Communities face surging toxic fumes and possible water contamination, as refineries and plants report more than 2,700 tons of extra pollutionHurricane Harvey has resulted in Houston’s petrochemical industry leaking thousands of tons of pollutants, with communities living near plants damaged by the storm exposed to soaring levels of toxic fumes and potential water contamination. Refineries and chemical plants have reported more than 2,700 tons, or 5.4m pounds, of extra air pollution due to direct damage from the hurricane as well as the preventive shutting down of facilities, which causes a spike in released toxins. “It’s a really serious public health crisis from the pollution and other impacts people are facing,” said Bakeyah Nelson, executive director of Air Alliance Houston. “Communities in close proximity to these facilities will get the worst of it, as they get the worst of it on a daily basis. Fourteen plants, operated by firms including Shell and Dow Chemical, have also reported wastewater overflows following the hurricane.

Source: The Guardian September 02, 2017 16:41 UTC