EGLE drone flies over Kalamazoo wastewater treatment plant

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A drone flown by the state of Michigan detected toxins in the air over the city’s wastewater treatment plant at levels potentially dangerous to anyone exposed, and further investigation is planned.

The drone, equipped with multiple sensors to detect chemicals, flew patterns over the treatment plant on May 23-24.

Data from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy that MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette received through a Freedom of Information Act request to the city of Kalamazoo states that volatile organic compound hot spots were found in the air.

Kalamazoo Public Services Director James Baker told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette that formaldehyde was measured in amounts as high as 0.864 parts per million.

The Minimal Risk Levels for formaldehyde inhalation are 0.04 ppm for acute (short) exposure (about 1 to 14 days); 0.03 ppm for intermediate exposure (from 15 to 364 days), and 0.008 ppm for chronic exposure (one year or more). A Minimal Risk Level is an estimate of the amount of a chemical a person can be exposed to each day without a detectable risk to health. The levels are developed for health effects other than cancer, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry guidelines.

Baker said he agreed with an MLive reporter, who pointed out some measurements taken during the May drone flights exceeded all of the Minimal Risk Levels mentioned above for formaldehyde, including the most serious risk level for short-term exposure.

“As Public Services staff work to better understand and interpret this data, it has been discovered that there may be detectable levels of formaldehyde inside the plant’s property which would require additional workplace safety policy and procedures,” a Sept. 6 statement to MLive from the city’s public services department said.

“We believe that the increased levels of formaldehyde are focused within a specific process and building at the Harrison Street facilities. Our staff are working with MIOSHA, EGLE, MDHHS and consultants in support of continued discovery and program development,” the statement reads.

While the highest readings were on May 23, the data also shows several readings exceeding all Minimal Risk Levels on the next day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, nasal and eye irritation, neurological effects, and increased risk of asthma and/or allergy have been observed in humans breathing 0.1 to 0.5 parts per million of formaldehyde. Eczema and changes in lung function have been observed at 0.6 to 1.9 parts per million, the agency’s toxicity fact sheet states.

The city of Kalamazoo provided data to the Kalamazoo Gazette that shows detections of formaldehyde, including the highest readings, seen here.

The ATSDR said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services determined in 2011 that formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen based on sufficient human and animal inhalation studies. Once formaldehyde is in the air, it is quickly broken down, usually within hours. Everyone is exposed to small amounts of formaldehyde in air and some foods and products, the ATSDR said.

Baker said he believes some of the highest formaldehyde readings may be tied to wastewater plant equipment that was temporarily uncovered for maintenance on May 23. He said perhaps the highest readings may have been lower if maintenance was not happening at the time.

EGLE officials believe the elevated formaldehyde readings may have come from the exhaust of a truck.

“Sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide readings generally rose and fell with the formaldehyde readings and may have detected combustion emissions from a semi-truck that was running while its trailer was being loaded with biosolids during the drone sampling event,” EGLE Spokeswoman Jill Greenberg said.

Greenberg said mobile source emissions are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, not the state government.

“The experimental data is still being analyzed and quality controlled. But it is clear that it will give us valuable information to conduct a full, methodical, rigorous investigation of issues in and around the facility,” Greenberg said.

The drone also found other chemicals exceeding Minimal Risk Levels, including sulfur dioxide as high as 1.2 parts per million. That exceeds the acute federal Minimal Risk Level of 0.01 parts per million for that chemical.

Hydrogen sulfide was found as high as .69 parts per million, exceeding its acute Minimal Risk Level of .07 ppm.

The EGLE drone study was not regulatory because it was intended to assess and learn new drone technology, Greenberg said.

“Further sampling and refinement of the drone sampling platform is warranted based on the results from the initial drone study,” Greenberg said. “EGLE continues to assess the instrumentation used in this study and is evaluating and researching changes to sampling methodology ahead of any future drone sampling project.”

Some volatile organic compounds are expected in wastewater treatment as materials break down, Baker said.

The state team of researchers reached out to the city to do the work and it was a part of ongoing odor studies, he said.

Health questions are being asked in the wake of the study.

If someone is exposed to an amount above the Minimal Risk Level, according to the federal agency, it does not mean that health problems will happen. It means health assessors may want to look more closely at a site, according to the ATSDR.

Citizens have already been on alert because of an ongoing health investigation and assessment related to air quality in the neighborhood nearby the industrial activities.

Jack Peake, 74, was raised on North Edwards Street. East of the home, where his mother still lives, is the Graphic Packaging International factory, and further east is the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

Out of five siblings, he and three others have had cancer, Peake said. He has wondered if it could be linked to air quality and the odor in the neighborhood.

Northside resident, Jack Peake, speaks with MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette journalist Brad Devereaux, outside his mother’s home in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Thursday, July 28, 2022. The building in the background is the expansion of Graphic Packaging International factory. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com

“We need to get to the bottom of it,” Peake said. “It’s not always about the money. It’s about people’s lives and their health.”

Related: Residents worry ‘disgusting’ industrial odor could be harming their health

Getting answers will take more time.

EGLE may conduct a modified drone study in 2023, upon written consent from the city and Graphic Packaging, using lessons learned from the May study, spokesman Scott Dean said.

Graphic Packaging told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette it is cooperating with the state agency’s request for access to measure for volatile organic compounds from potential sources in the area.

The company said it does not routinely measure for the presence of volatile organic compounds. It does perform calculations to “conservatively estimate” volatile organic compounds from the operations, and reports those calculations to the state.

“We expect only minimal (volatile organic compounds) VOCs from our operations, and those emissions are expected to be below our permit limit for VOCs. VOCs include a very broad range of compounds, and most industries have some VOC emissions,” the company said in a statement.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has not released its health consultation that focuses on the presence of toxic hydrogen sulfide in the area surrounding the wastewater plant and Graphic Packaging. The report will also look at other chemicals.

The agency has not identified any immediate public health risks based on the available data for the community, said MDHHS spokesperson Chelsea Wuth. The report is examining the possible effects of long-term exposures.

The state agency recommends that anyone who is concerned about their health speak to their health care provider, Wuth said.

She confirmed to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette that some measurements taken from the city wastewater plant were higher than ATSDR’s acute exposure Minimal Risk Level for inhalation exposure.

“Exposure to a level of a chemical greater than the MRL does not mean that health effects will occur,” Wuth said. According to ATSDR, Wuth said, MRLs are intended to serve as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely.

MDHHS has been notified that the city’s wastewater plant is taking steps to protect worker safety, Wuth said, deferring to the city for any additional information. The city did not immediately provide details of the plan when asked Tuesday.

At this time, she said, they do not have any data on formaldehyde levels in the community near the wastewater plant.

Previous air samples taken from the community in 2020 and 2021 were not analyzed by methods that could measure formaldehyde, Wuth said.

The public was not notified of the discovery. When asked why the public was not notified, Wuth responded that no measurements were taken outside of city wastewater property where the public may be impacted.

The drone study will be incorporated into ongoing investigations.

See photos of the plant taken by the drone.

“MDHHS is reviewing the data to determine whether future formaldehyde investigations in the nearby community are warranted based on the measurements at (the wastewater treatment plant),” Wuth said.

The state health department will incorporate the findings into its health consultation on air quality near the wastewater treatment plant and Graphic Packaging.

Two residents spoke about pollution issues at the Sept. 6 Kalamazoo City Commission meeting, and asked for updates about the state health investigation.

“Terrible air pollution” on the northside is one of the challenges the city faces, Vice Mayor Don Cooney said at the meeting.

They are challenges but also opportunities, he said, and Kalamazoo can make a difference by embracing the challenges.

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