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Haze Over Mt. Carmel & How It Effects Your Health |
| New pollution control equipment at a Cinergy power plant was blamed for the release of a chemical that can combine with moisture in the air to create sulfuric acid. A blue haze of sulfur trioxide hovered around Cinergy's Gibson Station generating plant for days before dissipating. No illnesses among plant workers or the public have been reported yet because of the sulfur trioxide release, which could lead to breathing difficulties in some people. The haze from the plant extended about three miles across the Wabash River to Mount Carmel, Ill. Sulfur trioxide is a skin and lung irritant and that sustained direct exposure might require hospitalization. "Its the same thing as acid rain,. A heavy dose, all at once, would be harmful. What happens to sulfur trioxide and sulfuric acid when they enter the environment? Much of the sulfuric acid in the air is formed from sulfur dioxide released when coal, oil, and gas are burned. SO3 is formed when sulfur dioxide reacts with water in the air. Sulfuric acid dissolves in the water in air and can remain suspended in air for varying periods of time. Sulfuric acid is removed from the air in rain. Sulfuric acid contributes to the formation of acid rain. How can sulfur trioxide and sulfuric acid affect my health? Touching sulfuric acid will burn your skin, and breathing sulfuric acid can result in tooth erosion and respiratory tract irritation. Drinking sulfuric acid can burn your mouth, throat, and stomach; it can result in death. If you get sulfuric acid in your eyes, it will cause your eyes to water and will burn. How likely are sulfur trioxide and sulfuric acid to cause cancer? People who have breathed large quantities of sulfuric acid at work have shown an increase in cancers of the larynx. However, most of the people were also smokers who were exposed to other chemcals and acids as well. The ability of sulfuric acid to cause cancer in laboratory animals has not been studied. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that occupational exposure to strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid is carcinogenic to humans. IARC has not classified pure sulfuric acid for its carcinogenic effects. How does sulfur trioxide and sulfuric acid affect children? Children may be exposed in the same ways as adults; however, they may be more at risk due to accidental injuries and accidents in the home. Teenagers may have jobs (such as car repair) in which they have contact with sulfuric acid. Children may have increased sensitivity to sulfuric acid in air, due to their smaller airway diameters and the fact that they breathe more air per kilogram of body weight than adults. Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? EPA limits the amount of sulfur dioxide that can be released into the air. This limits the amount of sulfur trioxide and sulfuric acid that form from sulfur dioxide in the air. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) limit the amount of sulfuric acid in workroom air to 1 milligram per cubic meter of air (1 mg/m³). Where can I get more information? ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize, evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances. You can also contact your community or state health or environmental quality department if you have any more questions or concerns. For more information, contact: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Toxicology 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32 Atlanta, GA 30333 Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) FAX: (770)-488-4178 Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov |
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News in Princeton Indiana |