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Restore has been under a great deal of stress and worry due to the issues of a coal burning stove of a neighbor that delivers the smoke right on top of restore and her family. My dad was a coal miner, therefore, I was raised knowing the dangers of coal dust and fumes from burned coal. Restore and her family's health is in great danger.
This is restore's blog on it: http://www.mychurch.org/blog/307433/Our-Family-Needs-Prayer
First, I would like to say that this is my blog. If anyone has any problems with what I speak here, address it to me, please.
PA has little or no EPA regulations on coal. Why? It's coal mining country, coal means money, and money speaks with our government. The coal industries lobbyists have lobbied death into many eastern states, because regulations of coal and mining would cost them money.....
I grew up with this knowledge, although my dad mined above ground, every miner in any state was his brother.
I decided to research the health issues of coal fumes/smoke. You don't find much in the US, but ohhhhhhhh, studies have been done in Pittsburg, PA on the bad effects of coal fumes in China. Seems they're proud of studying and telling about how bad coal is.......as long as they're talking about China.
England has long known the effects of coal fumes. And the study I'm posting is from the UK.
People, this is what restore and her family are living. No one will stop this, it seems. Please pray for them.
| metals
Metals in air are mostly attached to particles either in elemental or in compound form. Some metals can persist in air as a vapour, especially mercury. Coal smoke has a varied profile of metal emissions and domestic coal emits metals in quantities potentially harmful to human health. Those of concern are: lead, arsenic and mercury but there are others which are poisonous and domestic smoke exposure combined with that from other sources may mean an exceedance of safe limits for many.
sources
Mainly industrial. Domestic solid fuel is significant.
domestic exposures
| As
| Cd
| Cr
| Cu
| Hg
| Ni
| Pb
| Se
| V
| Zn
| | Total UK solid domestic fuel emissions (%) | 17.1%
| 4.4%
| 6.1%
| 6.0%
| 7.4%
| 10.6%
| 2.9%
| 9.5%
| 2.5%
| 1.6%
| Possible exposures (ng/m3) average
| 110
| 2.5
| 13
| 460
| 40
| 90
| 400
| 41
| 47
| 490
| Safe limits ng/m3
| 6
| 5
| 1.1 CrVI
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| 50
| 20
| 250
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| ng/m3 = nanogram per metre cubed. There 1 000 000 000 nanograms in one gram. Ten grams of metal is about a teaspoon almost full.
health effects of individual metals
Arsenic
sources
Many industrial processes. Combustion of coal and anthracite.
health effects
Acute inhalation exposure to inorganic arsenic may result in gastrointestinal effects and nervous system disorders in humans. Effects of acute exposure to arsine, a gaseous compound of arsenic can lead to kidney failure. Chronic inhalation exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with irritation of the skin and mucous membranes including dermatitis, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, and rhinitis. Women who have increased arsenic exposure because of where they work or live have an increased incidence of miscarriage and lower birth weight babies (although arsenic may be a confounder and exposure may be associated with other pollutants). The breathing in of inorganic arsenic exposure is strongly associated with lung cancer. Eating and drinking arsenic containing food and water is associated with an increased risk of skin, bladder, liver, and lung cancer. The US EPA has classified inorganic arsenic as a carcinogen of high potency.
exposure
Skin contact, eating and drinking, and inhalation. Burning coal near you can expose you to more than 110ng/m3 converted to an annual average. A safe ambient air annual average concentration is about 6ng/m3. Winter ambient air concentrations in Wolverhampton, UK close to a waste incinerator and close but outside an area of domestic smoke activity often exceeded 6ng/m3. Chromium
Chromium and its compounds form a large and varied group of chemicals, the hazards of which depend upon chemical bonding type. These are chromium metal (0) chromium (11), chromium (111), chromium (IV) and chromium (V1). Chromium (V1) compounds are the most poisonous.
sources
Chromium and its compounds are used in many processes and products for example:
- production and use of stainless steel and other chromium alloys
- pigments for paint and pottery.
- wood preservatives.
- catalysts in the chemical manufacturing industry.
- the production of dyestuffs.
- electroplating/anodising.
exposure
By breathing in dust, fume or mist or by skin contact with solutions or solids. Workplace average exposure limits are 0.05mg/m3 for chromium VI compounds and 0.5mg/m3 for other chromium compounds
health effects
Chromium (V1) compounds (chromates, bichromates, chromic acid) are more dangerous than other compounds and is a highly potent human carcinogen. Long-term health effects to inhaled chromium are damage to the nose, including ulcers and holes in the tissue separating the nostrils; irritation of the lungs; kidney damage; allergic reactions in the skin and respiratory tract; possible risk of cancer of the lung and nose. A study commissioned by the New Zealand government recommended limits for chromium VI to be 1.1 ng/m3 as an annual average and 6.7 ng/m3 for a 1-hour exposure. For chromium metal and chromium II and III, the study recommended a limit of 110 ng/m3 as an annual average and 670 ng/m3 for a 1-hour exposure. Overall chromium exposure from domestic coal burning is unlikely to exceed 13ng/m3.
lead
sources
Non ferrous metal industries. Coal fired power stations. Waste treatment and disposal. (Petrol used to be the main 80+% source but is now very small). Domestic coal.
health effects
Whether lead is ingested or inhaled, the health effect depends upon blood lead levels usually expressed in units of ug/dl (micrograms per decilitre). Acute lead poisoning occurs at blood levels above 100ug/dl. Above about 80 µg/dl, intestinal pains may occur. Above about 50 µg/dl, an inability to produce haemoglobin ca cause anaemia. Effects on the kidneys and male reproductive organs may occur at levels greater than 40 µg/dl. Nerve functions in the limbs may be affected at concentrations above 30 µg/dl. The brain development of young children is affected by levels as low as 10ug/dl, reducing intelligence and harming educational achievement. An airborne concentration of 1ug/m3 increases dlood lead levels by 5ug/dl.
exposure
Inhalation of particulate lead particles. Ingesting contaminated food, beverages and dust. Drinking water, especially that from lead pipes. Lead solder in cans and airborne lead in petrol are now almost zero. The UK government has an annual average limit of 250ng/m3 for airborne lead. This level ensures that the inhaled contribution stays belows 2ug/dl. Average annual exposures due to living with a coal fire and in an area of domestic coal activity may cause many people to exceed the limit although the effect is most likely to affect children and is likely to be small.
mercury
Sources
Dental amalgam, types of seafood and some industrial processes are important sources of mercury. Waste incineration, crematoria, coal and oil combustion are significant sources of airborne mercury, the majority of which is vapour either metallic or in compound. A small percentage is particle bound.
Health effects
The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. Methylmercury and metallic mercury gas tend to be more harmful than other forms because these forms are more able to reach the brain. Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing feotus. Affected brain functioning may result in irritability, and problems with vision, hearing and memory.
exposure
Eating mercury contaminated food and mercuric release from dental amalgam are the main exposure. Airborne mercury is considered harmful as a contribution to the overall uptake in the human body if average concentrations exceed 50ng/m3. Living with a coal (smokeless) fire in an area of domestic smoke activity may expose some people to an annual average of 40ng/m3.
nickel
sources
Industrial processes eg metal refining; nickel plating. Coal combustion. health effects
May exacerbate asthma. It may decrease lung function and it may cause lung and nasal sinus cancer.
exposure
A safe exposure limit is considered to be 20ng/m3. Living with some types of coal fires aithin a domestic coal burning area may expose you to more than 90ng/m3 as an annual average.
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| To add a comment to "Please Read !!!!!!!" |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| Ronnie, yes, it is......very serious. Thanks so much! |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| CindyLou, Great Post. We all need to know that, it could be in our backyard one day. I worked around Mercury for 15 years in the dental office, had numerous spills and had to go through testing and other stuff. Sometimes I wonder if it ever got into my system. We are praying for "restore" and her family. |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| Terry: thanks so much! |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| Cinders I have spoken to Marcy about this and I am praying for them! love Stu |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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having to smell coal burning is not a very nice smell. breathing in them is a killer.. as I share with restore she and family are in my prayers...and am still praying for them.. |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| Good post, CindyLou |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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Stushi: thanks!
Shelley: yes, it stinks, but breathing it is a killer!!!!!! Thanks! |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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Kathy: thanks! |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| Dan: thanks! |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| Since Anthracite is what most people burn in their homes now...and anthracite is "clean coal" with a lot of the impurities distilled from it...how does anthracite measure up? How does it compare to say...wood burning smoke or car exhausts? |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| Since Anthracite is what most people burn in their homes now...and anthracite is "clean coal" with a lot of the impurities distilled from it...how does anthracite measure up? How does it compare to say...wood burning smoke or car exhausts? |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| CindyLou I will keep Marcella in my prayers, God bless you and your forever kind heart... Love you dear friend... |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| I'm on my way to her blog. God loves you and so do I, CindyLou Moo |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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There is anthracite, bituminous and lignite coal....with many degrees of quality in each type. Anthracite is usually about 95% carbon. And yes, high quality anthracite coal burns nearly smoke free....but evidently in this case, it's not being used, since restore has pics of the smoke billowing. Above is listed arsenic.....note that it includes anthracite. In contrast to wood, I'm no scientist, just a country girl who was raised by a coal mining daddy. But, coal is high in metals as opposed to seasoned wood.....I have seen both burn, and coal smoke is heavier, and I believe this is where their problem comes in.....wood smoke would most likely go over them, where the coal smoke is not doing that. Car emissions and their problem.....well, car emissions are a problem, it's harmful to sit and breath them.....but most of us aren't sitting in a car 16 or more hours a day.....restore may be in her home even more than that. It would be like sitting behind a smoking vehicle going and coming to work.....then breathing it all night long at home too. |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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Marilyn: thank you so much!
Joey: thanks, love ya! |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| restore: I love you and your family dearly! I want y'all healthy!!!!!!! |
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| November 01, 2008 |
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| good!!!!!! |
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| November 02, 2008 |
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| CindyLou....you are such a sweetheart! Thanks for this post, and especially for your prayers for our common friend. Wish there was more I (we) could do! |
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| November 02, 2008 |
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| Mike: thanks! God hears the prayers of His children :) |
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| November 03, 2008 |
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| Wood; thanks! |
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| November 03, 2008 |
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| Wood...interesting link! |
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| November 03, 2008 |
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| Wood: i went to the site, awesome....I pray that you can help provide this family with the evidence they need to get this stopped, God bless you! |
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| January 04, 2009 |
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Ive been praying for them but glad you posted this. I wish there was more we could do. God be with them! Protec tthem from these harmful fumes!
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| January 04, 2009 |
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| Donna: thanks |
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