#Maine - New testing identifies elevated #benzene emissions near #SouthPortland tank farms

“You might have been able to do this in the past, but we’re not going to let you do this in the future.”

by Norah Hogan, 4/14/2026

Excerpt: "Long-term exposure to benzene has been linked to dizziness, headaches, blood disorders and cancer.

"Reiner, who has lived near three of the sites for years, was diagnosed with bladder cancer last Thanksgiving. He underwent surgery in December and is now receiving treatment.

" 'The big question is, was it this exposure? You can’t say. But this exposure may have contributed,' he said. 'The more toxins and environmental hazards you encounter in your life, it all adds up. It’s the cumulative effect.'

"Concerns about emissions have persisted for years. Previously, oil companies were allowed to self-monitor their emissions and were subject to stricter regulations only if they reported elevated toxin levels.

"In 2019, #GlobalCompanies LLC entered into a legal settlement that required the installation of new technology to reduce emissions. The company’s benzene levels are now well below state thresholds.

" 'They don’t want to be forced to do something that would be the right thing for everybody,' Reiner said. 'Everybody in America could benefit if oil companies started cleaning their emissions before they leave the tank farms and facilities.' "

Read more:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/elevated-benzene-near-south-portland-tank-farms/71016200

#MainePol #MaineNews #BenzeneEmissions #AirIsLife #BigOilAndGas #AirPollution #Carcinogenic

#Airpollution can change dramatically from one street to the next but most monitoring systems can’t capture that level of detail.

So how do we actually map what people are really breathing?

In #CitiObs we explored how low-cost community sensors + machine learning can unlock high-resolution air quality insights.

So how do you turn noisy, uneven citizen data into something reliable?

Read the full blog to see how it works (below in the comments 👇👇👇)

We breathe over 10,000 liters of air every day – with no idea what's in it.
Our DL-PM sensor has been measuring particulate matter continuously for five years. The data shows winter inversions, New Year's Eve spikes, and that air quality has no quiet season.
The patterns only emerge when you measure continuously.

👉 Check real-time demo: https://demo.decentlab.com/d/DL-PM/dl-pm-particulate-matter-temperature-humidity-and-barometric-pressure-sensor-for-lorawan-r?orgId=1&refresh=15m

#ParticulateMatter #LoRaWAN #EnvironmentalMonitoring #AirPollution

Residents near cement plant raise concerns about more plastic being burnt for fuel
By Eugene Boisvert

Residents living near a large cement plant in Adelaide are concerned about the owner wanting to burn more plastic as fuel to replace natural gas.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-14/residents-near-adelaide-adbri-cement-plant-concerned-rdf-fuel/106562336

#AirPollution #LocalGovernment #RecyclingandWasteManagement #EugeneBoisvert

In #Virginia or know a Shenandoah Valley resident (or fan of #nationalparks)?
#airpollution #northropgrumman

I'm going to contact them (VDEQ) and say "yes! limit air pollution to non-major levels."I only heard about this today and haven't read the whole permit. Last day! pls boost!
https://www.deq.virginia.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/4586/130