 |
| Local | National | World | Technology | Travel | Health | Oddities | Careers | Classifieds | Obituaries | Letters to the Editor | Editorials |
| More Links | tbayjobline | TbayWeddings | Play Games! | New! eVents Calendar | Advertise with Us | Contact Us |
|---|
| Other Links | Movie Times | Airport | Bus Schedule | Road Conditions | Library | Weather |
|---|
Westfort resident Kathy McGowan says she has lived in the area for more than 10 years and has never been so sickened by mill emissions as she was on Sunday. In a letter to the Ministry of the Environment, obtained by The Chronicle-Journal, McGowan says that she and her partner awoke shortly after 7 a.m. to a burning sensation in their lungs and experienced shortness of breath, choking, nausea and dizziness. “The fumes completely engulfed the interior of our house,” she said. “It was impossible to get rid of the smell so we could breathe without the burning sensation and shortness of breath. It was scary not being to breathe without severe discomfort.” The ministry‘s Thunder Bay office confirmed that the mill exceeded total reduced sulfur emissions Sunday morning, and that a ministry and mill investigation were underway along with development of a remedial plan to prevent further occurrences. Ministry spokeswoman Lisa Brigadyr said the mill released a non-toxic, non-condensable gas made up of total reduced sulfur (TRS), which includes hydrogen and methyl mercaptan. TRS is a measurement of the main sulfur compounds generated in the kraft pulp process. The rotten egg smell can be detected by humans at very low concentrations, such as two to four parts per billion (ppb). At high levels it can cause nausea and headaches, but, Brigadyr said, the gas is not toxic – it‘s just the smell that affects some people. “That‘s what happened (in this case) . . . the ministry was made aware of (the gas leak) when the company contacted the Spills Action Centre.” The ministry is doing a followup into the cause of the failure and have told the company to develop an action plan to prevent further occurrences. The release of the gas is being blamed on a mechanical failure in the kiln operation which“kicked out a high pressure blow-off of gas, Brigadyr said. In windy conditions, she said, the gas would have dissipated quickly. On Sunday morning, however, high temperatures and humidity prevented the gas from being dispersed, she said. Meanwhile, McGowan said the company‘s “failure to notify the public in a timely manner concerning this latest incident smacks of disrespect.” AbitiBowater spokesman Jean-Philippe Cote could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Brigadyr said residents living in the area of the mill have been contacted in the past when noxious gas has been released. “We have in the past – if the (leak) goes on for a longer period of time,” she said. “In this case, it was only a 16-minute occurrence. By the time people got on it, it was already corrected, so there was no need for notification.” The Thunder Bay mill operates under a provincial guideline of a one-hour average release of 27 ppb TRS. If it exceeds that, the company has to report the incident to the ministry. Top of Page |
|
|
September 2, 2010, 8:22 am |