Pasadena, TX injury lawyers: An electrical trip tied to recent severe weather caused an unexpected chemical plant burn in Pasadena, TX yesterday. The chemical plant burn flare occurred at the TPC Group Plant in the 8600 block of Park Place Boulevard.
Because of the severe weather and electrical problem, some equipment ceased to function so that the TPC Group Plant needed to burn off the chemicals through the flare. Officials have said that there’s no danger to the public and that they were working to correct the problem. (Source: click2houston.com, 8/11/12)
Our Pasadena, TX injury lawyers remain a bit concerned about the unexpected burn flare. Our concern stems from the $500 billion lawsuit filed by more than 48,000 residents of Texas City and La Marque based on injuries and illnesses the plaintiffs tie to a BP burn flare in spring of 2010.
In that case, when a compressor broke down, BP decided to burn off toxic chemicals using a flare. The chemicals released through that flare included many tons of the carcinogen benzene. And indications are that the flare was operating at a low efficiency during the flare.
The preferred efficiency standard for such flares is 98%. Even at standard efficiency, not all toxins get burned off in a flare. And according to the Environmental Integrity Project, each 1% drop from 100% efficiency could mean up to a 100% increase in chemicals released. For instance, a burn off at 90% efficiency rather than 98% might produce 400% to 800% more toxins that end up in the local environment. Such chemical toxins could lead to severe health consequences among susceptible individuals.
We believe the local residents of Pasadena, TX have a right to be worried about the consequences of the unexpected chemical plant burn. Toxin release through a burn flare could have health consequences. Learn more about the controversy over the adverse health effects caused by the BP burn flare in this article by our Board Certified Pasadena, TX injury lawyers.