Pollution and the Superfund Program: by ESCI 1103 class of Fall 2007

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Pollution and the Superfund Program

  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of the main groups making efforts to reduce and eliminate the effects of PAH’s. (B. Benjamin)
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Man-made pollution (C. Crutchfield)

  • Scientists estimate that millions of tons of hazardous air pollutions are released into the air each year. Some are from natural sources such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires. However, most sources of pollution in Hillsborough originate from human activity.
    • Categorized as on-road mobile sources, they consist of cars, trucks, and buses.
    • Non-road mobile sources are small engines, construction equipment, aircraft, marine vessels, and locomotives.
    • Point sources include industrial plants, factories and large commercial businesses.
    • Non-point or area sources are the aggregation of numerous small businesses and the emissions from household consumer products.
  • Hazardous air pollutants:
    • Toxic or hazardous air pollutants are those pollutants that are known to or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects. It may cause side effects such as reproductive disorders or birth defects. Some are immediately dangerous to human health even in small quantities, some health problems show up over a longer period of time.
      • hydrochloric acid: primarily from electric power generating plants and public waste combustors
      • toxic emissions of toluene, xylenes, and benzene- each greater than 1000 tons- mostly come from the automobiles, trucks and other engines and equipment
  • Carginogens
    • a small amount of highly toxic carcinogen, almost like arsenic is a larger cancer causing risk to the public than bigger amounts of less carcinogenic compounds such as chloroform.
  • References:
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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)

  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or simply PAH’s, are created during many typical human practices. The most common source is from creating energy. This includes burning coal, petroleum, garbage and organic materials to name a few. However, there are more ways to encounter PAH’s then simply breathing in polluted air. Eating PHA contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, and coming into contact with contaminated soil or tar are other ways to be exposed to PAH’s. Although PAH’s are fairly common, and the average person will intake an extremely small amount of PAH’s every day, this is not to say that they do not present a risk to our health and our environment. (B. Benjamin)
  • But just how dangerous are PAH’s? The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) gave PAH’s a health hazard rating of 1.3 on a three point scale; zero being no risk, and three being extremely risky to human health. PAH’s environmental hazard rating was ranked 1.5 on an identical scale by the NPI. With the support of these studies it is fair to say that PAH’s present a considerable risk to not only human health, but even more so to the environment. Some of the effects PAH’s have on humans includes skin irritation, nausea, damage to red blood cells, damage to the kidneys and liver, and even the potential of death if the person is overexposed. Studies done by the International Agency for Research on Cancer have also shown that exposure to PAH’s could possibly result in cancer. (B. Benjamin)

Case Study: Redwing Carriers, Inc., Alabama by B. Benjamin

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Chlorinated Compounds

  • Including: 1,2-dichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, xylene, trans-1,2-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride. Health effects from prolonged exposure to these chemicals include, but are not limited to:
    • I,2-dichloroethene- nausea, drowsiness, damage to liver and lungs, and death;
    • Tetrachloroethene (TCE)- headaches, dizziness, difficulty speaking or walking, and death;
    • Xylene- lung problems, stomach problems, changes is liver and kidney function;
    • Vinyl-Chloride- nerve damage, dizziness, sleepiness, and immune system problems.

(M. Bridgeman)

  • An overexposed dosage of TCE concluded by the EPA states that it is “highly likely” to cause cancer in humans. This is supported by increased risks seen in TCE-exposed workers to various cancers, including cancer of the kidney, liver, lymphatic system, prostate and cervix. TCE may enter the body through air particles or, most importantly, the groundwater system. (L. Carpenter)
  • Pentachlorophenol (PCP), dioxin, and furan could potentially cause people to experience “altered social behavior and thyroid cancer…[and] mild damage to the immune system.” (M. Owens)
  • Polychloroethylene (PCE):
    • In order to reduce pollution, dry cleaners and power plants must use perchloroethylene. Perchloroethylene emits ten types of individual hazardous air pollutions. (K. Hart)
  • Dioxin is produced when organic materials are burned in the presence of chlorine. The burning releases dioxins because Pentachlorophenol is produced by the chlorination of phenol while another element acts as a catalyst. (Wikipedia Foundation) (T. Burnette)


Case Study: Callaway & Sons Drum Services, Florida by: M. Bridgeman

Case Study: Madison County Sanitary Landfill, Florida by: L. Carpenter

Case Study: Alternate Energy Resource, Georgia by: K. Hart

Case Study: Davis Timber Co., Mississippi by: M. Owens

Case Study: ABC One Hour Cleaner, North Carolina by: E. Richter

Case Study: Coleman-Evans Wood Processing, Florida by: T. Burnette

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Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)

Case Study: Mowbray Engineering Co., Alabama by K. Beagle

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Pesticides

Case Study: T H Agruculture & Nutrition, Georgia by: K. Inglish

Case Study: Arlington Blending & Packaging Site, Tennessee by: M. Trow

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Heavy Metals

  • Exposure to high levels of mercury can permanently damage the kidneys, developing fetus, and cause brain dysfunctions such as irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and memory problems. (T. Brandon)
  • The type of chromium (hexavalent) found in the well near the site is very toxic and has been known to cause permanent eye injury, even death. Hexavalent chromium released into drinking water formed to plot of the movie Erin Brockovich. (C. Kill)

Case Study: Anaconda Aluminum Co./ Milgo Electronics, Florida by T. Brandon

Case Study: Wingate Road Municipal Incinerator Dump, Florida by B. Hall

Case Study: Tri- City Oil Conservationists, Inc.. Florida by S. Ellis

Case Study: Wilson Concepts of Florida, Inc. by: J. Hall

Case Study: Caldwell Lace Leather Co., Kentucky by: C. Kill

Case Study: Battery Tech/Duracell, North Carolina by: O. Robinson

Case Study: Atlantic Phosphate Works Site, South Carolina by: T. Seay

Case Study: Independent Nail Company, South Carolina by: L. Thompson

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Nuclear Waste Disposal

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Opinions

  • It is easy to see why PHA’s are something we cannot simply turn our backs to. They present considerable risks not only to humans, but wildlife and agriculture as well. As science continues to improve we will likely find new ways to reduce, and hopefully one day eliminate, the amounts of PHA’s released in to our environment. Until then it is important for us to understand the effects our everyday actions such as driving a car and coal burning are having on our environment. Only then will we be able to avoid the risks PHA’s pose through these practices. (B. Benjamin)
  • (In reference to the Tri-City Oil Conservationists case study): In the end, I was also glad that the company shut down because of there lack of professionalism: in the article it stated that they refuses to clean the spilled oil. They were really putting themselves in danger and everyone around them. (S. Ellis)
  • (In reference to the T H Agriculture & Nutrition case study): Obviously, the groundwater directly below the site is questionable and hazardous for your heath, but luckily no one uses this source of groundwater so there is nothing to worry about. (K. Inglish)
  • (In reference to the Charles Macon case study): It seemed like it took the state along time to take action because they did an inspection in 1980, yet the state court didn’t say anything about until a few years later. Maybe some of the people and the environment could have avoided pollution if they would have just acted sooner. (I. Rochester)
  • We, as humans, have made some amazing advances in technology. From different chemicals we’ve formulated to make a cleaning products to building highways, communities and even different modes of transportation. What tend to forget is that everything we create can come at a potentially high risk. So with this in mind we have yet to factor in effective ways to store/contain our waste proper. It is because of this that our drinking water is contaminated or why our crops aren’t as healthy. To make sure that our planet is healthy and will survive for the next thousand years, we have to be more mindful of how much harm we are doing to the planet and each other. (T. Seay)
  • (In reference to the Coleman-Evans Wood Processing case study): The situation in Whitehouse, Florida is part of a larger struggle to use our resources responsibly. History has taught that life without our resources and advances in chemistry can be short and brutal. In the presence of our modern conveniences, we must advance our way through the task of cleaning up after ourselves even if the process is long and arduous. (T. Burnette)
  • (In reference to the Arlington Blending & Packaging Site, Tennessee): To prove that the development has been a success a park has opened relatively near the site, this for me is good evidence everything is being done correctly. (M. Trow)
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