paper industry query

[haldun@ee.bilkent.edu.tr (Haldun Ozaktas)]

We are concerned whether any health hazards are posed by certain 
industries in our neighborhood, a large University campus with 
dormitories and faculty residences. These are mainly paper products,
printing, water treatment facilities, and a natural-gas-burning
electrical power plant, about 300-600 meters away from the residences.

We understand the actual risks depend on the particular circumstances,
However, since local authorities are hardly of any help, we are in
need of general expert opinions and educated judgements as to whether 
there is substantial reason for concern, or whether any precautions 
are advisable.

Do you know anyone who would be able to provide us with a general 
assessment based on the brief description of the facilities attached 
below?

Thank you sincerely in advance.

(Please respond to haldun@ee.bilkent.edu.tr)

Haldun M. Ozaktas, Professor            (90) (312) 290 16 19
Bilkent University                      (90) (312) 266 43 07 (secretary)
Department of Electrical Engineering    (90) (312) 266 41 26 (fax)
TR-06533 Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey        haldun@ee.bilkent.edu.tr
www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~haldun           haldun@alumni.stanford.org


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Description of facilities:

The main concern is whether there is airborne contamination from the 
industries described below, since most people don't drink the tap water.
(Some specific concerns/questions have been inserted in square brackets.)

Common urban air pollution due to fossil fuel burning is pronounced
for only a few winter months. Otherwise, there is no blatantly visible
sign of heavy ambient air pollution from these industries. (The visible 
smoke coming out of their chimneys is similar in quantity and appearance 
to that coming out of large apartment or office buildings.)

There does not seem to be a clear consistent directional pattern of
the low winds, as far as we can observe.

The total area occupied by the below described factory complex is
approximately a rectangle of size 400 meters by 600 meters.

*Paper-cardboard manufacturing and paper products:
 -400-600 meters away from residences.
 -They primarily buy ready cellulose/pulp, no major pulp production; 
  however some used paper recycling with de-inking and related processes.
  Waste paper is processed in giant mixers called pulpers and chemical 
  processing is used to eliminate ink, glue or other chemicals in the pulp.
 -Use of wet-strength agents and other special "functional" additives, 
  such as those for carbonless copy paper. Large plastic vats of 
  wet-strength agent spotted outside facility.
 -After pulp is given desired form, it is heat dried.

[Q: Would a substantial amount of these chemicals be emanated, perhaps
 when the wet pulp is heated? Is there otherwise any concern
 regarding airborne contamination?]

*Wastewater treatment facility of paper factory:
 -300 meters away from residences.
 -Visible open pools where water is being churned.
 -Layers of gray colored flaky pellet-like waste material are loaded 
  to trucks. Very strong foul smell at facility boundary when they
  freshly come out, but not at residences.

*Tap water treatment facility serving University:
 -250-300 meters away from residences.
 -Chlorination of water distributed to the campus and neighborhood.
  (Tap levels of chlorine are regularly monitored at several points.)

[Q: Should we be concerned about contamination through the air with
Chlorine, Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrochloric acid, or Hypochlorite:
Chloroform, Dioxin, or similar chemicals?]

[Q: Should we be concerned about contamination through the air with
PCBs, which some sources indicate are used in paper manufacture, inks, 
dyes, carbonless copy paper, adhesives, etc., as well as being found
in electrical and industrial equipment.]

[Q: Should we be concerned about inhalation through the air of
formaldehyde used in paper products. We were alarmed by the
statement "People living within a 12.5-mile radius of industries 
making or using formaldehyde may be exposed to excessive levels of 
the chemical" (J. Harte et al. Toxics A to Z. UC Press, Berkely, 1991).]


*Color and black-and-white printing press facilities:
 -400-600 meters away from residences.

[Q: Could any inks, solvents, etc. be emanated at a subtantial amount?]


*Natural-gas-burning electrical power plant:
 -500 meters away from residences.
 -Supplies electricity and hot water to University of 12 thousand
  students, including dormitories, faculty residences, and a
  400 meters by 900 meters industrial ground (paper and printing, 
  wood products and furniture, gypsum board, concrete panels, etc.).

[Q: Should we be concerned about contamination through the air of
toxic Chromium(VI), as suggested by the following statement:
"Drift from cooling towers can be an important source of chromium(VI) 
in the vicinity of electrical power plants, where it is used to 
prevent corrosion in the cooling loops" (J. Harte et al.).]

[Q: Are lead or other harmful materials typically added to or 
contaminate natural gas? (as they are added to gasoline)]