Recent comments in /f/washingtondc

mrsgeologist t1_j8g8gbi wrote

Reply to Ohio toxic air in DMV? by ghostofhogan

I am a geologist and work in the environmental remediation space. I responded to a similar post earlier today under the NoVA page.

There is a lot of misinformation out there on the internet in regards to this emergency response event. There is no way this event could impact us in the DMV. The half-life of vinyl chloride is 1-2 days in air (meaning it ceases to exist after that time). If you refer to a vinyl chloride Safety Data Sheet, you will determine that it is a liquid under pressure, but immediately becomes explosive when mixed with air. That is why the emergency response entity determined that they had to “burn” it off. There really was no other way to deal with the vinyl chloride once it was exposed to air. The burn off is scary and unfortunate, but within 1-2 days it is no longer present in the atmosphere. The long term investigation will more so be related with groundwater. That is something I cannot speak to because I have not seen the data and delineation of contamination can take a while to determine. There was an immediate die off of aquatic animals since vinyl chloride is highly toxic and it hit surface water bodies. Aquatic life pull oxygen from water to breath. Vinyl chloride is more soluble in water.

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HockeyMusings t1_j8g32br wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Ohio toxic air in DMV? by ghostofhogan

Where’s the report that said they were saying the air was safe at Ground Zero?

They weren’t. They said the air at Ground Zero was dangerous and respirators should be worn. That was disregarded or poorly addressed by NYC and FDNY brass who had jurisdiction.

Since you haven’t provided a single link, here’s another for you for ProPublica ripping the EPA for telling the community the air was safe but: > Officials seemed to be sending two distinct messages: telling office workers and residents the air was safe, while repeatedly warning first responders and crews working right on the debris pile to wear protective gear. Those conflicting assurances and warnings given by federal officials left workers and residents unsure what steps to take to protect themselves.

OSHA and NYOSH failed the FDNY there. Not the EPA.

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13141314Dankeee OP t1_j8g0ni3 wrote

Reply to comment by NPRjunkieDC in Reserved an Airbnb in SW DC in the intersection between N St SW and Half St SW by 13141314Dankeee

Because it’s a walkable distance to where I will be working for. But I am deciding to find another place farther that is near the green line. Airbnb reviews said it was a safe neighborhood, but I am also getting comments that there a rise in shooting and carjacking in the area

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HockeyMusings t1_j8fxrlb wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Ohio toxic air in DMV? by ghostofhogan

See. That’s the thing. You’re conflating things. The EPA was explicit that the air at Groud Zero, specifically, the “pile”, was unsafe and that respirators should be worn. It was NYC that had jurisdiction in that regard.

The surrounding neighborhoods, yeah, maybe they didn’t have enough data to say the air was safe when they did. But even the majority of those people disregarded the instructions they were given for decontaminating indoor areas.

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