UPDATE: Since Arlington City Council has decided to put *stress on benefits to our Arlington Firefighters first to pay for their Civil Service promotions, this blog post if VERY relevant to the added risk to them in being the first responders at our 350 plus frack wells in our Urban Drilling experiment.
*”Stand for AFD is a call to action for the Citizens of Arlington to show Arlington Firefighters they have our support!
We will be standing peacefully outside of City Hall before and during the council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10th to show that we, as Arlington Citizens care about the service members of AFD.
For those that have not had a chance to read any articles regarding what our firefighters are losing here is a summary:
The citizens of Arlington voted that the Arlington Fire Department transition to civil service to ensure an equal and fair hiring and promotion system. Civil service requires those wishing to promote to take an exam and prove their competencies before being put in positions of leadership; whereas the old system allowed leadership to be appointed. Before voting, AFD members understood some benefits would be cut to provide funding for the change in service and selflessly agreed to better the department. After the vote to implement civil service, city council members advised AFD they would be taking away any sick time earned over the past five years (anything over 180 hours) and any unused vacation time would no longer be rolled over when the year ended. Magnanimously, AFD stood their ground to keep their civil service status regardless of being unfairly stolen from by Arlington government.
The average person that works a 40 hour week works 2,080 hours annually while members in the fire service work 2,880 hours annually. That equates to an 800 hour difference or 20 extra weeks of work for the average person a year. In 2015 a survey of 4,000 first responders reported that 6.6% of them had attempted suicide (Journal of Emergency Medical Services). Most of us will never have to witness someone trapped in an overturned car gasping for breath or trying with no avail to save a drowned child. Our fire department does so much more than charge burning buildings and actually spends most of its time responding to the medical emergencies of their citizens. The sick time council is trying to take back is not only for physical maladies but mental health as well.
“They never told us all the things we’ll keep in our minds — the images, the brain deprivation, that cultural brainwash of being strong, keep things to yourself, don’t ask for help,” – Jeff Dill
I stand for AFD because the sick time they earned over the last 5 years should not be stolen from them by city council. I stand for AFD because they see the worst and continue to serve. I stand for AFD because when I need help, I will call them and they will come.
Citizens of Arlington let’s stand for AFD and show City Council we do not support their decision to strip our firefighters of their earned and much needed sick time!”
it’s worth noting this now two year old blog post…..
——end update————————–
TWO hydrogen cyanide releases in ONE week ( TN & TX ) luv fracking chemicals ?
a c r y l o n i t r i l e: used in the fracking industry to coat the frack sand. When heated, gives off hydrogen cyanide (HCN) fumes. Frack sand undergoes heat during the fracking process…in our neighborhoods. HCN is a class 2B carcinogen.
Assessment of risk from exposure to acrylonitrile: the general approach used by a consultant.
Abstract
“The concern from low-level exposure to acrylonitrile is primarily due to its potential for carcinogenicity. Several epidemiology studies provide suggestive evidence for an association of lung cancer in workers exposed to acrylonitrile; however, smoking may be a contributing factor and therefore the role of acrylonitrile as a causative factor is unclear. Seven animal bioassays, using three routes of exposure and two strains of rats, have provided consistent results. Tumors were induced in all studies, with the primary sites of tumor induction being the brain, ear canal, gastrointestinal tract and mammary glands. The linearized multistage model was used for extrapolation purposes. The risk based on brain tumors (astrocytomas) and stomach tumors following oral exposures ranged from 1 x 10(-1) to 4 x 10(-1)mg-1kg-1day-1. The risk of inhalation exposure is somewhat less, (2-3) x 10(-2). Support for carcinogenic potential is obtained from mutagenicity studies. Acrylonitrile has been found to be mutagenic and also binds with DNA. It has been speculated that acrylonitrile is metabolized to 2-cyanoethylene oxide, which is the proximate carcinogen.”
END
Here is a story of water well poisoning by acrylonitrile in Wyoming posted in 2013 and claimed against Chesapeake…a must read!
In fireengineering.com they reported back in 2009 of HCN risks…“Common manmade materials that generate cyanide gas during combustion include nylon, polyurethane, melamine, and acrylonitrile. These materials are ubiquitous in building furnishings, vehicles, foam insulation, carpets, draperies, appliances, many plastics, and articles of clothing.” They forgot to add to that list FRACKING CHEMICALS…
Also used as a fluid in drilling muds see patent here and here. Thanks to Joanne Fiorito for the patent find!
7/1/2015 Another HCN release (Hydrogen Cyanide)…this time from a train car near Knoxville Tennessee where thousands were evacuated and 22 first responders were treated for exposures and needed to be D E C O N T A M I N A T ED !…update 7/7/2015 A FB friend a follow up article about ACRLYLONITRILE having been found that contaminated a water well sample 350 feet away from this derailment and people are asked NOT TO DRINK THEIR WELL WATER.
6/26/15 RSOE reports in Waco TX that 14 workers were taken to a hospital upon being exposed to residue of hydrogen cyanide from an oil field tank that was being dismantled at a recycling plant. This on the heels of an intentional attack on an American gas plant in France as a terrorist target makes for all our fossil fuel numerous oil & gas infrastructures near people as yet another risk of Urban Drilling…lovely.
“Fourteen workers were taken to local hospitals as a precaution as firefighters and a hazmat crew worked Thursday to contain and extinguish a fire that was burning inside a storage tank at a recycling center containing the residue of a toxic chemical…The business has been evacuated and Waco Fire is monitoring the air quality around the neighborhood. … a crew there reported a fire inside a steel tank they were cutting into scrap, Swanton said. The tank, similar to one farmers use to spread anhydrous ammonia, had been scrapped from an oil field and was being dismantled, Swanton said. Workers began cutting the tank Wednesday afternoon and noticed some residue inside the tank caught fire and began smoking. The workers left the tank over-night and when they started cutting it with torches again Thursday morning, another fire started. The workers were concerned about the smoke and fumes so they called the fire department, which dispatched a hazmat team, and learned the residue inside the tank was from hydrogen cyanide. …..the area is safe and while residents may smell a strange odor,….. systemic chemical asphyxiant that in significant quantities interferes with the normal use of oxygen by nearly every organ of the body, according to the U.S. Centers For Disease Control website. Exposure to hydrogen cyanide can be rapidly fatal,….. sensitive to low oxygen levels: the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the pulmonary system. Hydrogen cyanide also is a chemical warfare agent.”
I *testified back in 2011 in Arlington TX at the TCEQ State Implementation Plan meeting and reported on a c r y l o n i t r i l e being found in Colorado & New Mexico fracking air studies. I also spoke about the (failed) $1 million dollar air study that Ft Worth did years ago that found a toxic aldehyde that could be used as a biocide, acrolein, in exceedance amounts. The executive summary read…. “For the relatively few sites with multiple, large line compressor engines, the modeling analysis found some areas beyond Fort Worth Natural Gas Air Quality Study Final Report July 13, 2011 xiv the setbacks to have estimated acrolein and formaldehyde concentrations greater than protective health-based screening levels published by TCEQ…”
*My testimony/report… 7/14/2011 TCEQ SIP public hearing 10 am first two speakers….”Ed Ireland presented this morning that the Phase 2 emissions equipment inventory shows that TCEQ has overstated the projected VOC emissions 5 times more than what the seven leaders of drilling in the Barnett Shale say they emit, that DFW traffic emissions are 6 times more than the almost 11,000 Barnett Shale wells emit in the 9 county area. I (Kim Feil being the second speaker) questioned him that this equipment inventory does not account for what the Permit By Rule application also does not require them to report which is emissions from start up (site set up, truck traffic, drilling, fracking and flow back), maintenance (blowdowns for compressor stations), and shut down emissions. Once the wells are in production, then it’s up to the infrared cameras to detect the invisible hydrocarbons. And so counting inventory equipment emissions is understating (currently unregulated or grandfathered in), real emissions to mothers and breathers.
Arlington TX Barnett Shale Blogger 
In attacking ozone should TCEQ go after VOC’s or NOX? North Central Texas Council of Governments Air Quality Steering Committee brought in Dr David Allen from Univ of TX who explained that the (MIR) Maximum Incremental Reactivity scale for ozone from methane is low at .014 compared to xylene at 9.75. In 2007 Toxic risk dot com reported that the GM plant, which is just a mile from here, spewed 85 tons of xylene. TCEQ would do well to limit the xylene at the GM plant, the gas wells at the GM plant, and the numerous gas factories in this nonattainment area.
A new study released Monday from the Global Community Monitor, found 22 toxic chemicals, including four known carcinogens, in air sampled in Colorado and New Mexico near natural-gas production facilities. Acrylonitrile, (used in fracking formulas) was detected in five samples at 3 to 15 times above the EPA long term limit. One family from Garfield County in Colorado that lived about a half-mile from six natural gas rigs had to flee their home after developing rashes and nose bleeds.
Acrylonitrile flow back is highly flammable and toxic. It undergoes explosive polymerization. Haliburton has patents for this chemical to coat the fracking sand. The MSDS says to avoid heat but fracking at these depths cannot escape the intense heat. If you burn this at the evaporation test pilot site at the Arc Park Ft Worth Compressor Station, the burning of this material releases fumes of hydrogen cyanide and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) . The EPA says Acrylonitrile can contribute to the formation of photochemical smog when it reacts with other volatile substances in the air.
Peak summer emissions from Barnett Shale oil and condensate tanks VOC’s increase 375%, methane and carbon dioxide increase at least 250%, and the HAP’s increase almost 1,800%. In the preliminary Ft Worth air study, xylene isomers had the highest HAP’s. Not only is Xylene a HAP, it is an extremely reactive VOC.
So whether you look for your biggest bang in reducing ozone by reducing NOX like acrylonitrile verses VOC’s with high MIR’s like xylene, you cannot control mother nature’s peak summer temperatures, but you can control the exponential emissions by mandating vapor recovery systems.
If I’m not able to speak (again) tonight, I am sending written public comment asking for TCEQ to include in their air testing…formaldehyde, carbon disulfide, glycol (glycol ethers) and acrylonitrile. I will also remind them of the public risk in faulty Effect Screening Levels due to a recent finding of mice being fed an “ EPA safe” dose of bisphenol and the result being a generation of male, obese, feminine, unhealthy-endocrine disrupted mice. Drilling for natural gas near humans makes us like mice in a lab. I have coined the MICE acronym phrase to stand for “Multiple Inputs Cumulative Effects” for which there is no state or federal regulation.“