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. 

CDC advises “Everyone, including pregnant women” to avoid areas affected by spill; Expert says crude oil contains “some of the most toxic chemicals that we know"

 
  U.S. Institute of Medicine experts: “Coastal residents” face “higher risk of cancer” from crude oil; “Potential here is huge”


Health Data Gaps, BP Suspicions Worry U.S. Panelists, Bloomberg, June 22, 2010:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has issued health warnings…

While they suggest there is no threat, the CDC simultaneously advised “everyone, including pregnant women” to avoid spill-affected areas. …

Shira Kramer, an epidemiologist who has conducted research for the petroleum industry on the health consequences of exposure to petroleum, said she is concerned that the risks are being downplayed.

“It’s completely scientifically dishonest to pooh-pooh the potential here when you are talking aboutsome of the most toxic chemicals that we know,” said Kramer, who is founder and president of consulting firm Epidemiology International in Hunt Valley, Maryland. She isn’t involved with the Institute panels.

“When you talk about community exposure, you are talking about exposures in unpredictable ways and to subpopulations that may be more highly susceptible than others, such as those of reproductive age, people who are immuno-compromised, children or fetuses. …

“[W]e have a soup of chemicals from the crude, chemicals from the dispersants andpollutants that were already in the water. Who can say how they will interact?”

LINK http://www.floridaoilspilllaw.com/cdc-advises-“everyone-including-pregnant-women”-to-avoid-areas-affected-by-spill-expert-says-crude-oil-contains-some-of-the-most-toxic-chemicals-that-we-know

CDC’s website

People, including pregnant women, can be exposed to these chemicals by breathing them (air), by swallowing them (water, food), or by touching them (skin). If possible, everyone, including pregnant women, should avoid the oil and spill-affected areas.

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