Torrance refinery blast shows the need for more scrutiny on air quality
On Thursday, March 5, the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Environmental Quality Committee will hold a joint hearing at 6 p.m. March 5 at Torrance City Hall to address the recent ExxonMobil Refinery explosion in Torrance. Witnesses from the community, Exxon Mobil, first responders and air quality/environmental agencies will answer questions on the emergency response, the refinery’s safety record, the impacts to the community and the state’s continued efforts to better prevent and coordinate the response to refinery incidents. More information
On February 18, 2015 shortly before 9 a.m., the Exxon-Mobil refinery in Torrance, Calif., had another explosion. We have heard about or experienced other explosions or big pollution issues over the years especially in the 1980s and '90s. The refinery is located in a densely populated neighborhood filled with homes, at least 14 schools, and businesses.
This explosion was newsworthy as seen on national NBC, CBS, ABC and news affiliates around the nation. The explosion blast was so tremendous that neighbors thought there had been an earthquake. While the black cloud filled the air, the community was helpless to do anything but watch.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the source of the blast was too much pressure on a piece of equipment at the refinery. It spewed ash, filled with fiberglass and glass wool, into the atmosphere.
According to Gesuina Paras, ExxonMobil public governmental affairs advisor, the materials sent out for testing were primarily composed of some metal oxides and amorphous silica.
There is extensive evidence that crystalline silica is toxic to both lung tissue and cells in culture. However, the toxicity of amorphous silica is not nearly as well studied. Environmental exposure to amorphous silica is far less common due to its relatively rare presence, so there is almost no epidemiological data in which humans are exposed to amorphous silica that is not contaminated by crystalline silica.
The refinery occupies 750 acres and has 650 employees and 550 contractors. Although the workers were sent home, those who live in the neighborhood were simply told to close their windows, not to turn on the air conditioners and not to exert themselves.
Giselle Monreal, a neighbor who lives across the street from the facility, said the blast shook the ground like an earthquake, knocking a 52 inch (132-cm) flat-screen television off its stand onto a coffee table and shattering a window in her garage.
A huge issue is the long-term affects on the people who live and work in the neighborhood. The particulate matter that is hanging in the air with great potential harm is of great concern to the immediate neighborhood and surrounding communities. The particles, known as PM 2.5 (particulate matter) can stay in the air for months and travel as far as 30 miles.
According to the EPA, the size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Small particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems, because they can get deep into your lungs, and some may even get into your bloodstream.
The health effects of particulate matter in surrounding neighborhoods can include lung disease, heart issues, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and other respiratory symptoms. Long-term effects include cancer.
According to the Air Resources Board (ARB):
“PM 2.5 and PM10 particles easily penetrate into the airways and lungs where they may produce harmful health effects such as the worsening of heart and lung diseases.The risk of these health effects is greatest in the elderly and the very young. Exposure to elevated concentrations of PM is also associated with increased hospital and doctor visits and increased numbers of premature deaths."
The California Department of Industrial Relations opened a probe into the blast, agency spokeswoman Julia Bernstein said. The workplace safety agency issued an order forbidding Exxon Mobil from operating the 100,000-barrel-per-day fluid catalytic cracker - a central gasoline-producing unit - until the investigation is complete, Bernstein said.
The only good news in this explosion event is the hope that the local, state and federal oversight agencies will take a closer look at how the ExxonMobil plant is run, what can be done to improve the site, and what can be done to inform the residents and local school districts to inform them of health dangers.
The local Air Resources Board and Air Quality Management Board representative is Judy Mitchell who is currently also on the Rolling Hills Estates City Council. These agencies are the air pollution oversight entities for California.
Sources:
The Phagocytosis and Toxicity of Amorphous Silica by Linsey M. Constantini, Renee M. Gilbert and David A Knecht
"Air Info Now: What Is Particulate Matter?"
California Air Resources Board: "Ambient Air Quality Standards"
California Air Resouces Board: "Torrance Refinery Incident/Air Quality Impacts"
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