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lucianbelew t1_j8mwr5x wrote

Reply to comment by STDMachine in Maine will need weeks to determine impacts of Ohio train derailment on air quality by STDMachine

> If we monitored elevated levels of vinyl chloride last week

Weird that we don't dig into why this is an 'if' and not a 'because we monitored, we saw' here.

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efshoemaker t1_j8n1vvn wrote

They did collect samples. They do that every 6 days year round per the article. But the samples take a few weeks to analyze.

So the quote is saying that if levels were elevated then it will show up in the monitoring samples from last week, but they won’t get the analysis results of those samples back until March.

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geneticswag t1_j8n69yb wrote

weird it takes weeks when there's probably tens of millions of dollars worth of spectroscopy equipment here between all the labs and pharma co's

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vikingenvy t1_j8nc19j wrote

It’s a little more complicated than just pressing a button on a random GCMS at Idexx.

Source: science education

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geneticswag t1_j8ncf41 wrote

I've been out of the lab for a decade now - I just know words that can get me into trouble ;)

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vikingenvy t1_j8nert7 wrote

Lol. Don’t tell me you were basing the decision of Maine’s armed response to Ohio on an unvalidated test method.

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geneticswag t1_j8nfkk3 wrote

more just suggesting we have a ton of equipment around to support running spectroscopy assays if it turned out that spectrophotometers and personnel were driving up the result times is all

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k_mainer t1_j8pgbem wrote

But not within 24 to 48 hours which is when we would have expected to see results from Ohio contamination.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8nhqx5 wrote

Probably because vinyl chloride isn't a constant issue to be on the lookout for.

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Sufficient_Risk1684 t1_j8mybqi wrote

I think it's just processing lag. Probably take sample but process lags, as that is not something that is usually looked for.

And frankly the amount of burned chemical is miniscule compared to the atmospheric dilution. I'm going with this event outside the immediate area is environmentally irrelevant.

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ghostsintherafters t1_j8n0oom wrote

Oh, thank god you've determined that. Ok. Nothing to see here! This guy says it's irrelevant

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Sufficient_Risk1684 t1_j8n2y7z wrote

A rail car tank holds maybe 6,000 cubic feet. Vaporize that in a single cubic mile of air and you are already diluted to 1 part per 25 million.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j8oqhft wrote

Welp, here is what the burn looked like from a passing airliner: https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/112ptb9/passenger_photo_while_plane_flew_near_east/

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ripbingers t1_j8n2b9e wrote

That's baseless speculation. Nothing in your response addresses the fate and transport of this specific pollutant or the as yet publicly unknown chemicals that were also onboard.

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

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Sufficient_Risk1684 t1_j8n4ou0 wrote

Mmm sure. Except its simple math. Air mixes rapidly. The volume of the rail cars is known. Water quality hazard in the area and downstream? Definitely. Local air quality hazard sure. 1000 miles away after atmospheric mixing? Parts per billion. Or less.

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