Toxic emissions in Palm Beach County (houses, live, zip code)

[bocamom]

A recent post that claimed that palm beach county had among the lowest toxic air emissions in the country led me to do a little research. Since I have been studying Atrazine for years, I knew we have some of the most serious Atrazine pollution problems in the world here in Palm Beach County and I wanted to see where we really rank.

As it turns out Palm Beach County is rated in the worst 10% for toxic air emissions NOT the best.

Just sayin. . .

You can use this link and enter your zip code for more information:

Scorecard Home

[bocamom]

water quality: PALM BEACH County: Clean Water Act Status Report

[bocamom]

air quality: Pollution Locator: Smog and Particulates: County Report

[bocamom]

carcinogenic releases: Environmental Releases for PALM BEACH County

[bocamom]

the aforementioned chemicals: Major Pollutants

[TriMT7]

On the upside:

Air Quality Index rating for Palm Beach County:

Number of days where the EPA ranked the air in PBC as "unhealthy" since 2000 - 2007: 0

Air Quality Index:
Percentage of days with good air quality: 93
Percentage of days with moderate air quality: 7
Percentage of days with unhealthful air quality for sensitive populations: 0
Percentage of days with unhealthful air quality: 0
Maximum AQI level in 2003 83
Median AQI level in 2003 33


PBC is part of a major metro area. If a pollution free existence is sought, somewhere in Montana may have to be researched!

[bocamom]

There is no such thing as a pollution free existence anymore.

Not in Montana, not on Easter Island, and not in the Arctic.

However, what I offered was a showing by PBC in the highest 10% of the country. That would indicate that at least 90% of the country is considered less polluted than PBC on that scale, not just Montana.

Many people who come here seem to be looking for information about an area. I think this sort of information is certainly relevant and should not be marginalized.

[rainroosty]

Imagine if somebody asked if they could come into your home and then they sit there and tell you how it smells......

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by bocamom

There is no such thing as a pollution free existence anymore.

Not in Montana, not on Easter Island, and not in the Arctic.

However, what I offered was a showing by PBC in the highest 10% of the country. That would indicate that at least 90% of the country is considered less polluted than PBC on that scale, not just Montana.

Many people who come here seem to be looking for information about an area. I think this sort of information is certainly relevant and should not be marginalized.

The problem is, to the casual observer who does not spend a lot of time analyzing facts and data, your statistics are misleading (and old, being from 2002).

For example, "releases" into the air, while being among the top 10%, does not automatically equate to bad ambient air quality, due to geography. Certain cities, for example, are victims of bad air because they are in valleys (LA, Denver). That is why it then gives an "exposure risk" for the criteria air pollutants.

As for toxic sites in the county:

Lead Hazards
0 percent of houses in PALM BEACH County have a high risk of lead hazards.


Worst Toxic Waste Sites (Superfund Sites)
In 2004, this county ranked among the cleanest/best 10% of all counties in the U.S. in terms of the number of designated Superfund sites.


Water quality has always been a problem in the area, due to the huge agricultural presence out West. But, I don't drink tap water ANYWHERE in the country!

[Native51]

I think our air quality takes a nose dive when they burn the cane fields every fall/winter. Can't think of any other major industrial polluters within the county, other than the FPL plant in Riviera. Feel sorry for the folks that live downwind....