Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.

By isisinanna
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Environmental & Health Iplications from Sandy: East Coast Poisoned

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 17:07

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

Environmental, Health Implications of Sandy

By Amy Gernon

Hurricane Sandy continues to inflict harm upon Long Island’s waterways, from the introduction of partially treated sewage to oil and gasoline spills.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano says that repairs at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, which was hit with a 9-foot wall of water during Hurricane Sandy, could take between six months and a year. Mangano issued a public health emergency earlier in November when it became apparent the facility could not be immediately reopened due to storm damage. Currently, 65 million gallons of partially treated sewage water is being released in Reynolds Channel, where it ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Bay Park serves 40 percent of Nassau County residents. Since Nov. 1 the plant has been partially treating sewage, 65 million gallons of water daily.

The only alternative to releasing the partially treated sewage would have been to allow it to back up into people’s home, a more direct and immediate public health crisis.

The sewage isn’t completely raw; solids are filtered out, and the water is chlorinated, but some degree of hazardous waste remains in the water, in additional to various other pollutants including gasoline, and heating and car oil that have entered Long Island’s waterways during Hurricane Sandy. Nitrogen released from septic tanks into major waterways could also result in increased algal blooms, which produce toxins harmful to humans and other animals. County officials have not indicated the extent to which the sewage plant will pose environmental impacts.

State health officials have not identified any Hurricane Sandy-related illnesses, but it closely monitoring the area for outbreaks of diarrhea, respiratory issues and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Gov. Cuomo said that there is no way to determine the volume of partially treated and untreated sewage that has been released, and 10 or the state’s 12 sewage treatment plants released some volume of partially treated sewage following Hurricane Sandy. Additionally, the Department of Environmental Conservation received 862 reports for petroleum spills exceeding five gallons in Nassau and Suffolk counties between Oct. 29, and Nov. 4. The DEC continues to receive calls, and is prioritizing its cleanup efforts.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!

Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!

HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.

Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.

MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)

Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!

Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.

Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).

Comments

Online:
Visits:	1,605,335,242
Stories:	8,155,979