After a refinery in Delaware City experienced a mechanical failure last week that resulted in the emission of sulfur dioxide, raising the chemical’s concentrations in the air above the permitted limit, locals are worried about the quality of their air.
Residents are nonetheless worried about the air they are inhaling even though officials claim that the amount of sulfur dioxide in the air is not dangerous to their health.
“I kind of want to get out of here,” Amira Sandiford, a Delaware City resident stated. “It’s a quaint, quiet town, but they have a lot going on lately, and it’s not safe for us. Air pollution and just living by it. I’m sure it’s affecting others.”
Although Sandiford claims she has not felt any symptoms from the leak, Dr. Jane Clougherty, an environmental and occupational health professor at Drexel University, stated that people may still be affected by the sulfur dioxide, particularly if they reside downwind from the refinery.
“Certainly those individuals with COPD, severe asthma, children, the elderly, may want to be a little bit cautious for those days,” she stated.
Delaware City Councilmember Kevin Caneco of New Castle stated residents are complaining to him that they cough a lot and smell gas.
In addition to saying that this is not the first time this has happened, he wants greater action taken over the leak.
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“We know it can be irritable to people’s lungs. We know it can put people in danger, and that’s why they put out this release and this is not an isolated incident,” Caneco stated. “This keeps happening. The refinery needs to get it right and we are calling on DNREC to make those corrections and be strong regulators to ensure this doesn’t keep happening.”
According to the state environmental team, it will take a few days to shut down the refinery until the problem is resolved, and during that time, there is a greater chance that more sulfur dioxide will be discharged into the atmosphere.
Additionally, officials promised to look into the matter and, if necessary, penalize the facility.
