benzene
li...@saintmail.net
>While looking for a newsgroup on
>population control, I found your post
>requesting info on benzene.
>Benzene is a carcinogenic that causes
>cancer systemically (anywhere in body),
>it is dangerous to contact in any form.
>It is prevalent anywhere petroleum
>products are manufactured, such as
>leakage into ground water, thereby
>contaminating water supply.
>I have extensive info on this topic
>should you need more.
>Why are you so interested? Does someone you know have cancer and do you
>suspect benzene is the causative agent?
Hello.
Thank you for writing to me, and thank you again for your willingness to
share your extensive info on the topic of Benzene contamination with me.
My online enquiry about Benzene was prompted by someone building a gas
station right next to a primary school building, which houses over one
thousand little schoolchildren.
At first I had only the fear of explosion (of the gas station) which could
injured or killed the schoolchildren studying in a building next door, but
when I was told that gasoline contains Benzene (among other toxic
chemicals), and Benzene has been shown to cause various types of cancers,
like Leukemia and bone marrow abnormalities, my concern regarding the case
where someone building a gas station right next door to a school building
only increases.
Right now, I am trying to gather all types of evidences, from the explosive
properties of gasoline (and cases of actual explosions of gas stations as
references), to toxicological studies of gasoline - and all the chemical
compounds that are found in gasoline - along with all the research data that
have indicated that chemicals like Benzene causes cancers in human bodies.
I am trying to gather all these information so that I can show them to the
PTA of the school, the local council and all the related authorities who
have granted approval for someone (I am still tracking the identity of the
person) building the gas station.
All I know now is the gas station is going to be a Shell gas station, and I
have tried to obtain data from www.shell.com, regarding the chemical make-up
of their gasoline, but so far they have stonewalled me.
My concern is this - the students studying in that school building are
LITTLE KIDS, and they have to spend up to 7 hours in and around that
building _every_ school day, for at least six years of their lives.
Children's body are not as strong as adults, they are more supcetable to all
types of immunological diseases, and if gasoline somehow have negative
effect in human beings, I am worried that some students may come down with
some irrepairable ailment/diseases in the future.
To summarize what I am doing:
I am trying to stop the building of
a gas station which is located right
next to a school building, and I am
trying to gather all the information
which can show the danger of placing
a gas station right next door to a
school building, including the toxic
and carcinogenic effect of chemicals
like Benzene.
Sir, I hope that you can help me, by providing me with whatever information
that you have. The more info I have to backup my claim that gasoline station
isn't a good neighbor to a school, the stronger case I can make.
Would you help me, sir? I'd appreciate any and all help from anyone who
cares.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Lisa
PS. Have A Great Year In 2000 !!
Mark Kinsler
>My online enquiry about Benzene was prompted by someone building a gas
>station right next to a primary school building, which houses over one
>thousand little schoolchildren.
>
>At first I had only the fear of explosion (of the gas station) which could
>injured or killed the schoolchildren studying in a building next door,
Gas stations don't blow up if they're built to Western codes. We heat our
schools here in the USA with natural gas and propane. We power many
school buses with gasoline. The safety record is very good.
>when I was told that gasoline contains Benzene (among other toxic
>chemicals), and Benzene has been shown to cause various types of cancers,
>like Leukemia and bone marrow abnormalities, my concern regarding the case
>where someone building a gas station right next door to a school building
>only increases.
Emissions from gas stations should be controlled by the local
environmental authority, if any. I'm guessing from the header that you're
posting from Malaysia, which has a rotten record of air pollution control.
The air in many parts of Asia will kill the kids before they ever get
close to a gas station.
>Right now, I am trying to gather all types of evidences, from the explosive
>properties of gasoline (and cases of actual explosions of gas stations as
>references), to toxicological studies of gasoline - and all the chemical
>compounds that are found in gasoline - along with all the research data that
>have indicated that chemicals like Benzene causes cancers in human bodies.
Well, I'm pretty sure you'll find that benzene in any concentration is a
fairly potent carcinogen, but I don't think that an independent, unbiased
statistical study will reveal much of a link between casual exposure to
gasoline and cancer. There are, of course, experts who will be glad to
prove anything you wish.
>I am trying to gather all these information so that I can show them to the
>PTA of the school, the local council and all the related authorities who
>have granted approval for someone (I am still tracking the identity of the
>person) building the gas station.
>All I know now is the gas station is going to be a Shell gas station, and I
>have tried to obtain data from www.shell.com, regarding the chemical make-up
>of their gasoline, but so far they have stonewalled me.
Most gasoline is roughly the same in composition. Have a look in the
petrochemical section of your local library and you ought to find out just
about everything you're interested in.
>My concern is this - the students studying in that school building are
>LITTLE KIDS, and they have to spend up to 7 hours in and around that
>building _every_ school day, for at least six years of their lives.
On US school schedules, kids spend about 1/8 of their time in school: 1/4
of the day, for 1/2 of the year. The rest of the time, they ride in cars,
play in yards, climb trees, eat anything that won't eat them first, and
throw things at each other. Most seem to survive the experience.
>Children's body are not as strong as adults, they are more supcetable to all
>types of immunological diseases, and if gasoline somehow have negative
>effect in human beings, I am worried that some students may come down with
>some irrepairable ailment/diseases in the future.
Some will. Happens all the time. But despite what the fringe science
community likes to tell us, there doesn't seem to be much evidence that
many, or even most, cancers are environmentally related. It's a very old
disease and was common before anyone used benzene, tobacco, or any of the
other environmental factors that are fashionable to blame it on.
>To summarize what I am doing:
>
> I am trying to stop the building of
> a gas station which is located right
> next to a school building, and I am
> trying to gather all the information
> which can show the danger of placing
> a gas station right next door to a
> school building, including the toxic
> and carcinogenic effect of chemicals
> like Benzene.
>Sir, I hope that you can help me, by providing me with whatever information
>that you have. The more info I have to backup my claim that gasoline station
>isn't a good neighbor to a school, the stronger case I can make.
>
>Would you help me, sir? I'd appreciate any and all help from anyone who
>cares.
The problem is that, from a rational, scientific standpoint, there's
probably no danger whatsoever to the kids from a gas station near the
school. It's eminently clear that you're either convinced otherwise or
perhaps have other reasons for opposing the construction of that
particular facility.
Mark Kinsler
--
............................................................................
114 Columbia Ave. Athens, Ohio USA 45701 voice740.594.3737 fax740.592.3059
Home of the "How Things Work" engineering program for adults and kids.
See http://www.frognet.net/~kinsler
(Jean Wootton)
> <li...@saintmail.net> wrote:
>
> >My online enquiry about Benzene was prompted by someone building a gas
> >station right next to a primary school building, which houses over one
> >thousand little schoolchildren.
> >
> >At first I had only the fear of explosion (of the gas station) which could
> >injured or killed the schoolchildren studying in a building next door,
>
> Gas stations don't blow up if they're built to Western codes. We heat our
> schools here in the USA with natural gas and propane. We power many
> school buses with gasoline. The safety record is very good.
>
> >when I was told that gasoline contains Benzene (among other toxic
> >chemicals), and Benzene has been shown to cause various types of cancers,
> >like Leukemia and bone marrow abnormalities, my concern regarding the case
> >where someone building a gas station right next door to a school building
> >only increases.
>
> Emissions from gas stations should be controlled by the local
> environmental authority, if any.
They aren't there every day to make sure.
> I'm guessing from the header that you're
> posting from Malaysia, which has a rotten record of air pollution control.
> The air in many parts of Asia will kill the kids before they ever get
> close to a gas station.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
>
>
> >Right now, I am trying to gather all types of evidences, from the explosive
> >properties of gasoline (and cases of actual explosions of gas stations as
> >references), to toxicological studies of gasoline - and all the chemical
> >compounds that are found in gasoline - along with all the research data that
> >have indicated that chemicals like Benzene causes cancers in human bodies.
>
> Well, I'm pretty sure you'll find that benzene in any concentration is a
> fairly potent carcinogen, but I don't think that an independent, unbiased
> statistical study will reveal much of a link between casual exposure to
> gasoline and cancer. There are, of course, experts who will be glad to
> prove anything you wish.
>
> >I am trying to gather all these information so that I can show them to the
> >PTA of the school, the local council and all the related authorities who
> >have granted approval for someone (I am still tracking the identity of the
> >person) building the gas station.
> >All I know now is the gas station is going to be a Shell gas station, and I
> >have tried to obtain data from www.shell.com, regarding the chemical make-up
> >of their gasoline, but so far they have stonewalled me.
>
> Most gasoline is roughly the same in composition. Have a look in the
> petrochemical section of your local library and you ought to find out just
> about everything you're interested in.
Additives vary.
>
>
> >My concern is this - the students studying in that school building are
> >LITTLE KIDS, and they have to spend up to 7 hours in and around that
> >building _every_ school day, for at least six years of their lives.
>
> On US school schedules, kids spend about 1/8 of their time in school: 1/4
> of the day, for 1/2 of the year. The rest of the time, they ride in cars,
> play in yards, climb trees, eat anything that won't eat them first, and
> throw things at each other. Most seem to survive the experience.
I think the poster is as interested in general health as mortality. "Surviving"
and "being healthy" are two different concepts. You can survive but not
healthily.
>
>
> >Children's body are not as strong as adults, they are more supcetable to all
> >types of immunological diseases, and if gasoline somehow have negative
> >effect in human beings, I am worried that some students may come down with
> >some irrepairable ailment/diseases in the future.
>
> Some will. Happens all the time. But despite what the fringe science
> community likes to tell us, there doesn't seem to be much evidence that
> many, or even most, cancers are environmentally related. It's a very old
> disease and was common before anyone used benzene, tobacco, or any of the
> other environmental factors that are fashionable to blame it on.
Perhaps you should browse through MSDS and search on "carcinogenic"
>
>
> >To summarize what I am doing:
> >
> > I am trying to stop the building of
> > a gas station which is located right
> > next to a school building, and I am
> > trying to gather all the information
> > which can show the danger of placing
> > a gas station right next door to a
> > school building, including the toxic
> > and carcinogenic effect of chemicals
> > like Benzene.
>
> >Sir, I hope that you can help me, by providing me with whatever information
> >that you have. The more info I have to backup my claim that gasoline station
> >isn't a good neighbor to a school, the stronger case I can make.
> >
> >Would you help me, sir? I'd appreciate any and all help from anyone who
> >cares.
>
> The problem is that, from a rational, scientific standpoint, there's
> probably no danger whatsoever to the kids from a gas station near the
> school. It's eminently clear that you're either convinced otherwise or
> perhaps have other reasons for opposing the construction of that
> particular facility.
in that particular location..is my interpretation of her post.
>
>
> Mark Kinsler
>
> --
> ............................................................................
> 114 Columbia Ave. Athens, Ohio USA 45701 voice740.594.3737 fax740.592.3059
> Home of the "How Things Work" engineering program for adults and kids.
> See http://www.frognet.net/~kinsler
http://www.esdjournal.com/static/explode/flames.htm
http://www.buffnet.net/~hbenzee/bul.htm
Many "freak" accidents don't hit the news.
You sure are out of touch with reality!
Mark Kinsler
>They aren't there every day to make sure.
Try getting away with a non-compliant facility in western Pennsylvania or
southern California. They're there.
>Additives vary.
Sure, but there aren't any big secrets about them.
>I think the poster is as interested in general health as mortality. "Surviving"
>and "being healthy" are two different concepts. You can survive but not
>healthily.
It's not obvious that the general level of childrens' health is declining
in any way. Certainly not from proximity to gas stations. Unfortunately,
a lot of kids sniff gas fumes for narcotic purposes both in Asia and the
West.
>Perhaps you should browse through MSDS and search on "carcinogenic"
Gas will do you no good if breathed or applied to the skin.
>in that particular location..is my interpretation of her post.
Never assume that commercial interests aren't involved when health or
environmental issues are raised. My favorite was the geothermal power
plant that was opposed by environmentalists in Hawaii. Turns out that
they were growing marijuana up on that mountain.
>http://www.esdjournal.com/static/explode/flames.htm
Sort of a journal of anecdotes. The specific incident didn't hurt anyone
and was not, in fact, attributable to static discharge.
>http://www.buffnet.net/~hbenzee/bul.htm
>
>Many "freak" accidents don't hit the news.
A great conspiracy, no doubt. But safety at fuel facilities has long been
the subject of intensive research and a great deal of hard work by serious
engineers. The result is that it's very hard to get hurt in a gas
station.
>You sure are out of touch with reality!
But I don't learn science and engineering from television exposes and Web
sites. Neither should you.
(Jean Wootton)
> (Jean Wootton) <jwoo...@home.com> wrote:
> >They aren't there every day to make sure.
>
> Try getting away with a non-compliant facility in western Pennsylvania or
> southern California. They're there.
After the fact, if someone reports them or an incident occurs, right?
Must be a reason for these rules
http://www.owlarson.com/atthepum.htm
>
>
> >Additives vary.
>
> Sure, but there aren't any big secrets about them.
MMT? MTBE? captans? hydrocarbons?
perhaps the poster would find answers at
http://www.gascape.org (chemical analysis "at the pump")
>
>
> >I think the poster is as interested in general health as mortality. "Surviving"
> >and "being healthy" are two different concepts. You can survive but not
> >healthily.
>
> It's not obvious that the general level of childrens' health is declining
> in any way. Certainly not from proximity to gas stations.
I have never seen a gas station that close to a school here. If it wasn't the
"holiday season" I'd try to find out local bylaws about this. They certainly have
lots of them about pinball places near schools.
> Unfortunately,
> a lot of kids sniff gas fumes for narcotic purposes both in Asia and the
> West.
>
> >Perhaps you should browse through MSDS and search on "carcinogenic"
>
> Gas will do you no good if breathed or applied to the skin.
And the practice of "rounding up" creates such a situation (breathing). Gas station
attendants (and surrounding areas) are at risk because of this. I did have a
government warning on this...not handy at the moment.
>
>
> >in that particular location..is my interpretation of her post.
>
> Never assume that commercial interests aren't involved when health or
> environmental issues are raised. My favorite was the geothermal power
> plant that was opposed by environmentalists in Hawaii. Turns out that
> they were growing marijuana up on that mountain.
Whatever her true motivation, sounds like it's too late to stop the process.
>
>
> >http://www.esdjournal.com/static/explode/flames.htm
>
> Sort of a journal of anecdotes. The specific incident didn't hurt anyone
> and was not, in fact, attributable to static discharge.
>
> >http://www.buffnet.net/~hbenzee/bul.htm
> >
> >Many "freak" accidents don't hit the news.
>
> A great conspiracy, no doubt. But safety at fuel facilities has long been
> the subject of intensive research and a great deal of hard work by serious
> engineers. The result is that it's very hard to get hurt in a gas
> station.
>
> >You sure are out of touch with reality!
>
> But I don't learn science and engineering from television exposes and Web
> sites. Neither should you.
I don't watch much of that kind of tv. I have seen such incidences on real news over
the years (true, not many). The problems, I believe, surrounded gas pump collars
which have been corrected in North America.
Also my ex-husband found out how explosive gasoline is..and the man who caught fire
(and died) filling his lawn mower a few months ago here paid a high price.
If the poster is from another country as someone suggested, there is no guarantee
that any of the protections that we enjoy would be in place.
The poster, school and parents should be concerned about the following:
1) proper ventilation in the school to minimize carbon monoxide (and other fumes)
collecting in the school ..this includes any fresh air intakes (caused by increased
traffic due to the new gas station).
2) road safety and more crossing guards (due to increased traffic due to said new gas
station)
3) student education and reminders about fire drills (in case a rare freak explosion
should happen)
4) any vegetation/trees on that side of the property will suffer from increased
emissions from the vehicles.
5) Ask for "pay at the pump"? http://www.cse.org/cse/epadraft.htm
6) noise