Trending...
- Advanced TeleSensors Appoints AgeTech Innovator Tiffany Wey, MBA as Vice President of Sales & Marketing
- Most Americans Choose Their Water Brand Because of Its Natural Source — Yet Fewer Than 3 in 10 Understand What Spring Water Actually Is
- Project Pretzel Introduces a New System for Running Renovation Projects with Built In Contracts and Real Time Execution
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
- New from Regal House Publishing, The Meaning of Fear, a psychological crime drama
- New plusOne Research Finds the Orgasm Gap Is a 30-Point Chasm — and Confirms It Isn't Biology
- CCHR Report Links 145 Violent Incidents to Psychiatric Drug Exposure, Urges National Oversight and Action
- Food Journal Magazine Unveils Its Latest 'Best of Los Angeles' Culinary Discoveries
- Boston Industrial Solutions Launches Natron® 717S Series: A New Flexible UV LED Ink for Ricoh GH2220 Printheads
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
- ZionSphere Launches Volunteer Program Opens Remote & Local Opportunities for Faith-Minded America
- 5 Things NYC Courier Services Won't Tell You About How Same-Day Delivery Actually Works
- Tropidelic Links Up With International Reggae Star Collie Buddz and Eli Mac for Feel-Good Breakthrough Single "Follow Your Nature"
- Save 15 Percent on Florida Keys Accommodations with KeysCaribbean's 'Advance Purchase Rate Discount'
- Atelier 411 Studios and Columbus Fashion Council Present Red Carpet Experience at Gateway Film Center for The Devil Wears Prada 2
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
- Five-star Review for Berklee School of Music Textbook
- ZionSphere Launches Multi-Platform Virtual Reality Faith Experience Built from Rocky Mount, NC
- Rocky Mount Founder Builds Virtual Reality Bible Experiences After Receiving Divine Directive
- Advanced TeleSensors Appoints AgeTech Innovator Tiffany Wey, MBA as Vice President of Sales & Marketing
- Daniel Kaufman Real Estate Venture LoneStar Kaufman Development Partners Expands
- Brian D Chase Selected to the 2026 Nation's Top One Percent Personal Injury Lawyers
- Most Americans Choose Their Water Brand Because of Its Natural Source — Yet Fewer Than 3 in 10 Understand What Spring Water Actually Is
- Unlocking Multi-Sector Growth; Graphite Acquisition Powers EV Entry While Streamlined Consumer Snack Business Fuels Growth: (N A S D A Q: SOWG)
- Permian Museum Adds Carbonaceous Chondrite Reference Photos
- L2 Aviation Receives FAA STC and PMA for Klatt Works SAVED™ Smoke Vision System
- Axencis Launches Performance Partnership for Brand Protection
- CCHR Says New OIG Report Raises Concerns about Drugging Elderly with Antipsychotics
- Project Pretzel Introduces a New System for Running Renovation Projects with Built In Contracts and Real Time Execution
- Plated Possibilities Launches Luxury Culinary Series Celebrating Black Women Chefs In Charlotte
- Generous Anonymous Gift Brings New Life to Piedmont Crossing Dog Park
- Freedomtech Solutions creates 'Global Data Centre Network (IDCN)'
- 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