Environmental Training Institute ETI Environmental Hazard Awareness Introduction

Environmental Training Institute (ETI) Environmental Hazard Awareness: Introduction

Lesson Objectives • Review an environmental contamination event • Define terminology

Environmental Release BP Texas City refinery – March 23, 2005 – A series of fires and explosions at the refinery – Involved the startup of a unit used to refine gasoline. – Community: Shelter in Place – Violations of Clean Air Act requirements – Settled at $170 million Why was the company fined?

What do we need to know? • Hazards • Contaminants

Definition • Hazard – An actual or potential condition that could result in: • • Illness Injury Death Environmental Contamination

Definition • Contaminant – Substance in an unwanted place or condition

Texas City: Hazards/Contaminants • BP Texas City refinery – Benzene – Asbestos – Hydrochlorofluorocarbons

Texas City: Hazards/Contaminants • BP Texas City refinery – Benzene • Hazardous air pollutant • Short-term: sleepiness, dizziness, headaches, irritation or unconsciousness • Long term: blood disorders, reproductive effects, and cancer – Asbestos – Hydrochlorofluorocarbons

Texas City: Hazards/Contaminants • BP Texas City refinery – Benzene – Asbestos • Asbestosis • Lung cancer • Mesothelioma – Hydrochlorofluorocarbons

Texas City: Hazards/Contaminants • BP Texas City refinery – Benzene – Asbestos – Hydrochlorofluorocarbons • Ozone depleter • Ultraviolet radiation • Harm to plants and marine ecosystems

Are all exposures to contaminants harmful?

Definition • Exposure Levels/Dosage • Routes of exposure – Public – Environment

Definition • Dosage – A level of exposure to a material • Routes of exposure – Public – Environment

Definition • Dosage • Routes of exposure – Public • • • Inhalation Ingestion Dermal Injection Ocular – Environment

Definition • Routes of exposure – Public – Environment • Soil • Air • Water

Texas City: Routes of Exposure • Routes of Exposure – Benzene – Asbestos – Hydrochlorofluorocarbons

Definition • Environmental Controls – Systems used to maintain safe levels of environmental releases. • Examples: – Elimination/Substitution – Classification – Monitoring – Permits – Control Technologies

Definition • Environmental release – Air – Water – Land

Contaminants

Lesson Objectives • Reviewed an environmental contamination event • Defined terminology