Typical Levels of Contamination and Onset
Contamination levels in industrial settings vary based on the type of industry, materials handled, and safety protocols in place. For instance, in areas near industrial facilities, toxic gas concentrations can reach levels significantly higher than safe limits. Here are some examples of where contamination escalated quickly.
A study in southeastern Louisiana found ethylene oxide levels up to 40 parts per billion, exceeding the safe limit of 11 parts per trillion by over a thousand times.
The onset of contamination can be rapid, especially in facilities handling hazardous materials without adequate controls. For example, at AGL’s Torrens Island plant, workers experienced lead poisoning due to exposure to lead levels 15,000 times higher than U.S. EPA standards.
This exposure occurred over an 18-month period, highlighting how quickly contamination can reach dangerous levels.
A battery recycling plant in southeast Los Angeles County emitted toxic metal dust over decades, contaminating as many as 10,000 homes in nearby communities. Lead, a potent neurotoxin, was found in the soil of residential areas.
Lawsuits Associated With Industrial Contamination & Health Effects
The Exide Technologies battery recycling plant in Vernon, California, emitted toxic metal dust over decades, contaminating nearby communities with lead and arsenic. In 2015, Exide agreed to close the facility and pay $50 million for cleanup efforts, including residential properties.
The state of California allocated additional funds to address the extensive contamination.
General Electric (GE) used PCBs in manufacturing at its Pittsfield plant, leading to contamination of the Housatonic River and surrounding areas. In 2000, GE reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agreeing to a $250 million cleanup of the river and affected properties.
A former wood treatment facility in Houston’s Fifth Ward used creosote, leading to soil and groundwater contamination. Residents filed lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad, alleging the company failed to adequately address the contamination, which they claim caused health issues.
The litigation is ongoing, with plaintiffs seeking damages and comprehensive cleanup.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination has led to legal actions across Europe. In Belgium, residents near a 3M plant filed lawsuits alleging the company polluted the environment with PFAS, leading to health risks.
3M agreed to a settlement involving compensation and cleanup efforts.
These lawsuits and many others make clear that controlling contamination in industrial facilities is crucial. Productivity is affected, too, which we’ll detail below. But even beyond that, there are enormous financial and reputation risks to allowing harmful materials to go unchecked.t
Effects on Workers and Productivity
Lead Poisoning:
Imagine clocking in for a day’s work and unknowingly sharing your space with one of history’s deadliest foes: lead. This metal, often a byproduct in battery recycling plants, doesn’t announce its presence with bells and whistles.
Instead, it infiltrates workers’ systems through inhalation or ingestion, causing a cascade of health issues. Symptoms can range from fatigue and abdominal pain to cognitive decline, with long-term exposure linked to severe neurological disorders and kidney damage.
Case in Point: At AGL’s Torrens Island power station, lead levels soared 15,000 times above acceptable limits, leading to acute health issues among workers, including memory loss and high blood pressure.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):
Nicknamed “forever chemicals,” workers exposed to PFAS through water, air, or contact often face a cocktail of health risks: cancers, liver damage, immune system suppression, and hormonal disruption.
It’s an insidious villain, building up in the body over years without any immediate symptoms, only to unleash havoc later.
Duration of Decontamination Processes
Advanced decontamination technologies can expedite the process, enabling facilities to restart operations faster and minimize downtime.
Electrostatic cleaning, for instance, allows for rapid and thorough disinfection of large areas. It has an equally quick dissipation time, meaning no one has to stay out of the area for long before it’s safe to breathe again.
Here are some general estimates for what you might call a typical sized facility.
We’d recommend a preparation phase before getting into the meat of the decontamination. This likely wouldn’t be more than a day or two, but you’d be doing things like:
- Thoroughly evaluating the facility with a professional and creating the decontamination plan.
- Organizing the facility into different zones, and preparing the needed equipment so everything is in place.
Performing the decontamination:
- Physical scrubbing, running vacuum systems, and even applying chemical agents to neutralize hazardous substances.
- Advanced filtration and preparation for disposal of hazardous materials.
- This phase can last 3 to 7 days.
Afterward:
- Disposal of contaminated materials.
- Giving machinery and walkways a final wipe down, clean, etc. to return to duty.
- Double checking all equipment is safe for use and ready to resume operation.
- Typically a day or two.