Gaseous Release From Refinery Worries Area Residents
October 11, 2011
A fear of fallout from an environmental disaster looms in the back of all our minds after events like the earthquakes in Japan and the Gulf Oil spill rocked the entire world. Many in Louisiana are still living in that nightmare. Yesterday, residents of Algiers, Louisiana, were exposed to a gaseous release from a nearby refinery that officials say is no threat, yet environmental advocates and scientists alike say is toxic.
According to WWLTV News, an outage at a unit of the refinery for several hours caused the hydrocarbons to build up. With no way to remove the buildup or anywhere to dispose of it, the refinery burned off the material and released the gas into the air. Residents say the noxious gas, with an odor likened to raw sewage, engulfed the town for most of the day.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality says there was no harm done after testing of the air; however, its scientists agree with a spokesperson for the Louisiana Bucket Brigade (a refinery watchdog group) that the chemicals released could pose a serious health risk in large enough quantities. With testing done hours after the release, many are questioning the validity of those results.
The Louisiana Environmental Injury Lawyers with Dudley DeBosier understand the dangers that toxic chemicals in the air, water, and ground can pose to whole communities. We urge you to contact us if you have been exposed to an unsafe environment that caused you to become ill by filling out a free online consultation form.
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