Reports of strong gas or oil-like odor in New Orleans metro area traced to ExxonMobil Chalmette Refinery chemical release

[Emily]

http://www.fox8live.com/story/21867220/gas-like-smell

Gas-like smell reported across metro area
Updated: Apr 03, 2013 9:43 AM PDT

LA DEQ and the U.S. Coast Guard are intensively investigating. Video at link.

[Emily]

Re: Reports of strong gas or oil-like odor in New Orleans metro area traced to ExxonMobil Chalmette Refinery chemical release

http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/...n/-/index.html

Watchdog group says 'chemical' odor came from Chalmette refinery
Coast Guard, DEQ investigating cause of odor
UPDATED 1:40 PM CDT Apr 04, 2013

NEW ORLEANS ?An environmental watchdog group is sending out a rapid response team to investigate reports of a smell in a confirmed release of chemicals in St. Bernard Parish.

ExxonMobil?s Chalmette Refinery reported releasing 10 pounds of benzene and 100 pounds of hydrogen sulfide early on Wednesday, but the La. Bucket Brigade said it released "far more."...

Read more: http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/...#ixzz2PWpV5hSp

Exxon is really on a tear. Comments to news articles said that the smell was not like oil or gas - that it was more akin to banned insecticide smells remembered from decades ago.

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: Reports of strong gas or oil-like odor in New Orleans metro area traced to ExxonMobil Chalmette Refinery chemical release

Benzene has been known to be a carcinogen for many years.


http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/71432.HTML

Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)



Benzene

CAS number: 71-43-2
NIOSH REL: 0.1 ppm TWA, 1 ppm STEL; NIOSH considers benzene to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].
Current OSHA PEL: 1 ppm TWA, 5 ppm STEL
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 ppm (32 mg/m3) TWA, A2
Description of substance: Colorless to light-yellow liquid with an aromatic odor.
LEL: 1.2% (10% LEL, 1,200 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 3,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the report in Patty [1963] that for man, a single exposure to 3,000 ppm is endurable for 0.5 to 1 hour [Flury 1928].
Existing short-term exposure: National Research Council [NRC 1986] guidelines
Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs):
1-hour EEGL: 50 ppm
24-hour EEGL: 2 ppm
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:<TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR><TH height=24 colSpan=5></TH><TH width=118 scope=col>Adjusted</TH><TH width=91 scope=col></TH></TR><TR><TH colSpan=2></TH><TH width=71 scope=col>LC50</TH><TH width=66 scope=col>LCLo</TH><TH width=61 scope=col></TH><TH scope=col>0.5-hr</TH><TH scope=col>Derived</TH></TR><TR><TH width=69 scope=col>Species</TH><TH width=153 scope=col>Reference</TH><TH scope=col>(ppm)</TH><TH scope=col>(ppm)</TH><TH scope=col>Time</TH><TH scope=col>LC (CF)</TH><TH scope=col>Value</TH></TR><TR><TD>Rabbit</TD><TD>Carpenter et al. 1944 </TD><TD>-----</TD><TD>44,000</TD><TD>30 min</TD><TD>45,000 ppm (1.0)</TD><TD>4,500 ppm</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dog</TD><TD>Spector 1955</TD><TD>-----</TD><TD>44,923</TD><TD>?</TD><TD>?</TD><TD>?</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cat</TD><TD>Spector 1955</TD><TD>-----</TD><TD>52,308</TD><TD>?</TD><TD>?</TD><TD>?</TD></TR><TR><TD>Human</TD><TD>Tab Biol Per 1933</TD><TD>-----</TD><TD>20,000</TD><TD>5 min</TD><TD>11,000 ppm (0.55)</TD><TD>1,100 ppm</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Other human data: It has been stated that 3,000 ppm is endurable for 0.5 to 1 hour [Flury 1928]. It has also been stated that exposure at 19,000 to 20,000 ppm for 5 to 10 minutes is fatal; exposure at 7,500 ppm for 30 minutes is dangerous; exposure at 1,500 ppm for 60 minutes induces serious symptoms; exposure at 500 ppm for 60 minutes leads to symptoms of illness; exposure at 50 to 150 ppm for 5 hours produces headache, lassitude, and weakness; and exposure at 25 ppm for 8 hours has no effect [Gerarde 1960].
<TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>Revised IDLH: 500 ppm
Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for benzene is 500 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Gerarde 1960]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for benzene at concentrations above 0.1 ppm. OSHA currently requires in 29 CFR 1910.1028 that workers be provided with and required to wear and use the "most protective" respirators in concentrations exceeding 1,000 ppm (i.e., 1,000 x the PEL).]


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
References:

1. Carpenter CP, Shaffer CB, Weil CS, Smyth HF Jr [1944]. Studies on the inhalation of 1:3-butadiene; with a comparison of its narcotic effect with benzol, toluol, and styrene, and a note on the elimination of styrene by the human. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 26(3):69-78.
2. Flury F [1928]. Moderne gewerbliche vergiftungen in pharmakologisch-toxikologischer hinsicht (Pharmacological-toxicological aspects of intoxicants in modern industry). Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol138:65-82 (translated).
3. Gerarde HW [1960]. Toxicology and biochemistry of aromatic hydrocarbons. New York, NY: Elsevier Publishing Company.
4. NRC [1986]. Emergency and continuous exposure guidance levels for selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 6. Benzene and ethylene oxide. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Committee on Toxicology, Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, pp. 7-33.
5. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1221.
6. Spector WS, ed. [1955]. Handbook of toxicology. Vol. 1. Acute toxicities of solids, liquids and gases to laboratory animals. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co., p. 324.
7. Tab Biol Per [1933]; 3:231 (in German).

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