Author: Danelle Rolle - [email protected]
A few weeks ago, my cousin sent me a report about a spill that occurred at a Rubis gas station about 10 minutes from my house in the Bahamas. According to the report, the spill was believed to have begun on November 25, 2012 and was reported to the company on January 19, 2013[1]. In this time span, approximately 24,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline was released into the surrounding environment[1]. The first time I heard of this spill was April 2015; more than two years later.
In the report, chemicals such as benzene - a known carcinogen - were found in extremely high levels in the wells of several properties in close vicinity of the spill. In one household well, benzene levels were recorded at 390 ug/L; 78x the EPA’s maximum contaminant level for benzene in drinking water (0.005 mg/L or 5 ug/L)[2]. Seeing the high levels reported, it amazed me that this situation was so poorly highlighted.
Drinking benzene contaminated water has both short and long term health effects. According to the CDC, short term effects include vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions and rapid or irregular heartbeats[3]. Long term exposure has been linked to various blood issues including harmful effects on bone marrow as well as decreased red blood cell count. Benzene, as a carcinogen, has also been associated with cancer[3].
Water contamination from companies like Rubis occur far too often globally. One of the most well-known cases of long term exposure to various chemicals in drinking water, including benzene, occurred at Camp Lejeune, NC[4]. For almost 30 years, numerous military members and their families were exposed to several cancer causing agents in the water they were drinking. One of the most devastating stories coming out of this situation was the death of Janey Ensminger, the 9 year old daughter of drill sergeant Jerry Ensminger who was diagnosed with leukemia. (See a video of their story below. It’s a bit long but worth the watch!)[5]:
Although the Camp Lejeune contamination occurred over a longer period of time, this does not mean that similar repercussions could not occur due to the Rubis spill. It has been over 2 years since the gas has leaked; an ample amount of time for long term effects to occur. As an environmental epidemiologist in training, one of the things I aim to do is bring awareness to environmental issues such as this. I implore individuals, especially the Bahamian government, to get involved in this situation. Involvement now could be the difference between so many lives lost later.
If you’d like more information on the Rubis spill or ways to get involved, feel free to contact the Environmental Attorneys & Consultants at Ferreira & Company ([email protected]) .
[1] Black & Veatch. (February 2014). Rubis Robinson Road Fuel Release. Prepared for Bahamas Environmental Science and Technology Commission(BEST).
[2] United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (September 2013). Basic Information about Benzene in Drinking Water. http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/benzene.cfm (Accessed May 2015).
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (February 2013). Facts About Benzene. Emergency Preparedness and Response. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/benzene/basics/facts.asp (Accessed May 2015).
[4] Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR). (November 2014). Health Study Activities Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/qa_healthstudyactivities.html (Accessed May 2015).
[5] Dan Rather. (November 2012). “A Few Good Mean, A Lot of Bad Water”. AXS TV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEwqPNl8ydY (Accessed May 2015).
A few weeks ago, my cousin sent me a report about a spill that occurred at a Rubis gas station about 10 minutes from my house in the Bahamas. According to the report, the spill was believed to have begun on November 25, 2012 and was reported to the company on January 19, 2013[1]. In this time span, approximately 24,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline was released into the surrounding environment[1]. The first time I heard of this spill was April 2015; more than two years later.
In the report, chemicals such as benzene - a known carcinogen - were found in extremely high levels in the wells of several properties in close vicinity of the spill. In one household well, benzene levels were recorded at 390 ug/L; 78x the EPA’s maximum contaminant level for benzene in drinking water (0.005 mg/L or 5 ug/L)[2]. Seeing the high levels reported, it amazed me that this situation was so poorly highlighted.
Drinking benzene contaminated water has both short and long term health effects. According to the CDC, short term effects include vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions and rapid or irregular heartbeats[3]. Long term exposure has been linked to various blood issues including harmful effects on bone marrow as well as decreased red blood cell count. Benzene, as a carcinogen, has also been associated with cancer[3].
Water contamination from companies like Rubis occur far too often globally. One of the most well-known cases of long term exposure to various chemicals in drinking water, including benzene, occurred at Camp Lejeune, NC[4]. For almost 30 years, numerous military members and their families were exposed to several cancer causing agents in the water they were drinking. One of the most devastating stories coming out of this situation was the death of Janey Ensminger, the 9 year old daughter of drill sergeant Jerry Ensminger who was diagnosed with leukemia. (See a video of their story below. It’s a bit long but worth the watch!)[5]:
Although the Camp Lejeune contamination occurred over a longer period of time, this does not mean that similar repercussions could not occur due to the Rubis spill. It has been over 2 years since the gas has leaked; an ample amount of time for long term effects to occur. As an environmental epidemiologist in training, one of the things I aim to do is bring awareness to environmental issues such as this. I implore individuals, especially the Bahamian government, to get involved in this situation. Involvement now could be the difference between so many lives lost later.
If you’d like more information on the Rubis spill or ways to get involved, feel free to contact the Environmental Attorneys & Consultants at Ferreira & Company ([email protected]) .
[1] Black & Veatch. (February 2014). Rubis Robinson Road Fuel Release. Prepared for Bahamas Environmental Science and Technology Commission(BEST).
[2] United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (September 2013). Basic Information about Benzene in Drinking Water. http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/benzene.cfm (Accessed May 2015).
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (February 2013). Facts About Benzene. Emergency Preparedness and Response. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/benzene/basics/facts.asp (Accessed May 2015).
[4] Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR). (November 2014). Health Study Activities Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/qa_healthstudyactivities.html (Accessed May 2015).
[5] Dan Rather. (November 2012). “A Few Good Mean, A Lot of Bad Water”. AXS TV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEwqPNl8ydY (Accessed May 2015).