[StBernard] Environmental group survey claims health problems from Chalmette's recent sulphur dioxide spikes

[Westley Annis]

Environmental group survey claims health problems from Chalmette's recent
sulphur dioxide spikes
 By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
on January 24, 2013 at 10:48 AM, updated January 24, 2013 at 6:00 PM Print

As the state Department of Environmental Quality continues to examine
heightened sulphur dioxide levels in the Chalmette area, the Louisiana
Bucket Brigade on Thursday said during a press conference that 70 people in
the area have reported respiratory problems, headaches or eye irritation in
a door-to-door survey. Anna Hrybyk, the environmental group's program
manger, said that her team surveyed 132 residents, and so about half
reported problems.

The team simply chose a 20-square-block radius near some of the larger
Chalmette sulphur dioxide emitters, knocked on doors, and, if people were
home, asked them whether they recently had seen or smelled any chemicals
releases and whether they were suffering from any health issues as a result.
The Bucket Brigade said that about 90 of the 132 people reported smelling
bad odors and that nine people said they had visited, or informed, a doctor.

The group also points to 60 reports filed, mostly anonymously, in the last
six weeks to the Bucket Brigade's online iWitness Pollution Map.

On Jan. 11, the permanent DEQ monitoring station in the Chalmette Vista
neighborhood registered sulphur dioxide levels above the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency hourly standard of 75 parts per billion in an hour. On
Jan. 12, the DEQ mobile air unit also measured reading above that standard.

DEQ Secretary Peggy Hatch said on Wednesday, "We will work with the local
industry and federal partners to find the cause of these emissions and to
reduce (sulphur dioxide) emissions in St. Bernard Parish."

Short-term exposure to sulphur dioxide, ranging from 5 minutes to 24 hours,
could cause an array of adverse respiratory effects, especially to those
suffering from emphysema, bronchitis, heart disease. The effects can be more
profound on asthmatics, children and the elderly.

Ann Rolfes, founding director of the environmental group, said that similar
incidents have gone on for the past 20 years, and she asked that the state
Department of Health and Hospitals become involved.

The Bucket Brigade has been campaigning against what it contends are
unnecessary releases of chemicals at refineries in Louisiana during
accidents since its creation in 2000.