Dear Friends of PSR Philadelphia / Pennsylvania,
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We thank you for your long-standing and dedicated
support
!
July 2019
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On June 21, 2019, a large butane tank in the
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Oil Refinery caught fire
, causing a series of massive explosions that lasted 42 hours and made international headlines. This was the largest and oldest oil refinery on the East Coast, which supplied 335,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) of fuel to the most densely populated area of the United States. It was the second fire that month, following one on June 10.
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This explosion caused significant damage to workers and the environment. Four workers were injured during the explosion and a shelter in place was called for those East of the oil refinery. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that air plumes were migrating over South Philadelphia toward Camden and South Jersey, and warned all residents (around 1.1 million) to stay inside until the fumes were extinguished. All groundwater under the 1400-acre estate is completely contaminated.
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In an official statement,
PES announced that it will close the oil refinery
. This leaves Philadelphia at a turning point, where policymakers can decide to prioritize health and move towards a renewable future, or continue towards a contaminated one.
Click for information on how this event has impacted:
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As stated by PSR PA's executive director Dr. Walter Tsou, the oil refinery was "the single largest source of stationary air pollution in the region, without any health benefits for the neighboring community.
Approving any other fossil fuel infrastructure in Philadelphia, such as the SEPTA gas plant and liquefied natural gas plant, will create more unacceptable sacrifice zones".
PSR continually advocates for the health of PA constituents, especially when the right to clean air and environment are under attack.
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Click
here
to read a letter to the editor, by PSR PA's Executive Director Dr. Walter Tsou, published in the The Philadelphia Inquirer on July 5th, 2019.
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Click
here
to watch community leaders, including Dr. Walter Tsou, speak out against rolling back America’s Clean Car Standards
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Click
here
to read PSR's Medical Advocacy Director, Tammy Murphy urge Governor Wolf to consider health risks of fracking.
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Click
here
to read a statement released by Dr. Tsou, discussing PSR's
6th Scientific Fracking Compendium and the risks of fracking.
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#1
:
Air Pollution and Pediatric Asthma Webinar
Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 1:00 PM (EST)
Online: Click
her
e
f
or the registration link!
Learn about new studies linking air pollution and increased incidence of pediatric asthma cases and reduced lung function growth in children. Children are more vulnerable to environmental contaminants including air pollution. They breathe more air per body weight than adults and their lungs and immune system are still developing.
During this webinar Dr. Michael Brauer and Dr. Erika Garcia will give an overview of their recent studies, which both demonstrated strong associations between exposure to outdoor air contaminants and pediatric asthma in urban areas. They will also discuss the question of whether current international and California based guidelines for such emissions are protective enough for young children.
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#2: Symposium on Renewable Energy and Health!
Date: September 13, 2019
Join PSR Philadelphia/PA and Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) for a symposium on renewable energy, health, and advocacy with great speakers.
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#3:
Soul of Medicine Brunch
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Date: Sunday, October 6, 2019
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For medical students and attending physicians. This is a special day to recognize senior medical students who represent the best of humane care and our day to celebrate the soul of medicine.
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Sign These Petitions to Ask Governor Wolf to Investigate the Spike in Childhood Cancer in PA Shale Fields
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Community Leaders Speak Out Against Rolling Back Clean Car Standards
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Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Lehigh Valley community leaders gathered for a press conference in Allentown to oppose the proposed rollback of America’s clean car standards. Dr. Walter Tsou insisted at the conference that, “Pennsylvanians deserve clean air. Rolling back the clean car standards will allow automakers to make dirtier cars that pollute the air and harm our health, especially for the over 7,000 children and 28,000 adults suffering from asthma in Lehigh County,”. Click
here
for a video of the press conference.
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Pennsylvania Health Check-Up Speed Learning Series
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On July 13, 2019, PSR PA held another Health Check-Up Speed Learning Event at The Erie County Medical Soc
iety Building. This was an opportunity to earn continuing education credits and learn about the health impacts of the unconventional gas development industry!
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PSR Fights For Clean Air!
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PSR PA's Medical Advocacy Coordinator, Laura Dagley, spoke at a press conference outside of the Allegheny County Courthouse on July 16, 2019. On this day, community leaders delivered 6,000 petition signatures across 37 zip codes calling for clean air. Concerns about air quality were heightened this year following two fires at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works facility that knocked pollution controls offline.
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What Happened When The Lorax went to Harrisburg?
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On January 29, the Better Path Coalition, including PSR, organized a rally to bring the Green Amendment back into the attention of Pennsylvania lawmakers. Click
here
to find out what happened!
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Climate change isn't our only existential threat:
Click
here
to view a must-read op-ed by PSR board member Dr. Ira Helfand on the existential threat of nuclear war and the upcoming CNN presidential debate.
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More Signs That Natural Gas Can’t Compete With Renewables on Cost:
Click
here
to read a discussion on the dying fracking industry and rising renewable energy industry.
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Will Ohio River Get Optional Pollution Limits as New Fracking-Reliant Plastics Industry Moves in?:
Click
here
to read about petrochemical impact on public health. PSR PA's board member
Dr. Ned Ketyer insists, "Your doctors, my doctors, your children’s doctors are worried about the pollution and the impact on their patients' health"
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“Something Is Different”:
Click
here
to read a compelling blog post written by PSR PA's board member Dr. Ned Ketyer, discussing the unusually high prevalence of childhood bone cancer, Ewing's Sarcoma, in Southwest Pennsylvania.
In the past decade, 6 children have been diagnosed with this rare bone cancer, and 10 additional children were diagnosed with other rare cancers, in and around the Canon-McMillan School District. Reporters documented a total of 67 rare childhood cancers from 2008-2018 in four southwestern Pennsylvania counties, including a total of 27 cases of Ewing sarcoma.
“Cancer happens to too many of us as it is. But something is different. What’s going on? Why are there so many children being diagnosed with rare cancers all of a sudden— especially Ewing sarcoma, which is extremely rare?”
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