A Sarnia petrochemical company issued a notice Monday “as a proactive precaution” about benzene emissions detected at its plant, already ordered by Ontario’s environment ministry to suspend production operations.
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In a post to the Sarnia-Lambton Alerts system, Ineos Styrolution said hourly benzene emissions at its site have been detected above 0.021 parts-per million.
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“This notification is preemptive, and no adverse effects are anticipated with these elevated readings,” the notice said. “No community action is required.”
Last week, the province ordered the company to suspend production after high benzene emissions, first flagged by a neighboring First Nation, were detected. The Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which is surrounded by industrial sites in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley string of petrochemical plants and monitors air quality readings, had said citizens fell ill and there were high emissions of the cancer-causing substance.
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The company said last week that its own monitors didn’t detect any emissions outside prescribed limits, but that it temporarily shut down to perform maintenance and address a mechanical issue.
Ineos said Monday the monitoring data is being verified and the source or sources of elevated emissions investigated.
“Emissions reduction efforts will be identified and implemented if there is an abnormal operating condition at the site,” the company said.
“Ineos Styrolution is not the only source of benzene in the area,” it said.
Benzene, a natural component of petroleum, is used to make polystyrene. It is highly toxic, a known carcinogen and exposure to it can cause leukemia.
On May 1, the ministry said it was suspending Ineos Styrolution’s environmental compliance approval amid continuing high benzene levels despite previous provincial orders for corrective action.
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The suspension keeps the already temporarily-closed plant idle until it removes all benzene storage, repairs leaky equipment, installs vapor control measures and comes up with a comprehensive benzene monitoring and community notification plan, the ministry said.
In a statement late Friday, the company said it was considering an appeal of the suspension order, which it said has a “timetable for actions (that) is simply unrealistic.”
Monday, in a community notice, Aamjiwnaang First Nation said its offices and other buildings on Tashmoo Avenue will be closed through Tuesday, with its staff working from home, because of a “high” benzene levels at two air monitoring stations in the area.
That follows an Sunday by Aamjiwnaang that the baseball diamond, playground announcement and church at the location were closed because of “high readings” at one of the monitors.
The First Nation, which raised the alarm in April about elevated benzene readings in the area, on Friday issued a “notice of violation” to a chemical company in Sarnia and Ontario’s Environment Ministry.
- With files by Tyler Kula, Sarnia Observer
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