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Toxins

Chalmette Refinery

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The Foul Five

  • Benzene – Recognized carcinogen, and developmental and reproductive toxin
  • Carbon Disulfide – Attacks respiratory system, recognized developmental and reproductive toxin
  • Sulfur Dioxide – Attacks respiratory system, triggers asthma attacks
  • Toluene – Attacks respiratory system, recognized developmental toxin, suspected reproductive toxin
  • Xylene – Attacks nervous and respiratory system, suspected developmental and reproductive toxin

    Over the past three years, community members testing the air with their buckets have consistently detected carcinogens and toxic chemicals. In that time there have been over 100 violations of state and federal screening levels.

    The chemicals that we are monitoring for in the Chalmette Air Monitoring Project are the chemicals that we have detected in the buckets as well as using the Cerex Sentry.

    A developmental toxin is one that affects a child’s development. Children impacted by chemical exposure can never make up for or recover from damage done during their critical growing years. Pregnant women in particular should not be exposed to these chemicals since it is harmful to the developing fetus. A reproductive toxin is one that adversely affects sexual and reproductive functioning in men or women.

    Levels of Concern in parts per billion by volume (ppbv)

    Parts per billion by volume tells how many parts of chemical are present in one billion parts of air. "By volume" means that it's in terms of how much space the chemical takes up rather than how much it weighs.

    Chemical

    EPA Screening Level

    LA 8-hr Std.

    LA 24-hr Std

    Most Health Protective Screening Level

    Benzene

    0.0401

     

    3.690

    0.03692

    Carbon Disulfide

    230.0003

    22.500

     

    0.9474

    Sulfur Dioxide

    30.0005

       

    4.5426

    Toluene

    104.0003

    2320.000

     

    25.0006

    Xylene

    165.0003

    2330.000

     

    27.1006

    1. U.S. EPA's Integrated Risk Information System:
      http://www.epa.gov/iriswebp/iris/index.html
    2. North Carolina Ambient Air Standards:
      http://daq.state.nc.us/Rules/rules/D1101-06.pdf
    3. U.S. EPA Region 6 Human Health Screening Levels:
      http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6pd/rcra_c/pd-n/screenvalues.pdf
    4. Texas Effects Screening Levels (long-term):
      http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/tox/Esl2003_136681.pdf
    5. U.S. EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (annual mean):
      http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html
    6. ATSDR (American Toxic Substance and Disease Registry) Minimal Risk Levels:
      http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html

 
 
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Copyright 2005-2006