The city wants to monitor air quality and measure cancer-causing emissions near two petrochemical plants, one of which announced plans for expansion last year.
A grant totaling close to half a million dollars from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will help the city of Houston monitor air pollutants including 1,3-butadiene in neighborhoods at high risk for poor air quality.
As Ysabella Kempe explains in Smart Cities Dive, “Exposure to this air pollutant, which smells like gasoline, can cause cancer and trigger short-term health impacts including eye and throat irritation, headaches and nausea.”
According to Loren Hopkins, the Houston Health Department’s chief environmental science officer, “This air monitoring effort was born out of concerns about ‘amazingly high concentrations’ of 1,3-butadiene the city detected near two adjacent chemical plants.” One of the plants, Texas Petrochemical, announced expansion plans in 2022 in spite of community concerns.
“Much of the grant funding will go toward the ‘very expensive’ equipment and sampling needed to monitor air quality, but the city also will use it to pay community partners helping with the project, Hopkins said.” The city also plans to monitor benzene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide.
FULL STORY: ‘Amazingly high’ air pollution near Houston chemical plants gets EPA monitoring support
Under Pressure, EPA Tightens Soot Standard
In what could be viewed as a classic environmentalist vs. business showdown, the EPA tightened by 20% the annual standard for soot over the objection of industry and some in Congress who fear it will dampen economic growth.
Wildfire Smoke Takes Toll on Bike Commuters
How can people on bikes protect their lungs from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke?
Hudson Valley City Bans Fossil Fuels in New Construction
Beacon will require all-electric appliances in new buildings starting next year.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
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