynn Holdings, Inc. (N A S D A Q: MWYN)
- Super Bowl Champion Marvel Smith Inspires Launch of MVP-IQ Platform to Help Football Players Develop and Get Recruited Like the Pros
- The Glass Guru comes to North Raleigh -- we're bringing clarity to the Carolinas!
- The Future of Classic Cars in a World Moving Beyond Gasoline: How Electric Conversion Is Saving America's Automotive Heritage
- Apple Rock Open House Offers Behind-the-Scenes Look at Exhibit Production
The report compares official statements to the then current air quality data, specifically PM 2.5. This air quality data was available to the fire command center in real time but was not available to the general public.
Once EPA set up temporary air monitors around the perimeter of the fire, 29 hours into the incident, the PM 2.5 readings were well into the hazardous category. These air monitors became operational around midnight on Wednesday, February 2.
Five hours later during a press conference officials stated that "all levels have been in the acceptable range". While, in fact, PM 2.5 concentrations were as high as 9200 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) at the temporary air monitor located at the Wake Forest University police station. EPA community action hazardous conditions start at a concentration of 500 ug/m3.
Mark Barker, author of the BREDL Report, said, "On the afternoon of February 2 a Wake Forest University alert stated that the EPA indicated air quality readings on and near campus posed no threat to individual health and was safe to breathe. However, the on campus EPA air quality data indicated hazardous and very unhealthy PM 2.5 levels."
More on ncarol.com
- Xtel Communications Appoints David Appleman as VP of Strategic Sales
- L2 Aviation Acquires Advance Aero
- $112 Million Contract Backlog for Cycurion (N A S D A Q: CYCU) Enters Hyper-Growth Phase With, Strategic Acquisitions, & Exploding AI Cybersecurity
- HarryPotterObamaSonic10Inu Celebrates World Record 1,000+ Days Livestream with Record-Breaking Merchandise Launch
- Igniting High-Growth Expansion as Electrification Strategy and Infrastructure Dominance Converge; 88% Revenue Growth (N Y S E: MWG)
PM 2.5 has long been associated with significant health effects especially impacting respiratory and heart conditions.
The community within a one-mile radius of the Weaver facility has a high prevalence of asthma and heart disease according to EPA's EJScreen tool.
Barker said, "Our analysis leads us to make several recommendations for local, state and federal officials during industrial incidents: be transparent in reporting air quality and associated health impacts, make air quality data available to the public, include an air quality expert in incident press briefings and statements, utilize EJScreen to identify vulnerable communities, and incorporate temporary air monitors into existing EPA current air quality maps."
The BREDL report is available online at www.bredl.org/reports.htm.
Contact: Mark Barker
(540) 342-5580 (landline)
(540) 525-5241 (mobile)
[email protected]
SOURCE Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League Inc
0 Comments
Latest on ncarol.com
- Adams Security Group LLC Launches New Website to Expand Professional Security Services Across Florida
- Presidential Acceleration of Psychedelic Therapies Enters a Defining Moment as Federal Policy, FDA Alignment & Breakthrough Neurotechnology Converge
- Peernovation And Inception Stratos Launch Joint Venture To Build A Global Peer-powered Performance Platform
- GDE Tree Services Expands Operations Across Logan, Ipswich and the Gold Coast
- UK AltNet FullFibre Solves IPv4 Shortage With netElastic BNG And CGNAT Networking Software
- Studica Robotics Receives 2026 Partner Excellence Award from FIRST® Robotics Canada
- Seven Games That Make You Think (and Smile) Earn 2026 Mensa Select® Honors
- New Research Reveals Gen Z Trusts Independent Sources Over Influencers — Exposing What We are Talker Calls "The Independent Validation Gap"
- New research identifies The Discovery Gap: Seven in 10 Americans say travel is no longer just about getting away
- PropAccount.com Adds Equities to Its Multi-Asset Prop Firm Platform, Opening the Door to the World's Largest Trading Market
- Ailias Launches Global Partner Programme for AI-Powered Conversational Digital Humans in Events and Experiences
- Village People Headline "Rock The Rainbow" Phuket Pride Finale 2026
- SilverBow Strategies Launches RFPArchon™, the First Product in Its Artemis AI Solutions™ Suite
- New from Regal House Publishing, The Unfinished Business, its tricky inheriting a ghost-busting firm
- Sawasdee Anime Launches Animenture: A Gamified SNS Connecting Global Fans to 2,000+ Anime Sites
- "LOOK UP CAFE TOKYO SKYTREE" to Open on May 22, 2026 on the 5th floor of TOKYO SKYTREE®. This Date also Marks TOKYO SKYTREE's 14th Anniversary
- "Rehabilitative Prison Program Compromised by Alleged Staff Misconduct, Whistleblower Claims"
- Creator Space LA brings together industry leaders for an immersive AI showcase, demonstrations, and film hackathon
- The Hardest Part of Building an App Isn't Starting - It's Finishing
- Uxur Taxi Unveils Luxury 3,000‑Mile Private Driver Service for Nationwide Travel