Local Nonprofit Hosts Educational Session on Air Quality and Health Impacts
Protect PT, a local environmental nonprofit, is spearheading an EPA-funded air monitoring study to assess the air quality and health impacts around the Plum Injection Well in Plum, PA. As part of this initiative, Protect PT is organizing an educational session for residents on August 6th, 2024, at 7:00 PM at the Plum Community Center. This session is a component of the broader study titled “Clean Air For All: Knowledge is Power,” which examines air pollution from three local sources in Westmoreland and Allegheny County.
Event Details
Date and Time:
August 6th, 2024, at 7:00 PM
Location:
Plum Community Center, Plum, PA
Hosts:
Protect PT, a nonprofit focused on environmental protection
Purpose:
To educate residents on the health impacts of air pollution and how to advocate for cleaner air
Refreshments:
Light refreshments will be served
Study Overview
The “Clean Air For All: Knowledge is Power” study aims to provide crucial insights into how air pollution from the Plum Injection Well affects public health. Protect PT’s Environmental Science team, funded by the EPA, will utilize advanced air monitoring technologies such as Summa Canisters and Sensit SPOD monitors. These tools capture various emissions, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause significant health issues like respiratory irritation and breathing difficulties, especially for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Addressing Community Concerns
Residents living near the Pennaco’s Sedat 3A well have expressed concerns about the air quality and potential ground contamination. Protect PT’s efforts to monitor air quality over a 1-2 year span aim to address these worries. According to Gillian Graber, Executive Director of Protect PT, there are regulatory loopholes that often leave fracking waste sites without required air permits or monitoring. “Residents have reported acrid, chemical-smelling air coming from the site,” Graber noted, highlighting the urgency of this study.
Yvonne Sorovacu, Protect PT’s Environmental Scientist, emphasized the importance of community involvement in the study. “We are conducting these studies in response to ongoing resident concerns about how air pollution is impacting their health. In order to address those concerns, we now need the participation of the community,” Sorovacu stated.
Participation and Contact Information
Residents interested in attending the educational session are encouraged to RSVP at Protect PT Plum Event RSVP. For those who wish to participate in the study but cannot attend the session, more information is available at Protect PT Study Interest or by contacting Protect PT’s Environmental Science team at enviroscience@protectpt.org.
About Protect PT
Protect Penn-Trafford (Protect PT) is a citizen’s group dedicated to ensuring the safety, security, and quality of life from the effects of unconventional gas development in Penn-Trafford and surrounding communities in Westmoreland and Allegheny Counties. For more information, visit Protect PT.
