Ologies with Alie Ward Environmental Toxicology (POISONS + TRAIN DERAILMENT) with Kimberly K. Garrett
97 snips
Feb 22, 2023 AI Snips
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Donora's Deadly Thermal Inversion
- In 1948, a thermal inversion trapped toxic zinc plant emissions in Donora, Pennsylvania, causing deaths and illnesses.
- Such inversion events play a key role in trapping pollutants near ground level and worsen air quality.
Controlled Burn and Thermal Inversion Impact
- Controlled burns release toxic chemicals into the air but reduce long-term environmental contamination.
- Thermal inversions limit plume rise, trapping pollutants near ground, which influenced timing of Ohio controlled burn.
Chemical Persistence and Environmental Impact
- Long-term environmental impact depends on chemical persistence; PFAS persist, but some combusted chemicals degrade quickly.
- Firefighting foams likely added fluorinated chemicals requiring remediation after Ohio derailment.