Frozen fog carrying harmful particles
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By Tom Saul | Friday, December 21, 2007 |
Persistent near-freezing temperatures and stagnant air have produced a blanket of particles over eastern Iowa that can be harmful to the elderly, children and those with respiratory or lung diseases, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has warned.
The particles, which include droplets of ammonium nitrate, common compounds in fertilizer and explosives that can be toxic to lungs, have been present in levels in excess of federal Environmental Protection Agency standards since Wednesday and are expected to remain through today.
“EPA standards say levels in excess of 35 micrograms per cubic meter for 24 hours can be harmful,” Sean Fitzsimmons, an air-quality monitoring specialist for the DNR, said Thursday. “In Clinton today, levels have averaged 62 micrograms, and in Davenport, 59 micrograms.”
On Wednesday, levels averaged 56 micrograms in Clinton and 49 micrograms in Davenport.
There was a noticeable bluish haze over much of the Quad-Cities on Wednesday, Fitzsimmons said. That was a combination of particles and frozen moisture droplets that “sweep up” ammonia and nitric acid to form the ammonium nitrate.
Dr. Michelle Yates, an emergency room physician for Genesis Health System, said the Genesis hospitals have seen a spike in complaints about breathing problems from those with lung ailments in the past two days. Colder- or warmer-than-normal weather generally triggers an increase in such complaints.
“For those who have come in, we’ve been giving them breathing treatment and steroids,” Yates said. “Ammonium nitrate irritates the lungs, and there is an inflammatory response. We would advise people who may have a problem to stay inside.”
A spokesperson for Trinity Regional Health System said its hospitals and clinics have seen no increase in complaints or respiratory problems.
Larry Linnenbrink, an environmental health coordinator for the Scott County Health Department, said the agency did not receive notice of the alerts. But now that it is aware of them, it is likely to send out notices to area doctors and post warnings on its Web site.
Stagnant air in the region is part of the problem, Fitzsimmons said. Chemicals contributing to the formation of the ammonium nitrate come from combustion of all types and natural processes, such as sewage treatment and decaying plants.
Changing weather patterns that are expected to bring wind to the area Saturday will carry the particles out of the region, Fitzsimmons said.
Tom Saul can be contacted at (563) 383-2453 or tsaul@qctimes.com.
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