Check List for Health Affects from Toxic Gases in Gulf Air
Check List for Health Affects from Toxic Gases in Gulf Air
Sunday
Venice, Louisiana Air "Unhealthy" for PM10 Pollution July 1-8, 2010
July 1-8, 2010 air in Unhealthy Zone on EPA Air Quality Index for Venice, Louisiana.
July 1-8, 2010 air in Unhealthy Zone on EPA Air Quality Index for Venice, Louisiana.
The word "gas" comes from the Greek word for "chaos."
Gases are not equally distributed in the air. They form in pockets. They rise, fall, disperse, liquify, dissipate, combine with other gases, precipitate out, reform, blow away.
The Environmental Protection Agency's data collection of toxic gases is a "cover up" for how serious the situation is.
Toxic fumes are blowing through the air unevenly, radically, unpredictably. High concentrations of toxic gases blow through an area, followed by lower concentrations of toxic gases.
The following example for VOC gases on Grand Isle shows how the EPA averages "cover up" the higher concentrations of toxic gas blowing through population centers.
"One Hour Readings" for VOC gases on Grand Isle are coming in at concentrations greater than 10 ppm on the EPA Air Quality Index. These are toxic gases and dangerous concentrations. The potential health impact of humans of VOC gases at these high levels are documented by National Resource Defense Council.
On July 4th, two One-Hour Readings came in above 10 ppm - 16.1 ppm and 10.7 ppm. For communities that depend upon the EPA's daily averages, the toxic level of VOC gases appears to be "only" 5.47 ppm, which is dangerously high as an average. The toxicity of the gases at readings above 10 ppm is "hidden" in the average.
Readings are for "Highest Daily Reading." For example, on July 6, 2010 EPA collected 3 air samples with readings of 9.8 ppm, 1.2 ppm, and 0.1 ppm. The three readings produce a daily average of 3.7 ppm, which is the amount that EPA reports.
This example indicates the wide differences that appear in the data produced by EPA and reported in the media. By producing and reporting average toxicity, the gravity of the toxic concentrations is hidden. The reported 3.7 ppm average for July 6th "covers up" the toxic cloud of VOC gas at 9.8 ppm that blew through and was recorded in a one-hour reading.
Since only 3 readings are produced by EPA for July 6th, it is impossible to know at what levels the VOC gases blew through, during the undocumented hours. Where the undocumented VOC gases blowing through at 9.8 ppm or higher. Or, where they at 1.0 ppm?
The populations along the Gulf are being gassed.
July Toxic Air in Grand Isle, Louisiana
July Toxic Air in Grand Isle, Louisiana EPA DATA July 1 - July 8, 2010
The word "gas" comes from the Greek word for "chaos."
Gases are not equally distributed in the air. They form in pockets. They rise, fall, disperse, liquify, dissipate, combine with other gases, precipitate out, reform, blow away.
The Environmental Protection Agency's data collection of toxic gases is a "cover up" for how serious the situation is.
Toxic fumes are blowing through the air unevenly, radically, unpredictably. High concentrations of toxic gases blow through an area, followed by lower concentrations of toxic gases.
"One Hour Readings" for VOC gases on Grand Isle are coming in at concentrations greater than 10 ppm on the EPA Air Quality Index. These are toxic gases and dangerous concentrations. The potential health impact of humans of VOC gases at these high levels are documented by National Resource Defense Council.
On July 4th, two One-Hour Readings came in above 10 ppm - 16.1 ppm and 10.7 ppm. For communities that depend upon the EPA's daily averages, the toxic level of VOC gases appears to be "only" 5.47 ppm, which is dangerously high as an average. The toxicity of the gases at readings above 10 ppm is "hidden" in the average.
Readings are for "Highest Daily Reading." For example, on July 6, 2010 EPA collected 3 air samples with readings of 9.8 ppm, 1.2 ppm, and 0.1 ppm. The three readings produce a daily average of 3.7 ppm, which is the amount that EPA reports.
This example indicates the wide differences that appear in the data produced by EPA and reported in the media. By producing and reporting average toxicity, the gravity of the toxic concentrations is hidden. The reported 3.7 ppm average for July 6th "covers up" the toxic cloud of VOC gas at 9.8 ppm that blew through and was recorded in a one-hour reading.
Since only 3 readings are produced by EPA for July 6th, it is impossible to know at what levels the VOC gases blew through, during the undocumented hours. Where the undocumented VOC gases blowing through at 9.8 ppm or higher. Or, where they at 1.0 ppm?
The populations along the Gulf are being gassed.
Thursday
Canary In The Gulf Helps People Find Survival Information
"Canary" Warns of Toxic Gases in Gulf
Gas Can is the name of a canary, whose website reports toxic gases from BP's oil spill. The bird's blog CanaryInTheGulf.com monitors air quality samples from the US Environmental Protection Agency along the Gulf coast.
Created by Dan Youra, Gas Can wears a bird-size gas mask to protect him on his flights into toxic air. "Gases are scary things for all of us," says Youra. "I hatched Gas Can as a friendly ally to help us, and especially children, to confront the reality of gases in the Gulf."
CanaryInTheGulf.com reports toxic events blowing over land.
On June 29 Hurricane Alex blew sustained levels of toxic particulate matter (PM10) up above EPA's highest and most dangerous warning levels – "Hazardous" and "Very Unhealthy" – for 24 continuous hours on Grand Isla, Louisiana.
Hazardous Warning: People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Everyone else should avoid all physical activity outdoors.
Very Unhealthy Warning: People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
Three of six days from June 20 to June 26 registered "Unhealthy" for toxic particulate matter (PM10) on EPA's air quality monitors in Venice, Louisiana.
Unhealthy Warning: People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
EPA watched volatile organic compounds skyrocket past 70 parts per million on Grand Isle on June 19th. Concentrations above 10 ppm are considered significant potential for health risks by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC.org).
According to Dr. Gina Solomon, medical expert on toxicology with the National Resources Defense Council, "the most worrisome VOC in oil is benzene. It is known to cause leukemia in humans."
Dan Youra, editor of a commercial distiller's manuel, is experienced in the danger that gases from crude oil represent, when they escape the normal containment of industrial refining. Youra knows of more than 250 chemical compounds in crude oil and natural gas. "Many toxic gases from the oil well blowout are entering the air every day," warns Youra. "Some are the cancer causing and concentrations are increasing," adds Youra.
Prior to widespread use of electronic gas sensors in coal mines, miners carried a caged canary into coal mines to warn of wayward gases. According to Youra, "if the canary stopped chirping and died, it indicated the presence of toxic gases and the urgency of exiting the mine."
Youra's canary cartoon figure adds a lighter side to the deadly seriousness of the subject matter and is a modern manifestation of the life supporting role canaries played in toxic gas detection.
According to Youra, "EPA is carrying an empty birdcage into the mine. EPA gathers air samples and then looks for averages." Youra looks for extremes. "The 'outlier' data point is the canary," Youra says.
Youra cautions, "Gases sneak up on you." Average amounts of gases at low levels may not kill. "Until they accumulate!" he emphasizes. "One whiff of highly toxic gas can evade EPA's 'normal', but it may be enough to drop a person into convulsions, unconsciousness or even death."
CanaryInTheGulf.com reports on the anomalies, the accumulations and the trends in toxic concentrations.
"EPA's averages do not tally up the accumulations of gases," Youra states. "Breathing a little toxic gas every day is the same, and in many cases worse, than breathing a big gulp all at once," he cautions.
"EPA's averages do not tally up the accumulations of gases," Youra states. "Breathing a little toxic gas every day is the same, and in many cases worse, than breathing a big gulp all at once," he cautions.
CanaryInTheGulf.com links to national health resources on the web. According to Youra, it is important to educate everyone, including children, about navigating the minefield of gases.
"Top priority is to recognize the symptoms of toxic exposure to gases," Youra says. Dizziness, headache and loss of balance can be signs of exposure. Youra coaches Gas Can to help kids learn the basics.
Gas Can is on the mobile web at GasHelp.com.
Youra was interviewed about toxic gases by Mike Siegel on Lars Larson National Radio Show. Youra's study of gases in the Gulf is quoted in Examiner.com by Hank Richards.
Dan Youra is editor of the Alcohol Distiller's Manual for Gasahol and Spirits, published for Dona Carolina Distillers, San Antonio, Texas. Youra studied quantitative analysis in graduate school at Ohio State University's Behavioral Sciences Laboratory. He is the publisher with Michael W. Mandeville of Solar Alcohol: The Fuel Revolution.
Case Study of Hydrogen Sulfide Gas in Venice, LA
Summary of Hydrogen Sulfide Toxicity (H2S)
During June people living in Venice, Louisiana near EPA’s air pollution test station (V06) breathed toxic hydrogen sulfide gas at concentrations up to 40 times in excess of minimum risk levels set by government health agencies.
During June people living in Venice, Louisiana near EPA’s air pollution test station (V06) breathed toxic hydrogen sulfide gas at concentrations up to 40 times in excess of minimum risk levels set by government health agencies.
In Venice, LA on June 20 a 1-hr reading of 0.8 ppm Hydrogen Sulfide is 11 times the Minimum Risk Level (MRL) for intermediate exposure (1-14 days)
Dangerous gases are entering the air directly from the million gallons of crude oil and tens of millions of cubic feet of natural gas blowing into the Gulf waters every day.
Recent EPA Readings of Hydrogen Sulfide gas in Venice, LA
Venice, Louisiana June 20 (EPA station VO6)
0.8 ppm 1-hr reading, June 20
0.7 ppm 1-hr reading, June 20
0.6 ppm 1-hr reading, June 20
0.5 ppm 1-hr reading, June 20
0.4 ppm = 24-hour average, June 20
0.10 ppm = daily average for month of June 2010
0.07 Minimum Risk Level for acute exposure (1-14 days)
0.02 Minimum Risk Level for intermediate exposure
Interpretation:
Average for June 20 is 5.7 times MRL-acute and 20 times MRL-intermediate.
Daily average for June is 1.4 times MRL-acute and 5 times MRL-intermediate.
Samples in Other Coast Locations:
0.5 ppm 1-hr reading, June 19 Alabama (EPA station 061910-6)
0.4 ppm 1-hr reading, June 19 Alabama (EPA station 061910-5)
0.3 ppm 1-hr reading, June 20 Alabama (EPA station 062110-3)
0.3 ppm 1-hr reading, June 23 Alabama (EPA station 062310-2)
ATSDR uses the no observed adverse effect level/uncertainty factor (NOAEL/UF) approach to derive MRLs for hazardous substances. They are set below levels that, based on current information, might cause adverse health effects in the people most sensitive to such substance induced effects. MRLs are derived for acute (1-14 days), intermediate (>14-364 days), and chronic (365 days and longer) exposure durations, and for the oral and inhalation routes of exposure.
MRLs are based on non cancer health effects only and are not based on a consideration of cancer effects.
Minimum Risk Level (MRL) set by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) for acute exposure (1-14 days) to hydrogen sulfide (H2S gas is 0.07 ppm (parts per million).
MRL set by ATSDR for intermediate exposure (14-364 days) to hydrogen sulfide gas is 0.02 ppm.
Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, colorless gas with a characteristic odor of rotten eggs. The sense of smell becomes rapidly fatigued & can NOT be relied upon to warn of the continuous presence of H2S. There is considerable individual variability in the odor threshold for hydrogen sulfide in humans; the thresholds can range from 0.0005 to 0.3
ppm. At high concentrations individuals may lose their ability to smell it. This can make hydrogen sulfide very dangerous.
If exposed to hydrogen sulfide, children are more vulnerable than adults. Target organs are eyes, respiratory system and central nervous system.
Symptoms of hydrogen sulfide exposure can be noticed in the eyes. Eyes may become irritated and painful. A person may experience a discharge of tears, abnormal visual intolerance to light and possible corneal blistering. The membrane lining the eyelids may become inflamed or infected. Vision may be blurred. Crusts may form on the eyelids overnight.
Breathing and nerve symptoms can be dizziness, headache, lassitude (weakness, exhaustion), irritability, insomnia and gastrointestinal disturbance. The gas can cause sore throat, cough and gasping for breath. Impaired lung function has been observed in asthmatics.
Exposure to high levels of hydrogen sulfide results in convulsions, coma and unconsciousness followed by apparent recovery, colloquially referred to as “knockdown”. Some individuals report permanent or persistent neurological effects after the apparent recovery.
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