A ‘TOXIC SOUP’ OF FECAL COLIFORM, FUEL, AND COCAINE FLOODS BRITISH COLUMBIA

BIV.com

On November 15, 2021, a burst dike and record rains forced over 1,000 residents to evacuate over the previous 24 hours. However, not everyone evacuated and thousands of residents waded and swam through the floods. One year later an analysis of water quality across Sumas Prairie released Thursday revealed a toxic soup of fossil fuels, cocaine, pharmaceuticals and heavy metals.

“One cannot drink any of the water from any of the waterways. It would simply be too risky. One cannot touch the water. These waterways are dangerous for human recreation.” States Peter Ross, leading the study as the director of water pollution at Raincoast Conservation Foundation. After the flooding the ministry created a multi-agency provincial task force who’s results “found limited to negligible risks to public and environmental health as a result of the atmospheric river event” and “no widespread contamination issues to date.”

However, Raincoast reports that across Sumas Prairie average fecal coliform levels were found to be 641 times higher compared to a stream used as a reference site outside of the flood zone. Average pesticide concentrations were found to be 135 times higher; nitrogen 43 times higher, and hydrocarbons 6.5 times higher, pharmaceuticals concentrations — the most common being diabetes medication, painkillers, asthma medication and cocaine — were on average 60 times higher in the flood zone.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRES ATTRIBUTED TO SALTWATER DAMAGE FROM HURICANE IAN

NBC-2.com

North Collier Fire Rescue stated that electric vehicle (EV) fires started appearing about 3 to 4 days after Hurricane Ian. The lithium ion batteries found within EVs are susceptible to saltwater with the North Collier Fire Rescue putting out five of these fires since Ian. As a result of these fires, two houses have burned down.

Over 9,700 people in 3 of the hardest-hit counties own EVs and with almost 100,000 EVs Florida is number two in the nation in EVs.

RHODE ISLAND REACHES $1.1M SETTLEMENT WITH 2 GAS REFINERS OVER SOIL AND WATER CONTAMINATION

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced that two large gasoline refiners will pay the state about $1.1 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging they caused soil and groundwater throughout Rhode Island to be polluted with a toxic gas additive. This is in addition to a $17 million agreement reached between the state and Shell, Sunoco, CITGO, Hess, Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA Inc., Marathon and Conoco, for their roles in contamination caused by methyl tertiary-butyl ether.

The lawsuits argue MBTE leaked from underground storage tanks such as those at gas stations and contaminated groundwater and soils. Rhode Island banned the use of MTBE in 2007 which is considered a probable human carcinogen. However, MTBE is still being discovered in groundwater around the state.

HOLIDAY-RELATED FIRES BLAMED FOR OVER $300 MILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE

NBCPalmSprings.com

Warnings to the public were issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) this holiday season to help prevent house fires. NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy Lorraine Carli stated, “December is a leading month for home fires, in large part because many of the activities we engage in during the holiday season reflect leading causes of home fires year-round”.

Christmas trees are a leading cause of house fires and between 2016 and 2020 there were an estimated 160 house fires involving Christmas trees leading to two civilian deaths and an estimated $12 million in property damage per year.

“By knowing where potential fire hazards exist and taking some basic safety precautions to prevent them, people can enjoy a festive, fire-free holiday season,” said Carli (NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy).

ENVIRONMENTAL BODY FINDS HEALTH OF 6,000 PEOPLE PUT AT RISK BY CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER

www.NRDC.org

The EPA released the Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2021 report which studied drinking water across rural parts of Ireland and found one in twenty private water supplies were found to have E coli contamination.

In addition, the study also found, twenty-one private group schemes (7%) failed to meet the standard for Trihalomethanes (THMs,) including five schemes that the European Commission has identified as being of particular concern. THMs are formed during the treatment process when there is an excess of organic matter in water source.

Over a quarter of small private supplies, serving food businesses, nursing homes, crèches and B&Bs were not monitored in 2021. The EPA report outlines the actions needed to be taken to address the issues and water suppliers in conjunction with local authorities must ensure that private supplies are registered, and that monitoring is undertaken in line with the regulations.

DECADES AGO, ENGLAND WAS ENGULFED IN DEADLY SMOG

Finance.yahoo.com/

In London, England, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 1952, the visibility was no more than five meters. This was due to a high-pressure air mass over the Thames River Valley mixed with the sudden cold air that came in from the west.

This fog was due to other factors as well, including a culmination of coal furnaces, smoke, soot, sulfur dioxide from cars, industrial plants, and buses. London had also recently replaced an electric tram system with steam locomotives and diesel-fueled buses.

That fog mixed with pollutant smoke and created a thick smog. Between Dec. 4-8, an estimated 4,000-12,000 people died.

TORNADO RIPS THROUGH AONGATETE CAUSING DAMAGE

www.SunLive.co.nz

A tornado has ripped through Aongatete, a settlement and rural community in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, causing property damage on Sunday morning.

Resident Karyn Taylor and her daughter Gina were in there home when a sudden storm or rain and hail appeared. They looked out the window to see a swirl of leaves approaching them. The tornado passed their home quickly; however, one widow was open and the tornado ripped it off.

MetService weather radar has detected more severe thunderstorms approaching the area. They recommend that residents prepare as these storms can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.

FIRE DAMAGES TWO-STORY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE IN IRVINE, EIGHT DISPLACED

ABC7.com

On November 27th a fire damaged a two-story multi-family residential structure on the 300 block of Deerfield Avenue in Irvine. Eight people were displaced by the fire.

The firefighters dispatched at 4 a.m. and extinguished the blaze in under an hour and a half. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.