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State to probe benzene emissions in Clinton

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By Dave Vickers | Saturday, August 09, 2008 |

CLINTON, Iowa— At the request of some Clinton residents, the Iowa Department of Public Health studied the benzene emissions from a storage tank in south Clinton. That tank is located near South 3rd Street and 16th Avenue South.

In the report issued by the agency, investigators found there were minimal amounts of benzene in the air during loading and unloading of the tank, and no amounts measured at other times with the equipment used by Equistar, the tank owner.

The agency concluded “the modeling completed by Equistar indicates that average concentrations of benzene in the air in the vicinity of the tanks would be below levels expected to produce adverse health effects, including cancer effects.”

A calculation was also made of long-term exposure levels from the measured short term exposure to benzene concentrations. These estimated long-term exposure levels are below levels expected to produce adverse health effects, including cancer effects.

The Iowa Department of Public Health recommends further long-term monitoring with more sensitive equipment by Equistar.

The health agency will present the findings of the report at a public meeting Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Clinton Public Library.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.