Jamaica: Air quality tests done amid massive fire at dump show high levels of benzene
KINGSTON, Jamaica _ Jamaican health officials says air quality tests done in the wake of a massive dump fire show such high levels of a known carcinogen that they now consider it a significant public health issue.
The health ministry says air tests taken March 13-14 show the highest levels of benzene the government agency has ever recorded.
In a Monday statement, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse described it is a “significant public health” matter.
But at the same time, the ministry notes that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say long-term benzene exposure means exposure of a year or more.
A week ago, DuCasse said she did not believe there would be any long-term effects from the dump fire that blanketed Kingston with noxious smoke.
The Associated Press
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
