pcb in rome

3
The PCB Mess: Will GEC Clean Up? The General Electric Company or, as it’s commonly known, GE has a certain reputation in the American business world. It’s a wildly profitable, popular and cutting edge Fortune 500 Company, consistently ranked as one of the best businesses around to operate in technology infrastructure and several other areas. In recent years, however successful the company might be, it has become an object of environmental scandal amid allegations of contributing to global pollution in order to reap their benefit (Wald, 2013). In 1953, the General Electric Company’s medium transformer plant was moved from Pittsfield, Massachusetts to the brand new location of Redmond Road in Rome, Georgia. The thousand or so factory workers employed by the General Electric Company when the plant was at its fullest capacity legally incorporated the use of PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls in their work until 1976 when the chemical was officially prohibited by the federal government. Some will argue, however, that the damage had already been done to both the people and natural environment surrounding the plant’s enormous facilities. The case against General Electric while valid was not necessarily the reason that the Rome site was shut down in the 1990’s, especially considering that the company was losing money on an American operation when foreign employees worked harder and for much less than the average American. One must study the use of PCBs and scientific research regarding its toxic properties in order to assess potential dangers to a community exposed to high concentrations (Bowen, 2004; Wald, 2013). The PCB contamination in Rome, Georgia can be attributed to its use in the manufacture of medium transformers at the GE plant. Medium transformers are electrical devices typically used to change high voltage electricity into less concentrated forms for household use and other practical purposes. They accomplish this purpose by transferring electric currents, which generate their own magnetic fields by way of circuits where the magnetic field may be altered to accommodate a higher or lower voltage. Transformers are an integral part of power lines and can be located at the tops of telephone poles. PCBs are used in a number of ways connected to the manufacturing of transformers, serving as fire retardant, coolant, and lubricant and insulating fluid. PCBs often mixed with other liquids such as transformer oil and potentially contaminated the versatile equipment used to handle both liquids, making the spread of this toxin hard to trace or quantify (Coosa, 2013). After the initial PCB scare, several federal, state and local environmentally conscious organizations facilitated informational meetings between the citizens of Rome and specialized doctors. Although PCBs are classified as a persistent organic pollutant (POPs) or, in other words, a compound that is resistant to being broken down by natural processes and are considered probable carcinogens, it is difficult to establish direct causality between the chemical and cancer-like diseases. PCB can negatively impact the immune and nervous system, in addition to causing problems that concern an individual’s hormone levels, reproductive and endocrine systems. Evidence that PCBs are harmful to humans can be found in the experimental studies, which show a correlation between PCB pollution levels and deformities in smaller animals such as tadpoles and frogs. The greatest risk of coming into contact with toxic PCB include eating or drinking contaminated vitals, coming into contact with compromised soil or breathing it in from polluted air. The PCB limit set by the Food and Drug Administration is 2 parts per million; above this quota health problems begin to occur from prolonged exposure to the substance (Freed, 2005; Landers, 2004; Noack, 2010). Investigators cannot know the exact extent of the PCB contamination in Rome, Georgia because of the various, non- discriminate ways it was released into the environment and lack of an official way of measuring the spread of persistent organic chemicals. General Electric is responsible for about 78 of the superfund site listings. The government run Superfund is used to arrange for long-term improvement of the polluted lands. Considering the way PCBs travel through groundwater then being carried by rivers and streams, which move the pollution upstate to New York’s Hudson River. Bioaccumulation refers to the buildup of a certain chemical or particulate in the soil. It also applies to the food chain the higher up you go the more

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Page 1: PCB in Rome

The  PCB  Mess:  Will  GEC  Clean  Up?  The General Electric Company or, as it’s commonly known, GE has a certain reputation in the American business world. It’s a wildly profitable, popular and cutting edge Fortune 500 Company, consistently ranked as one of the best businesses around to operate in technology infrastructure and several other areas. In recent years, however successful the company might be, it has become an object of environmental scandal amid allegations of contributing to global pollution in order to reap their benefit (Wald, 2013). In 1953, the General Electric Company’s medium transformer plant was moved from Pittsfield, Massachusetts to the brand new location of Redmond Road in Rome, Georgia. The thousand or so factory workers employed by the General Electric Company when the plant was at its fullest capacity legally incorporated the use of PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls in their work until 1976 when the chemical was officially prohibited by the federal government. Some will argue, however, that the damage had already been done to both the people and natural environment surrounding the plant’s enormous facilities. The case against General Electric while valid was not necessarily the reason that the Rome site was shut down in the 1990’s, especially considering that the company was losing money on an American operation when foreign employees worked harder and for much less than the average American. One must study the use of PCBs and scientific research regarding its toxic properties in order to assess potential dangers to a community exposed to high concentrations (Bowen, 2004; Wald, 2013). The PCB contamination in Rome, Georgia can be attributed to its use in the manufacture of medium transformers at the GE

plant. Medium transformers are electrical devices typically used to change high voltage electricity into less concentrated forms for household use and other practical purposes. They accomplish this purpose by transferring electric currents, which generate their own magnetic fields by way of circuits where the magnetic field may be altered

to accommodate a higher or lower voltage. Transformers are

an integral part of power lines and can be located at the tops of telephone poles. PCBs are used in a number of ways connected to the manufacturing of transformers, serving as fire retardant, coolant, and lubricant and insulating fluid. PCBs often mixed with other liquids such as transformer oil and potentially contaminated the versatile equipment used to handle both liquids, making the spread of this toxin hard to trace or quantify (Coosa, 2013). After the initial PCB scare, several federal, state and local environmentally conscious organizations facilitated informational meetings between the citizens of Rome and specialized doctors. Although PCBs are classified as a

persistent organic pollutant (POPs) or, in other words, a compound that is resistant to being broken down by natural processes and are considered probable carcinogens, it is difficult to establish direct causality between the chemical and cancer-like diseases. PCB can negatively impact the immune and nervous system, in addition to causing problems that concern an individual’s hormone levels, reproductive and endocrine systems. Evidence that PCBs are harmful to humans can be found in the experimental

studies, which show a correlation between PCB pollution levels and deformities in smaller animals such as tadpoles and frogs. The greatest risk of coming into contact with toxic PCB include eating or drinking contaminated vitals, coming into contact with compromised soil or breathing it in from polluted air. The PCB limit set by the Food and Drug Administration is 2 parts per million; above this quota health problems begin to occur from prolonged exposure to the substance (Freed, 2005; Landers, 2004; Noack, 2010). Investigators cannot know the exact extent of the PCB contamination in Rome, Georgia because of the various, non-discriminate ways it was released into the environment and lack of an official way of measuring the spread of persistent organic chemicals. General Electric is responsible for about 78 of the superfund site listings. The government run Superfund is used to arrange for long-term improvement of the polluted lands. Considering the way PCBs travel through groundwater then being carried by rivers and streams, which move the pollution upstate to New York’s Hudson River. Bioaccumulation refers to the buildup of a certain chemical or particulate in the soil. It also applies to the food chain the higher up you go the more

Page 2: PCB in Rome

prevalent are concentrations of PCB. Currently, this phenomena can be observed in some of Rome’s wildlife particularly some of the fish that reside in rivers have unsafe concentrations of PCB which magnify each time it moves up the food chain. The soil around the Coosa and Oostanaula rivers has been tested to reveal PCB levels that are right at or just above the acceptable levels set by the EPA (Coosa, 2003; Noack, 2005). These toxins were released into the Floyd County environment a number of ways. In the 24 years that the GE plant operated in Rome, there were several spills that leached PCB onto the ground where it was later washed into the drainage ditches via rain and storms. As a result of the spills, the PCB was given the opportunity to spread to private property adjoining the General Electric grounds. Chemicals that were in surplus at the end of day in the GE plant were given to the workers and used as fertilizer between 1953 and 1976. For the large part, these people were not aware that their actions were harmful to their own families and the surrounding environment. Because of loose of the PCB and people who had access to it, environmentalists are finding that it’s almost impossible to track each contaminated area around the city. Private homes in Rome, which sit close to known contaminated sites or belong to workers who utilized PCB spray have been analyzed chemically and produced suspect results (Bowen, 2003; Coosa 2003). The issues that General Electric faces with serious allegation of PCB contamination are somewhat controversially portrayed in media coverage. On one hand, there are citizens who are afraid and even outraged at the potential health risks they suffer at the hands of GE. These citizens are justified in being concerned. Although it is next to impossible for researchers to say that PCB is directly responsible for unusual illnesses in Rome. PCBs are suspected culprits in a number of diseases and ailments. Doctors who analyzed the situation in Rome recommended that people obtain a blood test to see if their are any unusual chemical concentrations. Oscar and Helen Gardhigh actually prosecuted GE for contaminating their backyard with received stormwater runoff

from the plant; however, no one in their household harbored any symptoms or conditions that could be directly linked to PCB exposure. The local news focuses heavily on the possible dangers of PCB, but makes little to no effort to provide examples of health issues in humans that have occurred as a result. The environmental impact is clear when their are high concentrations of the chemical in soil, rivers, and fish. Perhaps the fact that there is very little data to support the claim that Romans’ health has been affected by PCBs contributes to the

fact that there are people who believe the company is still golden (Bowen, 2004; Coosa 2003). As the case in most environmental law court cases, General Electric settled for no more than 650 million dollars dedicated to facilitating the clean up of the contamination its plant and employees were responsible for. A question that has recently arrived amid analysis of the years and millions of dollars GE has been obligated to spend in effort to clean up their facility is whether or not its even possible to reverse such widespread pollution of an unruly non-degrading chemical of PCB. Many people hold the opinion that if it is possible to reverse the damage it will be up to the citizens of Rome to see to it that the mess is taken care of. GE may be obligated to pay for and in part plan a clean-up, but in the end locals will be responsible for keeping the company diligent and thorough in their processes. Environmental

agencies both federal and local will also play a part in offering some potentially effective solutions. Skepticism that the area will ever be restored to its former state is expected especially after decades have one by with minimal improvements in the area (Marr, 2007; Walker, 2012). There have been several health consultations ordered by the EPA to assess the damages GE made to the environment and appropriate ways for them to go about making amends. Actual court cases concerning the contamination in Rome, Georgia are few in number and similar to the Gardhigh’s case against the company. No has suffered aberrational medical illnesses,

however, Romans have sued for negligence and property damage. GE settled and has been making an effort to clean up the pollution for over a decade. Although a third round of clean up at Horseleg Creek began in September, the process has been slow and perhaps the damage will never be repaired in whole.

Romans can, however, at least be satisfied with the fact that the General Electric Company, rather unofficially, issued a public apology in the 650 million dollars they pledged to correct their mistakes (Walker, 2012).

Page 3: PCB in Rome

Works Cited

Bowen, Kevin. "THE PCB LEGACY: Plant's History Marked by Highs and Lows." RN-T.com. Rome News Tribune, 2004. Web. 14

Jan. 2013.

Bowen, Kevin. "Tests Find PCB Contamination in Creekbed." RN-T.com. Rome News Tribune, 2003. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

Coosa River Basin Initiative. Ed. Monica S. Cook. The PCB Report (Mar. 2003): 1-12. Print.

Freed, Jennifer A., MPH. "HEALTH CONSULTATION." Http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease

Registry, 5 Oct. 2005. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

Landers, Jason. "Emory Doctor to Answer PCB Health Question." RN-T.com. Rome News Tribune, 2002. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

Marr, Chris. "GE Land Cleanup Continue." RN-T.com. Rome News Tribune, 2007. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

Noack, Jennifer A., MPH. "PETITIONED HEALTH CONSULTATION." Http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov. Agency for Toxic Substances

and Disease Registry, 22 Mar. 2010. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

Wald, Matthew L., “General Electric Company”. The New York Times. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

Walker, Doug. "Horseleg Creek Focus of 3rd PCB Cleanup." RN-T.com. Rome News Tribune, Sept. 2012. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.