Rydal-Meadowbrook Civic Association

This is a map of Montgomery County, PA. Abington Township has a relatively low-level of environmental impact as a result of industrial toxins. A primary concern is the Easton Road corridor, which includes a number of auto repair and maintenance facilities and fuel stations. Old York Road has fewer establishments, but Fuel dispensers are used to pump petrol/gasoline, diesel, CNG, CGH2, HCNG, LPG, LH2, ethanol fuel, biofuels like biodiesel, kerosene, or other types of fuel into vehicles.

In Pennsylvania, most owners of gasoline service stations located in areas that moderately or severely exceed federal health standards for ground-level ozone are required to install gasoline vapor recovery systems known as Stage II. Ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, is a colorless gas that forms when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) “bake” in the hot sun. These pollutants come from vehicles, industry, households and power plants. In addition, VOCs from gasoline vapors escape into the atmosphere while vehicles are being refueled. Beginning in 1997, only Stage II systems certified by the California Air Resource Board may be installed in Pennsylvania. These systems are 95 percent efficient at collecting vapors.

Montgomery County has some industrial areas, which have been a source of toxics in the environment. According to the PA Department of Environmental Protection, toxic pollutants are a group of 188 pollutants identified by the federal Clean Air Act that have been associated with a wide variety of adverse health effects, including cancer.

Although the focus on toxics in ambient air is relatively new, there are many local, state and national programs aimed at reducing toxic pollutants in the air we breathe. You can get an update-to-date view of the current Air Quality Index at here.

Sources and Links:
Air Release in Montgomery County
Toxic Release Inventory
Water Discharge Permits
Hazardous Waste Handlers
EPA Toxins Release Inventory
PA Department of Environmental Protection (PDF)
Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET)
Superfund Finder
Superfund National Priorities List
Data Visualization of Community Health
Data Masher (Comparing Statistics)