Tests show high levels of air-borne chemicals at Venice
Tests conducted last week in Venice by environmental chemist Wilma Subra show highly elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide and other volatile organic chemicals, according to the Louisiana Environmental Action Network. Subra monitored the air in Venice — one of the southernmost points of coastal Louisiana and the base of operations for much of the oil-containment efforts related to last month's Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill — from April 28 to May 7.
Her analyses show that hydrogen sulfide, a colorless, flammable gas that is found in high concentration in natural gas and in smaller concentrations in crude oil, reached a high point of 1,192 parts per billion on May 3. Hydrogen sulfide is detectable by smell at .5 ppb and can cause physical reactions such as irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs as well as nausea, dizziness, confusion and headache at 5 to 10 ppb. On three of the days during the monitoring period, hydrogen sulfide exceeded the physical reaction level by 100 to 120 times.
Subra’s analysis also found that between April 30 and May 6, levels of volatile organic chemicals such as benzene, tetrachloroethane, nitropropane and ethylene chloride likely exceeded Louisiana Ambient Air Standards and may have exceed the highest concentration of Annual Average Standard by up to 50 times.
Subra’s analysis of air quality at Venice was conducted at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency.
... written by Existentialist Homme , May 11, 2010 - 11:54 am
Someone needs to check Subra,s figures , those physicals reactions to the toxic gas occur at 5-10 ppm not 5-10 ppb...I have direct knowledge of this, having spent the greater part of my life working with this toxic gas............the infinitesimal amount which Subra quoted as causing these physical reactions is absolutely in-line with most EPA findings, " COMPLETELY IN THE DARK, AS USUAL !
... written by ragin_cajun , May 11, 2010 - 04:14 pm
I remember safety trainers telling us repeatedly that you can't see or smell H2S.
... written by HARDHAT , May 11, 2010 - 10:06 pm
" RAGIN CAJUN, believe me """when you work around this toxic gas you breathe very shallow breaths, and in concentrations, of 2-10 parts per million it is advisable to don an air-pack with a breathing air tank fitted with a tightly sealed facial mask, in concentrations of 2-10 ppm and above a person should not be exposed to this gas or remain in the vicinty of the work area for more than 8-10 hours, even while using the air unit, which is while wearing the breathing mask.... Now in the great state of TEXAS, where, "Can you believe the agency that supervices the drilling and flowing of toxic wells, is "THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION", HUH ? EXACTLY MY POINT.......Listen-up! The number of oilfield related deaths from toxic gas, is higher in "THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS" THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE UNION ! This a fact, at this time there have been *8 or 10 oilfield deaths in the EAST TEXAS AREA IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, this is not highly publicized, AND THE REASON IS, " THE LOWEST BIDDER WITH THE LEAST EXPERIENCED DRILLERS,ROUGHNECKS, AND PRODUCTION WELL TESTERS, ARE BEING AWARDED THE CONTRACTS, THE MONEY MAKES UP FOR THE LOSS OF LIVES ! This is also occurring in the NORTH LOUISIANA, wells..... Working in the Hydrogen Gas fields of Texas is very much like walking around in darkness by a Pakistani Mosque, with a smoking stogie in one's mouth.....
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