Earth Day 2020

Earth Day Celebration from The Old Farmer's Almanac

https://www.almanac.com/content/earth-day-date-activities-history

10 EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS

Celebrate Earth Day by appreciating and respecting the natural world. Here are some ideas to inspire you!

1. Support our native bees:  The super-pollinators of the garden are … native bees! Learn more about these amazing heroes of pollination—and see how to make a native bee house (much like a bird house!). See how to make a bee-friendly garden habitat.
2. Recycle and repurpose! Gardening needn’t be expensive. See ideas on recycling and repurposing garden items to make something out of nothing—and save money! We also have ideas on how to reuse in the kitchen and in the home and re-purpose everyday household items!
3. Plant wildflowers! We’ll show you how to grow wildflowers in your garden for the pollinators—and to lift your spirits, too! Also, see our guide on choosing wildflower varieties which will thrive where you live. 
4. Reduce plastic dependency: Plastic permeates every aspect of our lives, including the garden. But as the world wakes up to its addiction, just how easy is it to ditch plastic while growing and storing more of our own food? See our ideas on how to garden without plastic. Don’t forget to recycle what plastic you can. See a Plastics Recycling Chart. And also, know what’s in all those bottled drinks!
5. Go native! Plants thrive best when they’re natural to your area. See our article on native plant landscaping and 10 tips for an eco-friendly garden.
6. Bring nature into the garden with plants that attract butterflies and plants that attract hummingbirds!
7. Start an organic vegetable garden. Here are tips on organic seed-starting, and our Beginner’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening to get you started.
8. Conserve water! See our tips for watering wisely in the garden and tips on how to create your own rain garden. Also, avoid over-watering. Know how much your garden really needs with our watering chart! Watch our video demonstrating 10 smart watering tips for a healthy garden garden.
9. Plant more trees! Talk to your local government about planting more trees and native garden beds in public spaces, or consider planting your own on your property! See advice on how to plant a tree as well a our video demonstrating how to plant a fruit tree.
10. Get kids involved! Pass down a love of nature and plants with kids. See our ideas on gardening with kids and also 6 simple kids’ planting activities from the Kids Almanac! 

Find a ton of stay-at-home Earth Day ideas here: Celebrating Earth Day at Home

Fires & Explosions

A Western Easter weekend explosion with its over 11 hour fire and subsequent flaring by Valero Energy & an Orthodox Easter weekend fire and its 27 hours flaring by PBF Energy, released a lot more than nuisance odors......   Neither facility provides adequate real-time information for residents to know what they are being exposed to, for residents to determine if they should leave or stay. Disingenuous statements are not protective of human health.

The reported "nuisance" of 2/10 ppm Sulfur Dioxide is equivalent to 200 ppb SO2.
Sulfur dioxide acute exposure begins at 0.01 ppm or 10 ppb and the one-hour health standard is 75 ppb. Hardly a nuisance, more of a public health emergency effecting respiratory systems in human beings, and especially in children, elderly, and active healthy adults.

Article by Mark Schleifstein : Environment/Hurricane/Levee reporter for The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate; Co-author, Path of Destruction; Member, SEJ, IRE

https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_5c1634c2-8408-11ea-9e05-671699981e3a.html

Sulfur dioxide is harmful

Sulfur dioxide is harmful. To report odors are only a nuisance is an understatement. 


Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is severely irritating to the eyes, mucous membranes, skin, and respiratory tract. Bronchospasm, pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, and acute airway obstruction can occur. Inhalation exposure to very low concentrations of sulfur dioxide can aggravate chronic pulmonary diseases, such as asthma and emphysema. (united States Center for Disease Control (CDC) )

Sulfur dioxide can cause breathing problems in healthy adults at concentrations as low as 10 ppb. Above 10 ppb concentration SO2 is where acute exposure begins. The EPA set a one-hour health standard for SO2 at 75 ppb.

There is no way to determine how much of what chemicals Orleans Parish residents were exposed to, including sulfates, hydrogen sulfide, and benzene. The wind last night carried emissions from PBF Energy's refinery's flare west into Orleans Parish, away from the sulfur dioxide air monitor in the nearby Chalmette Vista neighborhood. Even if PBF Energy were able to chase the odors across town into Orleans Parish, the technology of the commonly used hand held monitors typically do not register levels of SO2 until concentrations reach very high levels.  

Public Health Statements from the CDC on Sulfur Dioxide reveal yet another disturbing health disparity: 

        It is known that exercising asthmatics are sensitive to low concentrations of sulfur dioxide Therefore, increased susceptibility is expected in children with asthma, but it is not known whether asthmatic children are more sensitive than asthmatic adults Additionally, asthma occurs most often in African Americans, children between the ages of 8 and 11, and people living in cities For unknown reasons, the death rates associated with asthma are also higher in non-Caucasian people Therefore, it is expected that asthmatic, African American children living in urban areas have increased sensitivity to sulfur dioxide.

There are numerous studies which concluded effects of sulfur dioxide are enhanced by simultaneous exposure to ultra-fine particles (PM2.5), and nitrates (NOx), and sulfates (SO3), all which were likely present during this event.

According to the World Health Organization:  Sulfur dioxide is a colourless gas that is readily soluble in water. Sulfuric acid is a strong acid that is formed from the reaction of sulfur trioxide gas (SO3) with water. 

These sulfates (SO3) are said to be far more harmful than SO2.

"   Sulfur dioxide causes irritation of the mucous membranes. This is probably the result of sulfurous acid forming when the highly soluble SO2 gas dissolves at the surface of the membranes. Groups that are especially susceptible to the harmful health effects of SO2 include children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung disorders such as asthma. When SO2 concentrations in the air become elevated, people in these sensitive groups and those who are active outdoors may have trouble breathing. Sulfur dioxide reacts with other gases and particles in the air to form sulfates, which also can be harmful to people and the environment. Sulfate particles are the major cause of reduced visibility in the ... United States: SO2 forms acids that fall to the earth in rain and snow. Better known as acid rain, this acidic precipitation can damage forests and crops, can make lakes and streams too acidic for fish, and can speed up the decay of building materials and paints."
http://njaqinow.net/App_Files/2017/SO2%202017.pdf

Lightening and other weather events happen. Plants can review their emergency shut down procedures and invest in technology to reduce emissions. Parish leaders should not spread disinformation about public health affects.