Harris County is an environmental disaster in progress.  When I see people walking in water down there I find myself thinking about what toxins are passing through their skin.  Not too much mention about the thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals dumped into the air by the refineries either - EPA has reportedly shut down air monitoring operations.

from NYT:  Officials in Houston are just beginning to grapple with the health and environmental risks that lurk in the waters dumped by Hurricane Harvey, a stew of toxic chemicals, sewage, debris and waste that still floods much of the city.

Flooded sewers are stoking fears of cholera, typhoid and other infectious diseases. Runoff from the city’s sprawling petroleum and chemicals complex contains any number of hazardous compounds. Lead, arsenic and other toxic and carcinogenic elements may be leaching from some two dozen Superfund sites in the Houston area.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/31/us/houston-contaminated-floodwaters.html?mcubz=0

Labels: moderation: safe