This post has some info on Air Monitoring and studies:
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I like data, it's my friend when trying to get down to the crux of the matter.
However, It appears some data is not complete regarding Air Quality here from the EPA:
http://epa.gov/bpspill/air.html#data I am looking at these three links and as I understand it each provides a location, and what was tested in that location. My main concern here was to check out PAH (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene, toulene, xylene, etc) and PM10 (ie. fine particles (PM2.5), are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter; and coarse particles (PM10), are smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter.)
The links:
(Yes you will need a browser plugin to see the first one properly)
I was looking at June 19 data in all of these, as I could see an odd spike in PM10 in location C04 (3rd link), and wanted to know what the levels of PAH tested that day (2nd link)... I found that apparently the PAH testing stopped 1-2 days before and no data was taken for that day, or somehow was left out of the report.
1- unmht://www.epa.gov/http.5/bpspill/reports/mht/c04_pm.mht/ (this ones shows a
Daily Average of PM10 for location C04 or Chalmette 04)
2-
http://epa.gov/bpspi...ling_update.pdf (displays PAH's tested in a location, lets concentrate on C04)
3-
http://epa.gov/bpspi...monitoring2.pdf (Again I was looking at C04 here as well)
Maybe I am looking at the data incorrectly, however anytime data is incomplete (intentional or not), it bugs me.
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Studies and possible accumulation:
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I then look at this Benzene study here and can see that accumulation over time of benzene can happen to workers:
http://www.springerl...a79m1m2rlugek9/Here is another study for toulene:
http://www.springerl...55013847217614/Of course what this stuff do if left unchecked?
In rats it produces Chemical-driven liver damage, here is a study:
http://en.cnki.com.c...WZ200003007.htmBut let's get back to Xylene as it looks to be a match for symptoms mentioned in various videos above. Simply read the abstract is below, and see if it might be a match:
From Study Here:
http://www.informawo...tent=a739171326Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon widely used in industry and medical technology as a solvent. Health and safety authorities in most countries, including Australia, recommend a threshold limit value (TLV) of 100 ppm in the working environment. Recently, the amount of the major metabolite of xylene, methylhippuric acid (MHA), in urine has been recommended as a better indicator of exposure. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has recommended an upper limit for this indicator, called a biological exposure index (BEI), of 2.0 g MHA/L urine (SG 1.016).
Xylene vapour is absorbed rapidly from the lungs, and xylene liquid and vapour are absorbed slowly through the skin. Of the xylene absorbed, about 95% is metabolised in the liver to MHA and 70 to 80% of metabolites are excreted in the urine within 24 hours. However, the many variables which affect the absorption, metabolism and clearance of xylene include exercise, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, co-exposure to other solvents, gender, and gastrointestinal, hepatic and renal pathology.
Xylene in high concentrations acts as a narcotic, inducing neuropsychological and neurophysiological dysfunction. Respiratory tract symptoms are also frequent. More chronic, occupational exposure has been associated with anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, chest pain with ECG abnormalities, dyspnea and cyanosis, in addition to CNS symptoms. Concomitant exposure to xylene and other solvents, including toluene, affected hematological parameters, liver size, liver enzymes, auditory memory, visual abstraction, and vibration threshold in the toes. Normal metabolic pathways were altered and significant increases in some serum bile acids may reflect early liver damage. Skin contact has caused burning, erythema and dermatitis. In experimental studies, xylene at about 100 ppm had a deleterious effect on equilibrium, reaction time and manual coordination in non-adapted subjects. At higher concentrations some neurophysiological parameters were altered, particularly when xylene concentration fluctuated. Exercise and alcohol consumption increased blood xylene levels, but altered the neurophysiological effects of xylene in an inconsistent manner. Two reports associating exposure to solvents, including xylene, and increased risk of carcinoma were inconclusive, as were studies on reproduction.
While animal studies fail to provide convincing evidence that xylene is carcinogenic or has significant genetic or reproductive effects, they do confirm that xylene has effects on many organ systems, including the CNS, liver, kidney, hemopoietic tissues and respiratory tract. However, there are factors which require animal studies to be interpreted cautiously. Differences are suspected between animal species, and between animals and humans, in the metabolism of, and sensitivity to, xylene. Conditions of exposure to xylene in animal experiments and human studies, both occupational and experimental, are also usually very different.
Here is a good website regrding Xylene toxicity:
http://www.jomfp.in/...aulast=Kandyala
Edited by Anthony_Loera, 26 June 2010 - 06:12 PM.