Sunday, May 25, 2014

No. 6 - One Hour - Changing lives in Mayflower, Arkansas



We've been studying the Exxon Spill of Mayflower for months now and have compiled 10,000 documents which tell the story below. Here are the facts:


The critical period for maximum exposure during the Exxon Spill, March 31, 2013 in Mayflower, Arkansas was short.

However, maximum exposure is not necessary for the effects to be life altering, causing permanent damage to people, especially children, which will not be visible for years.

Exxon refused to turn over information, stalling during the time the impact of those impacted should have begun treatment. This is their standard strategy, learned from the Koch Brothers to maximize their profits by minimizing their costs.

We have the composition of what came out of the broken pipe, and we have used it, beginning with the material below. 

One Hour 


Benzene, highly cancer causing, Toluene, toxic to the nervous system, especially in children, and Hydrogen Sulfide,very poisonous, corrosive, flammable, and explosive, surged out of the broken pipe with explosive speed, filling the air and rapidly moving out into the entire community.


The damage was being done to everyone before any warning took place. People reported they were not told to leave the area.

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE IN FIRST HOUR 
Significantly, there were NO monitors during this time.
 

PPM – Parts Per Million – This does not sound like a lot, but – it is, like a poison, it does not take much to disable and kill. 

Total Spill = 210,000 gals of dilbit, a highly toxic substance itself, only able to move through the pipe because Benzene and Toluene were added.

1% of Condensate
4000 ppm to 25 yds
800 ppm to 75 yds
50 ppm to 300 yds = approx. odor threshold
If you can smell the chemical, the level is too high to be safe.”i





TOLUENE Acute Symptoms ii

2% of Condensate

4500 ppm to 30 yds

Narcosis, impairment of reaction time and coordination

1200 ppm to 75 yds 
 Weakness, Anorexia, staggering gate, nausea,nervousness, momentary loss of memory, significant reduction in reaction time
200 ppm to 200 yds
            Mild throat and eye irritation, prolonged eye-to-hand reaction time, some impaired
            cognitive function, mild headache, dizziness, sensation of intoxication, fatigue, general
            confusion and moderate insomnia






Hydrogen Sulfide                                                                                ACUTE EXPOSURES

4% of Dilbit
50 ppm to 500 yds
Maximum level of 50 ppm allowed for 10 minutes maximum duration if no other measurable exposure occurs.
Mild conjunctivitis, respiratory tract irritation in 30-60 minutes

25 ppm to 750 yds
Strong, unpleasant odor, but not intolerable.
OSHA has established an acceptable ceiling concentration of 20 ppm for hydrogen sulfide in the workplace.

8- 10 pm to 2 miles
Easily detected, moderate odor
Beginning eye irritation. 
Permissible Exposure Level, 8 hours
 
NIOSH has set a maximum Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) ceiling value of 10 ppm for 10 minutes maximum duration.




Since these chemicals are heavier than air they also fill depressions and holes in the ground, waiting like stalking predators for victims. 
 


Everyone in Mayflower could smell the Exxon Spill
Everyone was at risk
But Rex Tillerson,the Kochs and President Obama
do not think
Exxon Mobile
should be responsible for the damage still being done to the folks of Mayflower. 


Where were those who should have taken immediate action? 

Was any action taken to ensure the well being of the people of Mayflower?

The Answer is - NO

 
Charles Koch was in Wichita, Kansas 
                   - 429 miles from Mayflower, Arkansas 

Charles has built out a huge operation which uses deceit, lies, and stalling to optimize his profits instead of doing business responsibly. 



David Koch was in New York City, or may be his posh place in Southampton, NY 
                       - 1,248 miles from Mayflower, Arkansas

David never opposed his brother as Koch Industries built out a huge operation using deceit, lies, and stalling to optimize his profits instead of doing business responsibly.  But today he complains about the negative press. 


Rex Tillerson was in Bartonville, Texas 
                          - 363 miles from Mayflower, Arkansas

Rex is responsible for the corporation he heads.  He failed to ensure safety and followed the Koch Method for evading the consequences of causing harm to others.  



Barack Obama was in Washington DC
   - 1,028 miles from Mayflower, Arkansa.

And Obama enjoys his time in office, looking forward to a lucrative retirement, paid for by Koch and his friends. 




 We have more coming. 

 

i
Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services 2013 Benzene http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/chemfs/fs/benzene.htm


ii

International Programme on Chemical Safety, Environmental Health Criteria 52: Toluene, 1986.

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