Winter storm leaves Texas air polluted with 2.1 million pounds of unauthorized chemicals, report says
Officials say freezing weather forced oil refineries, petrochemical plants and other unprepared facilities to shut down, releasing toxic chemicals into the air.
Winter storm leaves Texas air polluted with over 2 million pounds of toxic chemicals
Factories in Texas released over 2 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the air during the recent winter storm and arctic blast. Luke Metzger, Executive Director of Environment Texas, explains why the cold air caused more toxic chemicals to spill into the air.
HOUSTON – Industrial facilities in Texas released an estimated 2.1 million pounds of unauthorized pollution into the air during the recent winter storm, according to reports filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Officials say freezing weather forced oil refineries, petrochemical plants and other unprepared facilities to shut down, releasing toxic chemicals into the air.
Companies dumped their waste on Jan. 13-16, with 92 releases reported in 27 counties. The Houston area alone contributed over 800,000 pounds of pollution to the atmosphere, based on their report.
MORE THAN 2,000 BELOVED BRIDGE BATS RESCUED FROM FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN TEXAS
Officials say during freezing conditions on Jan. 13, a gas pipeline in West Texas released nearly 300,000 pounds of methane and other toxic chemicals.
A fountain at Antioch Park in downtown Houston still runs as ice forms on it, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.
(Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle / Getty Images)
There was also a leak of over 150,000 pounds of chemicals at an ExxonMobil facility near Beaumont between Jan. 16-17, and the cause was weather-related.
Over 125,000 pounds of chemicals were released from another ExxonMobil facility in Baytown due to weather-related impacts on multiple units and associated equipment.
TEXAS, GULF COAST BRACE FOR FLOODING AS TORRENTIAL RAIN, SEVERE WEATHER RETURN TO SOUTHEAST
Luke Metzger, Executive Director of Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, emphasized that proper weatherization measures could prevent much of this pollution.
"Texas families at risk are already dealing with a lot during extreme weather," Metzger said. "They shouldn’t also have to worry about their kids breathing cancer-causing chemicals."