As threat passes, activists say massive chemical near Houston brings attention to persistent issues.
south of Houston, Texas, triggered an emergency order for locals to shelter in place even after a dangerous chemical was detected in the air.experts say most of the risk from the Deer Park fire has passed and that further testing didn't find elevated levels of the dangerous chemical after a release this morning.
She said TEJAS has been pushing for a more comprehensive air monitoring system around the chemical facilities near Houston, harsher enforcement of violations, and more transparency about the impact of fires like this on the surrounding area. After Hurricane Harvey, storm-related damage triggered a separate toxic fire that prompted calls for companies to be more prepared for disasters and other unexpected scenarios that could cause problems for the public.
A plume of smoke rises from a petrochemical fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company, March 18, 2019, in Deer Park, Texas. “We want people to be informed but not inappropriately alarmed and what we know about benzene, the cancers we know about typically occur from exposure over a long period of time,” she told ABC.
Environmental groups conducted their own monitoring after Hurricane Harvey and found Benzene levels they said were cause for concern after the Arkema fire, even though it didn’t go over Texas’ recommended limit, according toTexas has a higher limit for when Benzene released into the air triggers public health warnings than other states like California, which has some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the country.
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