===== A message from the 'toxicscaucus' discussion list =====

Immediate release: Oct. 30, 2000

Chevron Releases Toxic Hydrogen Sulfide Gass over Burrard Inlet

On Sat., Oct. 28, a plume of hydrogen sulfide and other potentially toxic gases was released from Chevron's Burnaby refinery when an onsite waste water screen failed. Chevron spokesperson Ray Lord said "technicians needed to release the coolant water that contained sulfide compounds in order to keep levels safe in a recondensor column." 

Residents along Burrard Inlet first noticed a strong odour of rotten eggs at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Saturday and notified the GVRD and BC Environment Ministry. The Burnaby Fire Department and GVRD air quality officials subsequently responded to the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) release. 

According to the BC Ministry of Health's Drug and Poison Information Program, H2S is a highly toxic heavier than air gas. It is absorbed via the lungs, and in concentrations as low as 50 parts per million, causes lung irritation and blurred vision. In higher concentrations (500 parts per million) H2S leads to rapid loss of consciousness and death due to asphyxia. 

GVRD Air Quality Officer Silvano Padovan is investigating the release, which he described as a "short lived incident." Padovan is in the early stages of investigating and unable to say how much gas was released, the areas affected, nor the concentrations of H2S involved. Neither the GVRD nor Chevron issued any advisory or warning to residents near the refinery.

Saturday's is the sixth such incident at the Chevron refinery since December 1999. In April tons of silica dust were dumped over residential neighbourhoods, in May 80,000 litres of deadly MTBE diesel additive was spilled, and a few days later an explosion injured at least two workers.
The string of accidents prompted Environment Minister Joan Sawicki to call for a special environmental review of the Chevron refinery. The review, however, has yet to begin.

Information: David Cadman (604) 736-7732, (604) 318-0001

SPEC Society Promoting Environmental Conservation
2150 Maple Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 3T3
phone (604) 736-SPEC, FAX (604) 736-7115
e-mail, enviro@spec.bc.ca
web, www.spec.bc.ca

Translate this page automatically.