DETROIT - Recent air sample results detected over 20 toxic chemicals, several at alarming levels. The air sample was taken in the basement of Adrienne Crawford’s home on Pleasant Street in Southwest Detroit near the Marathon refinery tank farm. The sample contained high levels of cancer causing benzene and ethylbenzene. Additional chemicals, toluene and hydrogen sulfide are non-cancerous, but can cause damage to the nervous system.

Crawford, who took the air sample at 4:30 am on November 1, was “woken up, gasping for air.” Crawford characterized the odor as constant, but really strong several times a week. She continued, “the smell literally takes your breath away. It greets you at the door and gets stronger the longer you are in the house.” Family friend, Jackie Smith, also commented on the chemical odor, “I don’t visit at Adrienne’s house anymore because of the smell-it makes me feel sick.”

The Crawford home is surrounded by the Marathon refinery’s tank farms, the waste water treatment plant and the USO Pumping Station.  A possible source may be underground plumes of gasoline and petroleum products from the Marathon tank facility or the refinery.  Fumes may enter homes through basements from underground plumes and cause what is known as ‘vapor intrusion’ or high concentrations of toxic gases.

The air sample was taken using the Bucket Brigade, a citizen air sampling program that has been active in Detroit since 2009. Residents throughout Southwest Detroit have air samples exposing chemicals in the air. California based Global Community Monitor, has conducted two trainings for Detroit residents and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Environment.

 Dr. Mark Chernaik, consultant working with Global Community Monitor and the Detroit residents, compiled a report highlighting the health benchmarks:

Carcinogenic substances such as benzene, ethylbenzene, chloroform and methylene chloride are well above levels associated with an increased 1:1,000,000 risk of cancer associated with lifetime exposure. The levels of benzene are especially alarming, almost 1000 times this risk threshold (a measured concentration of 320 ug/m3 versus a risk threshold of 0.42 ug/m3).Substances causing chronic, non-cancer health effects, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylenes, are also well above exposure levels associated with neurological impacts.

High concentrations of alkanes in the sample, such as n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane and n-nonane (and even higher concentrations of tentatively identified substances, such as methylpentanes and isooctane), while not a health concern, strongly suggest that the source of these elevated levels of toxic substances in the sample collected on 1 Nov 2010 at Pleasant Street Detroit may be facilities that process and store petroleum fuels.

Ruth Breech, Program Director of Global Community Monitor said,”These results are one of the highest levels of chemicals that I have ever seen in an air sample. Worse than samples taken in India and Africa. There needs to be immediate action taken to ensure the safety for Ms. Crawford, her family and her neighbors.”

Marathon has had several pollution incidents in the last few months including a release of 3,025 pounds of sulfur dioxide from August 22-24 and black plumes of smoke and continued flaring on October 15. Neighborhood activist Theresa Landrum exclaimed, “It’s always something! We are fighting for our lives down here.” 

ABOUT THE CHEMICALS 

Benzene: Breathing very high levels of benzene can result in death, while high levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness.

The major effect of benzene from long-term exposure is on the blood. Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection.

Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, particularly acute myelogenous leukemia, often referred to as AML. This is a cancer of the bloodforming organs. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that benzene is a known carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the EPA have determined that benzene is carcinogenic to humans.

Ethylbenzene: Exposure to high levels of ethylbenzene in air for short periods can cause eye and throat irritation. Exposure to higher levels can result in dizziness.

Irreversible damage to the inner ear and hearing has been observed in animals exposed to relatively low concentrations of ethylbenzene for several days to weeks.

Exposure to relatively low concentrations of ethylbenzene in air for several months to years causes kidney damage in animals.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that ethylbenzene is a possible human carcinogen.

Toluene: May affect the nervous system. Low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss. These symptoms usually disappear when exposure is stopped.

Inhaling High levels of toluene in a short time can make a person feel light-headed, dizzy, or sleepy. It can also cause unconsciousness, and even death.

High levels of toluene may affect your kidneys.

Hydrogen Sulfide: Exposure to low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat. It may also cause difficulty in breathing for some asthmatics. In many individuals, there may be permanent or long-term effects such as headaches, poor attention span, poor memory, and poor motor function.

Source: Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ToxFAQ’s

Contact: Adrienne Crawford, Resident, 313-842-0234; Theresa Landrum, Resident, 313-389-1024; Jackie Smith Resident, 313-841-0057; Rhonda Anderson, Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program, 313-965-0052; Ruth Breech, Global Community Monitor, 415-238-1766