NguDavid Bond, Guardian, Matshi 25, 2021
OEyona yezona khemikhali zetyhefu ezingapheliyo, ezingenakutshatyalaliswa ezaziwa ngumntu - Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), eyiPFAS “chemical engapheliyo” - itshiswa ngokufihlakeleyo ecaleni koluntu oluhlelelekileyo eMelika. Abantu abalandela lo msebenzi wokuqhekeka? Ayisiyomnye ngaphandle komkhosi wase-US.
As idatha entsha epapashwe yiKholeji yaseBennington Kule veki amaxwebhu, umkhosi wase-US uyalele ukutshiswa ngasese ngaphezulu kwe-20m yeepawundi ze-AFFF kunye ne-AFFF yenkunkuma phakathi kwe-2016-2020. Oko ngaphandle kwento yokuba akukho bungqina bokuba ukutshisa okunene kutshabalalisa ezi khemikhali zokwenziwa. Ngapha koko, kukho isizathu esivakalayo sokukholelwa ukuba ukutshisa i-AFFF kukhupha nje ezi tyhefu emoyeni nakuluntu olukufuphi, kwiifama nakwiindlela zamanzi. IPentagon iqhuba ngokufanelekileyo ulingelo olunetyhefu kwaye ibhalise impilo yezigidi zabantu baseMelika njengezifundo zovavanyo ezingaziwayo.
I-AFFF yaqulunqwa yaza yathandwa yimikhosi yase-US. Yaziswa ngexesha leMfazwe yaseVietnam yokulwa imililo yepetroleum kwiinqanawa zomkhosi waselwandle kunye nemicu yomoya, i-AFFF yayingumntwana wobunjineli bemichiza owakha ubophelelo lweemolekyuli zomelele kunayo nantoni na eyaziwayo kwindalo. Xa sele yenziwe, le bond ye-carbon-fluorine phantse ayinakutshatyalaliswa. Kwala ukuba zizibaso, le bhondi ye-herculean iyongamela kwaye iyalawula nezona infernos zivuthayo.
Phantse ukusukela ngoku baqala ukusebenzisa i-AFFF, umkhosi waqokelelana ubungqina obukhathazayo malunga nokuzingisa kokusingqongileyo kokudityaniswa kwekhabhoni-fluorine iikhompawundi, zabo ukuhlangana kwezinto eziphilayo, kunye nefuthe labo kwimpilo yabantu. Njengomkhosi oxhobileyo wase-US waba ngumthengi omkhulu we-AFFF emhlabeni, imibuzo ephazamisayo malunga nokwenzekayo emva kokuba umlilo ukhutshelwe ecaleni. Iziseko zomkhosi wase-US ekhaya nakwamanye amazwe zikhuthaze ukutshiza okukhohlakeleyo kwe-AFFF kuqheliso oluqhelekileyo ngelixa abacimi-mlilo baxelelwa ukuba ekhuselekile njengesepha.
I-synthetic carbon-fluorine chemistry, ngoku ihlelwe njenge-per- kunye ne-poly-fluorinated compounds (PFAS), iya kugxila namhlanje njengokubangela intlekele engazange ibonwe ngaphambili. Emva komzuzu omfutshane wokusetyenziswa okusebenzayo, iikhompawundi zePFAS ziza kubukhathaza ubomi ngokuhambahamba, ityhefu enetyhefu kunye nokungafi okungummangaliso. Njengoko sisazi ngoku, ukubhencwa kulandelelo lwezixa “iikhemikhali ngonaphakade”Inxibelelene kakhulu nenkqubo ye- Umhlaza, ukuphazamiseka ekukhuleni, ukungasebenzi komzimba kunye nokungachumi. Ukubonakaliswa kuye kwaxhunyaniswa Ukwanda kosulelo lweCovid-19 kwaye ukusebenza konyango lokuthintela.
ukusuka IPortsmouth, eNew Hampshire ukuba Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ishumi leminyaka elidlulileyo likhe labona uluntu kufutshane neziseko zomkhosi luvuka kubusuku bokungcola kwePFAS emanzini abo, umhlaba wabo kunye negazi labo. Imephu yeendawo ze-PFAS e-United States, iSebe lezoKhuselo livela njengegalelo elibalulekileyo kolu luhlu lubi, utshilo uDave Andrews weQela eliSebenzayo lokusiNgqongileyo (EWG).
Kuvavanyo lwayo lokuqala lweziseko zomkhosi ngoDisemba 2016, Imikhosi exhobileyo ichongiwe 393 Ungcoliseko lwe-AFFF eMelika, kubandakanya neendawo ezili-126 apho iikhompawundi zePFAS zingene emanzini okusela esidlangalaleni. (ISebe lezoKhuselo linezicwangciso zokulungisa ezisebenzayo kwinxalenye encinci yezo ndawo.) Ngo-2019, i-DOD yavuma ukuba la manani “kubalwa ngaphantsi. ” Imephu yeQela eliSebenzayo lokusiNgqongileyo kwimephu engcolisayo yePFAS ibeka inani langoku leziza zomkhosi ezingcolileyo e 704, inani eliqhubeka nokunyuka.
Njengokuba kunokwenzeka uxanduva. Ngelixa amanye amazwe esithi afake isuti ngokuchasene nokwenziwa kwe-AFFF, iminwe yemikhosi yase-US ikwiindawo zonke zolwaphulo-mthetho. Xa oososayensi bemanyano bafudukela kupapasho uphononongo olubanzi lwechemistry enetyhefu ye-AFFF kwi2018, amagosa e-DOD abiza ukuba isayensi "ubusuku obubi bobudlelwane boluntu”Kwaye wazama cinezela iziphumo.
Ngaphandle kokulahla ii-imeyile zangaphakathi, umkhosi usaphethe isixa esikhulu se-AFFF. Njengoko i-EPA kwaye ithi ijikeleze i-US iqala ukukhetha I-AFFF yinto enobungoziUkugcinwa kwemikhosi ye-AFFF emkhosini kuyaqala ukongeza uxanduva kwizazi nge-bhalansi yomkhosi. Mhlawumbi ucinga ukuba uLawulo lukaTrump lubonise umzuzu ofanelekileyo, iPentagon igqibe kwelokuba itshe ingxaki yabo ye-AFFF kwi2016.
Ngaphandle kokumelana ngokungaqhelekanga nomlilo we-AFFF, ukutshisa ngokuthe cwaka kwaba yindlela ekhethwe ngumkhosi yokuphatha i-AFFF. "Sasisazi ukuba oku kuya kuba yindleko enkulu, kuba oko kwakuthetha ukuba siza kutshisa into eyenzelwe ukucima umlilo, "USteve Schneider, inkosi yokulahlwa kweengozi kwiphiko le-DOD, utshilo kwi-2017 njengoko umsebenzi uqhubeka.
Inye kuphela inkcukacha emi endleleni yesi sicwangciso sikhulu: abukho ubungqina bokuba ukutshiswa kutshabalalisa ikhemistri enetyhefu ye-AFFF.
Ukuqaphela "iimpembelelo ezinamandla zokuthintela ilangatye" ye-carbon-fluorine bond, ingxelo ye-EPA ka-2020 iqukumbele, "Akuqondwa kakuhle ukuba ukusebenza kakuhle kobushushu obuphezulu kukutshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo iPFAS. "
Kwisikhokelo sobuchwephesha sango-2019 sezitshisi, i-EPA ibhale ukuba ukuqonda kwethuukonakaliswa kobushushu”Ze-PFAS zincinci, zincinci zincinci, kwaye ngoku azisebenzi. Ibhunga lezendalo elinempembelelo linqabile ukuvuma ukutshiswa kwe-AFFF kunyaka ophelileyo, beqaphela ukuba ukutshisaindawo esebenzayo yophando. "
Kwaye kwakungekho mathandabuzo anqunyelweyo kwiiarhente zokusingqongileyo. Nangona yayithumela iilori zamatanki e-AFFF kwizitshisi kwi-2017, umkhosi uqobo waqaphela "ikhemistri enobushushu obuphezulu ye-PFOS […] ayibonakaliswanga"(I-PFOS sesona sithako siphambili se-PFAS kwi-AFFF), kunye"Uninzi lweemveliso ezinokubakho ziya kungonelisi okusingqongileyo. "
Kodwa oko akuyimisanga iPentagon ekubeni iqhubeke kwaye itshise ngokuthe cwaka imichiza. Njengokuba umkhosi wawuthumela i-AFFF kwizitshisi kwilizwe liphela, i-EPA, abalawuli belizwe, kunye nososayensi baseyunivesithi bonke babelumkisile ukuba ukubeka i-AFFF kumaqondo obushushu aphezulu kakhulu kunokubangela amagqwirha apheka ityhefu e fluorine, ukuba ubuchwepheshe be-smokestack obukhoyo buya kuba Akwanelanga ukubeka esweni ukukhutshwa okuyityhefu makungabikho nto ibabambayo, kwaye oko imichiza eyingozi isenokuna kwiindawo ezingqongileyo. Ukulinganisa uxanduva lwayo ngokuchasene nempilo yolu luntu, iPentagon ibethe umdlalo.
Njengako konke okunye kuLawulo lukaTrump, ukungxama okungakhathaliyo kokutshisa i-AFFF kwenzeka phantse kwaphela kuluntu. Inkqubo ye- ingxelo engoyikiyo kaSharon Lerner kwiNqande kunye Isimangalo somthetho wobulungisa ngokuchasene ne-DOD kuvulwe iwindow kule debacle ngo-2019. Njengokuba ulwazi lubuyiselwe kuluntu kufutshane nezitshisi, ubhengezo olunamandla luye lwanceda ukutyhala ingqiqo yokusebenza kwayo yonke into ngokubonakalayo okungathandekiyo Ohio kwaye Inew york.
Kobu busika, ndadibana amaqela abemi kwaye abameli belizwe ukwenza kunye nokupapasha Yonke idatha ekhoyo ngokutshiswa kwe-AFFF. Ngelixa abafundi bam kunye nam siqokelele ndawonye ukusasazeka kwenqanawa, kulandelwa iinkcukacha malunga namalungiselelo okutshisa umlilo kunye noluntu olukufuphi, kwaye saqala ukufumana iintloko zethu malunga nokuwa okuyityhefu kwe-AFFF, lo msebenzi wezomkhosi wafumana inkcazo entsha: ukungakhathali okupheleleyo.
Ayisiyokutsha nje i-AFFF engacetyiswanga kakubi, kodwa ezitshisi zokutshisa inkunkuma eziyingozi ekuvunyelwene ngazo ukwenza njalo ngabantu abophula umthetho wendalo. Ukusukela ngo-2017, ezimbini zezinto zokutshisa umlilo ezazingavunyelwanga ukuba zingathobeli imithetho ethile yendalo esingqongileyo kangange-100% yexesha ngokwe-EPA. Nebraska, Coca iiChweba zaseAragonite kwi Utah), ezimbini zazingahambelani ne-75% yexesha (iNlinite incinerator in Inew york, Isitshisi seLifa leMveli le- WTI kwi Ohio), kwaye ezimbini ezishiyekileyo bezingahambelani ne-50% yexesha (iReynolds Metals incinerator in Arkansas, Ukucoca iiChweba zokutshisa ngaphakathi Arkansas). I-EPA ikhuphe inyathelo elipheleleyo lezinyanzeliso ezingama-65 ngokuchasene nezi zitshisi zitshisayo kule minyaka mihlanu idlulileyo iyodwa.
Ayisiyo yokuba umkhosi wawulindele okona kulungileyo. Nokuba ikhusele izigidi zeedola kwishishini lenkunkuma eliyingozi ukutshisa i-AFFF, umkhosi awuzange ucacise iiparitha zokutsha okanye ulawulo lokungcola. Umkhosi uphinde warhoxa kwiimfuno eziqhelekileyo zamaxwebhu enkunkuma eyingozi, ephawula kwisivumelwano ukuba izitofungeke hayi kulindeleke ukuba ubonelele ngeziqinisekiso zokulahlwa / zokutshatyalaliswa. ” Xa kufikwa ekutshiseni i-AFFF, iPentagon yayingafuni ukwazi ukuba kwenzeka ntoni kanye kwezi zitshisi.
Ukudibanisa imisebenzi yokutshisa i-shoddy kunye netyhefu engatshiyo emlilweni, le nto yezigidi zeedola ayikhange iyishenxise ingxaki ye-AFFF yomkhosi njengoko isasazwa kwakhona.
I-WTI Heritage Incinerator, eyatshisa ubuncinci i-5m yeepawundi ze-AFFF, ikwindawo yabasebenzi abamnyama eMpuma Liverpool, eOhio. Xa yayakhiwa ngo-1993, abahlali baxelelwa le mammoth ukutshisa kunokunceda ekupheliseni ukuphuma kwemisebenzi yefektri. Endaweni yokuhlawulwa kwemali eMpuma yeLiverpool yafumana ungcoliseko olubi e-US. Amakhaya aphantsi kunye nesikolo sabaqalayo esikufutshane sele likhaya Ukukhutshwa okuqhelekileyo yee-dioxin, i-furans, isinyithi esinzima, kwaye ngoku yi-PFAS. Abahlali bayibiza ngokuba yintoni: ubuhlanga.
“Asikhange sifumane mpendulo,” UAlonzo Spencer undixelele. Abahlali baqala ukubuza i-WTI Heritage Incinerator malunga ne-AFFF kunyaka ophelileyo. Echaza ukunyuka kwamazinga omhlaza kwindawo ahlala kuyo kwaye ekhathazekile "ngokusondela kwendawo yezikolo," uSpencer akasiqondi isizathu sokuba umkhosi kunye nesitshisi sizame ukutshisa i-AFFF, nokuba kutheni befihlakele ngayo. "Kubonakala ngathi abanasikhuthazi sokunyaniseka malunga nento abayenzayo kuluntu," utshilo.
Ukufakwa kwindawo yokuhlala yabasebenzi abasebenza ngokukhohlakeleyo eChoes, NY, iNarliner Hazardous Waste Incinerator yatshisa ubuncinci i-2.47m yeepawundi ze-AFFF kunye ne-5.3 yezigidi zeepawundi zamanzi amdaka e-AFFF, ngokunokwenzeka kukwaphula imvume yabo yokusebenza. Kwisithunzi somsi otshisayo kulele iZindlu zoLuntu zaseSaratoga, indawo enezitena ezixineneyo apho ukukhutshwa kwesiqhelo kuhlala ilifu ebaleni lokudlala. Kule minyaka mine idlulileyo, abahlali bandixelele ngepeyinti yokuxobuka kwiimoto zabo kunye nokuvuka ebusuku ukuba ndibone iintlungu emehlweni abo. Norlite, bathi, "bachitha iinyembezi" emakhayeni abo. Iziphumo ezinokubakho zokubeka i-AFFF kumaqondo obushushu aphezulu kakhulu zibandakanya izithako zexesha lemfazwe zerhasi yinyembezi.
Iindawo ezinjengeMpuma yeLiverpool kunye neCooes ziindawo ze-AFFF esinokuthi sizilandele. Ezinye zeepawundi eziyi-5.5m ze-AFFF, ezingama-40% zesitokhwe samajoni, zathunyelwa kumaziko “okudibanisa amafutha” apho yayixutywe kwizibaseli zokwenza imveliso. Akucaci ukuba iphi na ipetroli ethwele i-AFFF yalandela, nangona ikhontrakthi ye-DOD ichaza ukutshisa kufanele ukuba kube sisiphelo. Ukuba uhlala eUnited States, kunokwenzeka ukuba kutshiswe kwindawo ohlala kuyo. Kwaye, ngenxa yokuba i-AFFF "yimichiza engunaphakade" engaphuliyo, olo ngcoliseko lunokuhlasela uluntu kwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana.
Ngelixa okuninzi kuhlala kungabonakali eluntwini, kukho isizathu esivakalayo sokucinga ukuba umkhosi uyaqhubeka uyitshisa i-AFFF. Lixesha elidlulileyo lokumisela izithintelo ezinesidima kuzwelonke xa kutshiswa i-AFFF kunye nokuqala ngophando olomeleleyo kuluntu apho i-AFFF yatshiswa khona.
Kwaigama leSebe lezoKhuselo lithetha uxanduva lomkhosi ukukhusela, hayi ukwenzakalisa abantu bayo. Ngazo zonke iiakhawunti, iPentagon ibeka emngciphekweni ubomi babantu abaninzi ngokungaphathi ngokungakhathali i-AFFF. Uluntu olubona le ntlekele ngokusingqongileyo lufuna ubulungisa nokuphendula. Baza kuva nini urhulumente wabo?
- UDavid Bond nguMlawuli oManyeneyo, iZiko lokuPhucula ukuSebenza koLuntu (i-CAPA) kwiKholeji yaseBennington. UkhokelaUkuqonda iPFOA”Kwaye ubhala incwadi nge Ungcoliseko lwePFAS.
