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Why are there hotspots of health problems, diseases?
Could we reduce cancer rates with environmental remediation? New drug formulas? New non-invasive therapies to avoid high risk surgeries?
Is a major cause of cancer actually certain forms of PFAS and airborne pollution, chemicals? Are there circular economy and technology solutions for pollution reduction, remediation?
August 2023 Metal Shredder High Pollution Event
Radius Recycling pollution event
This event shows how far ongoing day-to-day pollution impacts beyond a one mile radius.
"AIR DISTRICT monitoring data shows that on August 9, 2023, hourly concentrations of PM sized 2.5 microns or smaller (“PM2.5”) increased sharply from 3 µg/m3 during the 5:00 p.m. hour to 266 µg/m3 during the 6:00 p.m. hour at the Laney College monitoring site, downwind when the fire started. Hourly PM2.5 concentrations increased at other
"AIR DISTRICT monitoring data shows that on August 9, 2023, hourly concentrations of PM sized 2.5 microns or smaller (“PM2.5”) increased sharply from 3 µg/m3 during the 5:00 p.m. hour to 266 µg/m3 during the 6:00 p.m. hour at the Laney College monitoring site, downwind when the fire started. Hourly PM2.5 concentrations increased at other AIR DISTRICT other monitoring sites on August 10, 2023, as winds shifted and transported smoke to additional locations. Peak hourly PM2.5 concentrations on August 10, 2023, reached 94 µg/m3 at the Oakland – West monitoring site, 47 µg/m3 at the San Pablo monitoring site, 35 µg/m3 at the Pleasanton monitoring site, and 26 µg/m3 at the Livermore monitoring site."
source:
This event shows how far ongoing day-to-day pollution impacts beyond a one mile radius.
This event shows how far ongoing day-to-day pollution impacts beyond a one mile radius.
Within hours, visually it appeared to impact this region.
This is why proper site and fenceline dust contamination capture and reduction is really important for public health. To both help prevent ongoing, 24/7, recycling emissions dust pollution entering the community along with reducing the potential of major emissions events, such as fires.
Prevention and remediation of ongoing airborne ASR re
This is why proper site and fenceline dust contamination capture and reduction is really important for public health. To both help prevent ongoing, 24/7, recycling emissions dust pollution entering the community along with reducing the potential of major emissions events, such as fires.
Prevention and remediation of ongoing airborne ASR residue, which is highly toxic, should be a priority in permitting these types of facilities. Such as being proposed in California by updating hazardous waste facility permitting criteria for additional community protections.
The top 5 cancer causing pollutants from case study Schnitzer Steel/Radius Recycling
1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) & Precursor Organic Compounds
- What they are: Carbon-based chemical gases that easily evaporate into the air. At a metal shredder, these come from shredded automobile fluids, plastics, synthetic insulation, wire coatings, and leftover chemical solvents.
Key Carcinogens in the Mix: Benzene, 1,3-butadiene,
1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) & Precursor Organic Compounds
- What they are: Carbon-based chemical gases that easily evaporate into the air. At a metal shredder, these come from shredded automobile fluids, plastics, synthetic insulation, wire coatings, and leftover chemical solvents.
Key Carcinogens in the Mix: Benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and formaldehyde.
2. Heavy Metal Particulates (Lead, Cadmium, and Arsenic bound to PM)
- What they are: Microscopic dust particles and toxic metal fumes generated when scrap cars, old electronics, and structural metals are violently fragmented, smashed, or superheated during accidental fires. DTSC enforcement data specifically highlights lead, cadmium, and zinc as major byproducts.
3. Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) carrying Shredder "Fluff" (LFM)
- What they are: Light Fibrous Material (LFM)—often called shredder "fluff"—consists of pulverized plastic, foam, textiles, rubber, and synthetic fibers that shredders spit out in massive quantities.
4. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) & Dioxins (From Fires)
- What they are: Highly toxic semi-volatile compounds created whenever complex mixtures of plastics, oils, rubber tires, and insulated wires burn without complete combustion. Radius has a heavily documented history of major scrap yard fires (such as the high-profile toxic fires in 2018, 2020, and 2023).
5. Particulate-Bound and Volatile PFAS ("Forever Chemicals")
- What they are: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances embedded within discarded consumer electronics, vehicle interiors, wiring, and stain-resistant fabrics processed on-site.
- Cancer Link: As established when looking at landfill comparisons, the mechanical friction and thermal stress of high-speed industrial shredding—alongside low-temperature smoldering in scrap piles—aerosolizes PFAS compounds. Inhaled or ingested via settled dust, certain long-chain PFAS (like PFOA and PFOS) bioaccumulate in human tissues and are heavily implicated by health agencies in elevated risks for kidney and testicular cancers.
PFAS emissions from ASR residue may be impacting men and women's health
Besides major pollution events the day-to-day airborne and waterway emissions of PFAS toxins, chemicals may be impacting both men and women's health.
The health costs are far larger than the cost for the ASR shredder to make necessary improvements to contain and manage their pollution.
The good news about this testing! This location was pa
Besides major pollution events the day-to-day airborne and waterway emissions of PFAS toxins, chemicals may be impacting both men and women's health.
The health costs are far larger than the cost for the ASR shredder to make necessary improvements to contain and manage their pollution.
The good news about this testing! This location was partially chosen in part knowing ST/RR emitted high amounts of copper and zinc. This would allow real-life testing for doping Tio2 photocatalyst with Cu, Zn. As research shows that Cu-doped Tio2 can have ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) generation rates 7 to 11 times higher than pure TiO_2. In some studies, metal-doped TiO possibly achieving 80-99% degradation of PFOA compared to less than 10-24% for undoped versions.
This is why Circular Solar created tests, comparison tests, downwind of the PFAS emitter which also emits high amounts of copper and zinc.
https://iris.unitn.it/retrieve/e3835198-c359-72ef-e053-3705fe0ad821/applsci-11-08458.pdf
In-situ doping effect of Copper and Zinc emissions improving Tio2 photocatalyst degradation of pollutants
The good news about this testing!
It's proven how our formula and in certain regions, we can capture and remediate some pollution.
This location was partially chosen in 2020 knowing ST/RR emitted high amounts of copper and zinc from its recycling process. Research from micro FOAK in 2008 - 2018+ installed in a road made our family wonder
The good news about this testing!
It's proven how our formula and in certain regions, we can capture and remediate some pollution.
This location was partially chosen in 2020 knowing ST/RR emitted high amounts of copper and zinc from its recycling process. Research from micro FOAK in 2008 - 2018+ installed in a road made our family wonder if copper emissions from brake pads were possibly providing in-situ doping of photocatalyst improving degradation.
The best location to test the theory was chosen (and partly why a vessel was used, with two hulls to compare long-term marine growth health) for in-situ doping of Tio2 photocatalyst with Cu, Zn emissions. As research shows that Cu-doped Tio2 can have ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) generation rates 7 to 11 times higher than pure TiO2. In some studies, metal-doped TiO2 possibly achieving 80-99% degradation of PFOA compared to less than 10-24% for undoped versions.
This is also the benefit of Circular Solar Mine sites where copper, zinc dust can improve degradation.