Xylene – Attacks nervous and respiratory system, suspected developmental and reproductive toxin
Over the past three years, community members testing the air with their buckets have consistently detected carcinogens and toxic chemicals. In that time there have been over 100 violations of state and federal screening levels.
The chemicals that we are monitoring for in the Chalmette Air Monitoring Project are the chemicals that we have detected in the buckets as well as using the Cerex Sentry.
A developmental toxin is one that affects a child’s development. Children impacted by chemical exposure can never make up for or recover from damage done during their critical growing years. Pregnant women in particular should not be exposed to these chemicals since it is harmful to the developing fetus. A reproductive toxin is one that adversely affects sexual and reproductive functioning in men or women.
Levels of Concern in parts per billion by volume (ppbv)
Parts per billion by volume tells how many parts of chemical are present in one billion parts of air. "By volume" means that it's in terms of how much space the chemical takes up rather than how much it weighs.
Chemical |
EPA Screening Level |
LA 8-hr Std. |
LA 24-hr Std |
Most Health Protective Screening Level |
Benzene |
0.0401 |
|
3.690 |
0.03692 |
Carbon Disulfide |
230.0003 |
22.500 |
|
0.9474 |
Sulfur Dioxide |
30.0005 |
|
|
4.5426 |
Toluene |
104.0003 |
2320.000 |
|
25.0006 |
Xylene |
165.0003 |
2330.000 |
|
27.1006 |
- U.S. EPA's Integrated Risk Information System:
http://www.epa.gov/iriswebp/iris/index.html
- North Carolina Ambient Air Standards:
http://daq.state.nc.us/Rules/rules/D1101-06.pdf
- U.S. EPA Region 6 Human Health Screening Levels:
http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6pd/rcra_c/pd-n/screenvalues.pdf
- Texas Effects Screening Levels (long-term):
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/tox/Esl2003_136681.pdf
- U.S. EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (annual mean):
http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html
- ATSDR (American Toxic Substance and Disease Registry) Minimal Risk Levels:
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html