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HockeyMusings t1_j8eo9um wrote

https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15933

> February 7, 2023 Update

>During Norfolk Southern’s controlled burn yesterday of rail cars containing vinyl chloride, U.S. EPA air monitoring detected particulate matter resulting from the fire. U.S. EPA air monitoring did not detect chemical contaminants of concern in the hours following the controlled burn.

>Residents in the area and tens of miles away may smell odors coming from the site. This is because the byproducts of the controlled burn have a low odor threshold. This means people may smell these contaminants at levels much lower than what is considered hazardous.

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EC_dwtn t1_j8eya1u wrote

I’m not worried about this at all here, but if I were in Ohio I’d be taking that statement with a grain of salt. EPA is the same agency that said the air near ground zero was safe.

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HockeyMusings t1_j8f5del wrote

It’s a little more nuanced than that:

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-12/documents/wtc_report_20030821.pdf

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EC_dwtn t1_j8f7zmm wrote

How so? The first takeaway in that report confirms what I said, they stated the air was safe without the proper evidence that was required to do so.

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HockeyMusings t1_j8fcrvb wrote

You were being vague, maybe unintentionally, when you say that EPA stated air near Ground Zero was safe and you didn’t say anything about a lack of proper evidence.

Regardless, that was 20 years ago.

Did you look at the extensive information they have posted to the site I linked regarding the current event?

Don’t get me wrong. I have no doubt that immediate area is a pollutant shitshow. And we will probably learn that while getting exposed to chemicals X, Y, or Z at certain levels isn’t going to kill you, getting exposed to the XYZ cocktail at the dose the poor people who live next to the tracks won’t be so good.

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[deleted] t1_j8ft4us wrote

[deleted]

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HockeyMusings t1_j8fxrlb wrote

See. That’s the thing. You’re conflating things. The EPA was explicit that the air at Groud Zero, specifically, the “pile”, was unsafe and that respirators should be worn. It was NYC that had jurisdiction in that regard.

The surrounding neighborhoods, yeah, maybe they didn’t have enough data to say the air was safe when they did. But even the majority of those people disregarded the instructions they were given for decontaminating indoor areas.

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[deleted] t1_j8g0zj7 wrote

[deleted]

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HockeyMusings t1_j8g32br wrote

Where’s the report that said they were saying the air was safe at Ground Zero?

They weren’t. They said the air at Ground Zero was dangerous and respirators should be worn. That was disregarded or poorly addressed by NYC and FDNY brass who had jurisdiction.

Since you haven’t provided a single link, here’s another for you for ProPublica ripping the EPA for telling the community the air was safe but: > Officials seemed to be sending two distinct messages: telling office workers and residents the air was safe, while repeatedly warning first responders and crews working right on the debris pile to wear protective gear. Those conflicting assurances and warnings given by federal officials left workers and residents unsure what steps to take to protect themselves.

OSHA and NYOSH failed the FDNY there. Not the EPA.

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Muppet_Fitzgerald t1_j8ervgq wrote

Thank you! I’m actually relatively close to the site at the moment and was wondering this…whether the EPA or some other federal body was monitoring the air. I figured they were, but couldn’t find anything definitive that said it.

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OhPooForgottheBags t1_j8fb9ps wrote

There's nothing wrong with making yourself an air cleaner with a box fan and HEPA filters from Lowes, changing your HVAC filter, and perhaps buying a water filter for drinking water. It's just common sense, not paranoia or anti-government.

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jpenn18 t1_j8iesbt wrote

Fish and animals are dying. I think it’s reasonable if you live in the area around East Palestine to NOT drink the water.

Just remember how at first scientists said Covid wasn’t airborne….

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IAmTerdFergusson t1_j8er8mo wrote

we have a winner

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kirkl3s t1_j8esij9 wrote

Yes, but what if I don't want to believe this?

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IAmTerdFergusson t1_j8euao4 wrote

Go build your cabin in the woods somewhere and start recycling your rainwater I suppose

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Drire t1_j8gwbnn wrote

Plot twist, rural Ohio just minutes from the next derailment

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