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STDMachine OP t1_j8mgqyl wrote

Notable mention from article about why this could easily reach us:

That downwind location is why Maine is often referred to as “the tailpipe of the nation,” according to Jeff Crawford, director of the Maine Bureau of Air Quality.

“Maine, because of its geographic location, is at the downwind terminus of the northeast corridor,” Crawford said. “It is especially impacted by transported emissions from states and regions to our south.”

“If we monitored elevated levels of vinyl chloride last week, these levels would most certainly be detected by our analytical lab,” Crawford said. “With respect to specific health concerns or impacts from vinyl chloride, the [Maine Department of Environmental Protection] always defers to the Maine Center for Disease Control.”

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lucianbelew t1_j8mwr5x wrote

> If we monitored elevated levels of vinyl chloride last week

Weird that we don't dig into why this is an 'if' and not a 'because we monitored, we saw' here.

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efshoemaker t1_j8n1vvn wrote

They did collect samples. They do that every 6 days year round per the article. But the samples take a few weeks to analyze.

So the quote is saying that if levels were elevated then it will show up in the monitoring samples from last week, but they won’t get the analysis results of those samples back until March.

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geneticswag t1_j8n69yb wrote

weird it takes weeks when there's probably tens of millions of dollars worth of spectroscopy equipment here between all the labs and pharma co's

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vikingenvy t1_j8nc19j wrote

It’s a little more complicated than just pressing a button on a random GCMS at Idexx.

Source: science education

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geneticswag t1_j8ncf41 wrote

I've been out of the lab for a decade now - I just know words that can get me into trouble ;)

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vikingenvy t1_j8nert7 wrote

Lol. Don’t tell me you were basing the decision of Maine’s armed response to Ohio on an unvalidated test method.

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geneticswag t1_j8nfkk3 wrote

more just suggesting we have a ton of equipment around to support running spectroscopy assays if it turned out that spectrophotometers and personnel were driving up the result times is all

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k_mainer t1_j8pgbem wrote

But not within 24 to 48 hours which is when we would have expected to see results from Ohio contamination.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8nhqx5 wrote

Probably because vinyl chloride isn't a constant issue to be on the lookout for.

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Sufficient_Risk1684 t1_j8mybqi wrote

I think it's just processing lag. Probably take sample but process lags, as that is not something that is usually looked for.

And frankly the amount of burned chemical is miniscule compared to the atmospheric dilution. I'm going with this event outside the immediate area is environmentally irrelevant.

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ghostsintherafters t1_j8n0oom wrote

Oh, thank god you've determined that. Ok. Nothing to see here! This guy says it's irrelevant

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Sufficient_Risk1684 t1_j8n2y7z wrote

A rail car tank holds maybe 6,000 cubic feet. Vaporize that in a single cubic mile of air and you are already diluted to 1 part per 25 million.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j8oqhft wrote

Welp, here is what the burn looked like from a passing airliner: https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/112ptb9/passenger_photo_while_plane_flew_near_east/

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ripbingers t1_j8n2b9e wrote

That's baseless speculation. Nothing in your response addresses the fate and transport of this specific pollutant or the as yet publicly unknown chemicals that were also onboard.

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

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Sufficient_Risk1684 t1_j8n4ou0 wrote

Mmm sure. Except its simple math. Air mixes rapidly. The volume of the rail cars is known. Water quality hazard in the area and downstream? Definitely. Local air quality hazard sure. 1000 miles away after atmospheric mixing? Parts per billion. Or less.

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HowLittleIKnow t1_j8nsxgn wrote

Has anyone ever actually heard Maine referred to as "the tailpipe of the nation"?

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sweetest-heart t1_j8oest0 wrote

Surprisingly yes, but it was more in the context of coal emissions from the Midwest/Appalachia and Maine having the third highest rate of asthma in the country behind Hawaii and Massachusetts (surprising based on how rural we are comparatively)

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IamSauerKraut t1_j8oq5ob wrote

All those summer time ozone warnings... plus, for those of us familiar with Mt. Washington, everything atmospheric swings on by up there.

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gretchens t1_j8pog8d wrote

Yes- especially in the 80s with acid rain worries.

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CombinationSea6976 t1_j8olm99 wrote

Never. Sounds like a pejorative term just like certain municipalities have been dubbed “the asshole of New England”.

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[deleted] t1_j8rdqji wrote

[deleted]

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STDMachine OP t1_j8rfa6p wrote

Not fear mongering lmao, I selected that one block of text because it explained why/how this could potentially reach us and that the event is actually relevant to us.

Because my initial thought when reading about this event over a week ago was "luckily that can't reach us it's so far away" (and I bet a lot of people had that same thought).

But looks like I was wrong and it is definitely possible to reach us and that block explains how it can reach us.

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jpmuldoon t1_j8ml8lk wrote

"It could be March before environmental officials here know if any of the deadly chemicals from last week’s train derailment in Ohio reached Maine. But even if they did end up here, it is likely in amounts too small to present a health hazard."

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STDMachine OP t1_j8mo3l6 wrote

Yeah March until they know the results. I want to know where the opinion on whether it is likely too small amounts comes from though, I doubt the author is qualified to make that assumption. But would love for it to be true, just would prefer to see some sources or something.

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ppitm t1_j8mqyia wrote

Just look at the air testing data from the actual crash site. Concentrations of the most hazardous chemicals there fell to the non-detectable level almost immediately.

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STDMachine OP t1_j8mw6g8 wrote

That is great to hear! My only concern is a lot of these ecological disasters are covered up as much as possible for as long as possible but are always worse than what they initially claim.

But I'll be very happy if it doesn't reach Maine in any substantial / harmful amounts!

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fire__ant t1_j8n60su wrote

Is everyone forgetting about 9/11? They deemed it “safe” for emergency responders to go into the wreckage. Thousands have developed cancer and other illnesses.

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mymaineaccount46 t1_j8n6vg8 wrote

Even if it's worse than expected we are so far away. This is going to be bad for the immediate area, but all the way up here any impact seems incredibly unlikely.

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WalkerBRiley t1_j8o2f5y wrote

Research how far winds carried dust during the Dust Bowl and get back to us.

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mymaineaccount46 t1_j8olkr2 wrote

The amount of particulate from the dust bowl is on a completely different scale to a train derailment. People are making this about themselves when the actual risk to anyone not in the area of the disaster is likely to be vanishingly small. If you want to worry about this feel for the poor people in the watershed or around where it happened. Don't panic for yourself some 700 miles away

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MosskeepForest t1_j8oxudt wrote

I'm sure whatever the government finds, that it will be extremely honest and upfront with information. /s

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AssumptionLivid6879 t1_j8mrml5 wrote

Woah woah woah woah woah!!!

Don’t worry about this, didn’t you hear that there are ‘Chinese’ weather balloons????

The air is fine, you should be clicking articles about the balloons not this pesky tiny risk to rail safety and EPA regulations

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warblebird t1_j8nnl4q wrote

I wonder if the mysterious foul order reported in central Maine had anything to do with this.

The control burn happened on Feb 6 and the reported foul order was on Feb 10, so the timeline would make sense...

Here's the article about the mysterious smell: https://fox23maine.com/news/local/bizarre-augusta-area-residents-baffled-foul-smell-reported-10-communities-maine-kennebec-river-oakland-waterville-richmond

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K8nK9s t1_j8vyae8 wrote

That stench was all the way up to Bucksport

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IamSauerKraut t1_j8mwnum wrote

Readings are taken only every 6 days, with the last being Feb 11? Crash occurred Feb 3. Means 1 round of tests 2 days after crash? Something might show up.

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k_mainer t1_j8pgyed wrote

Exactly. They said we would expect to receive contamination between 24 and 48 hours. By Feb 11 that ship has sailed and left behind?? Maybe they can extrapolate the decomposition of the initial dose over time and work backwards to figure it out.

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WorldWideDarts t1_j8oh7oc wrote

I talked to my Mom last night. She's in Maine and pretty much will only watch NBC Nightly News. I asked her if she heard of this. Nope! She had no idea. Anyone have any speculation as to why this is practically not talked about by the media? I find it bizarre and a bit scary as I'm about 10 hours downwind to this thing. It also might be my imagination but I've practically had no birds at my feeders for the past two days. WTH!

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IamSauerKraut t1_j8oqrrq wrote

It was on with Lester Holt for a few consecutive days at least.

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MosskeepForest t1_j8oyaiu wrote

Why would capitalism advertise its own failings?

This accident happened because of a large company cutting back safety measures to save a buck. Combined with the state using its power to crush union workers who wanted more safety measures in place....

So it's capitalism and corrupt government working together that created a disaster.... and you expect them to use their "news" channels to advertise this???

Officially, bad things only happen under other systems. Under capitalism everything is an "oopsy" and not that big of a deal.

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j8p8f0n wrote

It's either the Ohio train derailment or the Chinese spy balloons and whatever the fuck other flying objects they've been shooting down like it's IRL Duck Hunt.

I don't think I need to explain which news story takes priority and I don't think I need to explain why it takes priority.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8nhmk6 wrote

If you want to panic and freak out, by all means panic and freak out.

However, be an adult about it and stop demanding that the people who don't want to panic and freak out, well, panic and freak out.

Yes the government says it's safe when it's not. Are you going to put on your scuba gear for the next month? No? Then relax. It's ok to not get upset about literally everything that stress is going to kill you.

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WalkerBRiley t1_j8o4nxn wrote

Odd, I don't see anyone here demanding you freak out about it. Nor was anything in the article demanding it, either. Mayhaps you need to come down off that horse for a bit and mingle with the rest of us. You might be getting elevated levels of vinyl chloride up there.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j8oqxo3 wrote

"mayhaps"

Now there is a Maine phrase if ever there was.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8o9zbx wrote

Thats your opinion. Just because it's different than mine doesn't mean you're right. Try to avoid being condescending Just because we aren't face to face.

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j8p8khz wrote

And just because your opinion is different from mine doesn't mean you're right, either. Goes both ways, budster.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8pk76q wrote

Yes I agree that's how opinions work. Are you going to respond to mine or what

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j8plmbk wrote

I'm not any under obligation to, but sure, I'll respond to yours.

Like WalkerBRiley said, no one's demanding we freak out--the article literally states that if the impacts did hit here then it would be low-hazard. At best, however, we should be concerned. This is a serious event with very serious consequences and anyone who isn't at the very least concerned about it...well, I worry for 'em.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8qzrcd wrote

You're right you're not obligated to respond to my opinion but I have to ask, if you weren't going to respond to my opinion why are you responding at all

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j8r08m7 wrote

I was actually planning to respond with my own opinion before I read the entire conversation and decided to respond to the further stupidity presented instead.

Just because I respond to someone's comment calling out their stupidity doesn't mean I need to state my opinion on the issue the post is talking about. It's possible and it's allowed to do both.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8r2so1 wrote

And what is this "stupidity" that's more important to you than what we are actually talking about?

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j8r8gx9 wrote

Jumping the gun and accusing Walker of being condescending on the sole basis that you two aren't talking in-person.

For someone who doesn't want to talk about this and wants to talk about what the post is actually about...you seem to be exercising the opposite of that pretty damn hard.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8r9851 wrote

Well he told me to come down off my high horse without asking what I meant. Thats pretty condescending in my opinion.

Something I said has convinced you that you need to tell me that my opinion isn't fact. As if I don't understand that. Which is also rude.

So maybe you two can get together about assuming other people's thoughts and completely disregard asking questions to clarify.

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j8ruz16 wrote

Didn't seem like you understood that your opinion isn't fact at first. That's why I pointed it out to you.

You're the one that posted a stupid comment about the story. We're under no obligation to answer, but we both did anyway, just in different areas. I, at least, have learned that you can't really argue with stupid, but you can call it out.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8sa4p2 wrote

You're assuming I'm an idiot and then calling me an idiot. You'll die on that hill too I bet. That's why I don't continue giving you my opinion on this subject because clearly you're not here in good faith. So if you're done being a miserable rude person I think we can end this?

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j8sapxd wrote

ASSumptions make an ASS out of you. They do not, however, make an ASS out of me because I'm not the one assuming weird shit and getting defensive over what I say. You can't really assume something that's the truth.

It is 56 degrees outside. Go touch grass instead of being so protective over what you say on the Internet and continuing to butt heads with me. Breathe in the fresh air. Take it aaaaaaall in.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8sbeap wrote

I've only been addressing how you've been responding to me. You're not listening because you haven't learned how too yet. You're probably sub 30 years old and wondering why everyone else isn't as smart as you.

If you weren't such a jerk you'd have better things to do right now

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j8tbc1a wrote

Oh I'm listening. I'm laughing at how much of a fool you're making yourself out to be right now, and listening.

Keep making ASSumptions and keep making an ASS out of yourself while you scrabble to have the last word.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8tbpy3 wrote

Why are you just repeating what I'm saying but more rudely?

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acister t1_j8od0vb wrote

This seems deeply insecure. People need to freak out more but know how to direct their anger. Norfolk Southern spent a shit ton to lobby to repeal brake regulations and they overwork their workers.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8og6h1 wrote

You think it's deeply insecure because you're projecting. You see what you look for.

I'm addressing the individuals reacting to the air quality of Maine, not the disaster itself.

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acister t1_j8oh2h2 wrote

I'm not projecting, and I'm personally not freaking out. I let it sink in a long time ago we're screwed. However for a lot of others, it's becoming clear we are existentially threatened right now by climate change and infrastructure breaking down because of a horrible system that makes money on both climate change and having shitty infrastructure. I think if more people freaked out 30 years, we'd be in better shape.

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8ohjbn wrote

Thats your opinion though. And mine is contrary. I've got better things to do than care about things I can't change

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acister t1_j8oi508 wrote

I live my life too and enjoy it as much as I can as next as the fellow human. I walk my dog and enjoy good food and company of friends and family. I'm not at home doom scrolling 24/7. But ignoring facts is really not going to do you much good. I wish you luck with the better things you have to do. I hope you continue to have the privilege to do them

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Fun-Gap4015 t1_j8pk3we wrote

I'm not denying climate change I'm also not really worrying about it. I can recycle and acknowledge the need to improve our lives without losing sleep over it

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[deleted] t1_j8mtvc1 wrote

The leadership from the Feds is amazing on this issue. This isn't Trumps DC anymore, its real leadership.

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FolsomPrisonHues t1_j8nc1fg wrote

Trump DID reverse an Obama Era regulation on new brake systems. Just like he got rid of our pandemic response teams... It's not unfair to bring him up

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AssumptionLivid6879 t1_j8npuln wrote

Biden DID squash Union negotiations. Both people are allowed to be fuck ups. Not fixing the problem is just as bad as creating one.

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[deleted] t1_j8ntldw wrote

Agreed, thats why I point out on most issues both party's are the same. Party's of capital. Less zoning and rules = more profits for real estate. Less train rules = more profits for train company's.

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TarantinoFan23 t1_j8ooan7 wrote

How would you handle this, starting now?

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IamSauerKraut t1_j8orf2w wrote

Get the payloaders out there, scoop out the burn pits, put out more than one air sampler, put clean fill all around, and fine the railroad company a meaningful amount above just the cost of clean up and mitigation (includes purchase of homes for those who wish to leave the affected area).

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