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I've heard there are chemicle plants around Charleston, are they still functioning, Monsanto etc? How's the air quality?? what areas should I avoid, Nitro, i guess--
All the way from Marmet, through Charleston, South Charleston, Dunbar, Nitro, St. Albans, it's just one big chemical mess. I would think that the top 2companies are Union Carbide and DuPont, many other smaller ones. I left there 20 years ago, and hate to even go back to visit family. I don't know about the air quality but I'm sure it can't be too good. I hate to put Charleston down because I grew up there and still have a lot of fond memories, but I just can't imagine moving back there.
I assume it's the air quality, but every time i drive through Charleston I nearly pass out at the wheel. Once i get 5-10 miles past it i'm fine.
Quit holding your breath (Sorry, couldn't resist it).
If people have a hard time breathing in Charleston, they better stay away from other cities........
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowedreports:
Air quality in Charleston Metro Area, WV is 41 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Nitro, WV is 30 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
For comparison:
Air quality in Winston-Salem, NC is 33 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in New York, NY is 12 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Charlotte, NC is 17 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Phoenix, AZ is 1 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Cleveland, OH is 8 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Pittsburgh, PA is 11 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Denver, CO is 21 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Warren, OH is 34 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality is based on ozone alert days and number of pollutants in the air, as reported by the EPA.
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
As to a couple rural places in WV:
Air quality in Buckhannon, WV is 84 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Davis, WV is 96 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Quit holding your breath (Sorry, couldn't resist it).
If people have a hard time breathing in Charleston, they better stay away from other cities........
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowedreports:
Air quality in Charleston Metro Area, WV is 41 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Nitro, WV is 30 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
For comparison:
Air quality in Winston-Salem, NC is 33 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in New York, NY is 12 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Charlotte, NC is 17 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Phoenix, AZ is 1 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Cleveland, OH is 8 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Pittsburgh, PA is 11 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Denver, CO is 21 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Warren, OH is 34 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality is based on ozone alert days and number of pollutants in the air, as reported by the EPA.
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
As to a couple rural places in WV:
Air quality in Buckhannon, WV is 84 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
Air quality in Davis, WV is 96 on a scale to 100 (higher is better).
I'm confused. Is that for the Charleston Metro Area, which includes a whole lot of area that isn't really near Charleston, or the City of Charleston itself? I know it is better than it used to be because some of the chemical plants have closed, but I remember when I was much younger driving in from the north with others in my car and thinking someone had let go of some gas, the sulfur smell was so strong.
Actually, while it's not exactly "chemical free", Charleston's air quality is at least much improved compared to years ago before a lot of the newer clean air laws came into effect.
I was born in the mid-1960s in Charleston, and my parents told me that when they brought be home from the hospital, the cars that morning had a thin layer of "powder" on them from "fallout" via the plants. At that time, this was apparently a common occurrence. In the early or mid 1980s, there was some tv documentary show which I think was called "Cancer Valley USA" about the Kanawha Valley, which discussed the issues and interviewed residents. Apparently at that time (and earlier), the Kanawha Valley had a disproportionate percentage of people with Cancers than many other areas in the U.S.
I believe since those days with again, the new laws, things have cleaned up a good bit. At least my relatives who still live in the area say things seem better than they did years ago.
I'm guessing you still get that "rotten egg meets fart" smell when you cross the Nitro bridge, though. http://bestsmileys.com/sick/9.gif (broken link)
Union Carbide is no longer around. It's Dow Chemical and Bayer that took those top spots, and DuPont is still over in Belle. There is also FMC, and the South Charleston Industrial Park, and some other companies. Charleston's air quality has greatly improved over the years.
Back in the 60s, I believe Charleston and Weirton had perhaps
the worst air in the Nation. It is much improved today, I agree.
Unfortunately, part of the reason for that improvement was the
result of industrial relocation, part of the trade off of middle class
for clean air. Which is better? I guess it all depends on your
point of view. Personally, I'd take the jobs back in a minute.
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(Sorry, couldn't resist it).
