Residents speak out: How local plant dust has been making them sick!
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For over a year, a local plant has been causing health concerns for nearby residents. Thick dust has become a constant issue, raising alarms in the community.
What’s being done to address this growing crisis?
Imagine waking up each day to a fine layer of dust coating your home, infiltrating your lungs, and disrupting your peace.
This has been the reality for the residents of Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill, who have been waging a battle against the SIM Municipal Recycling facility.
The plant, which crushes concrete for recycling, has been accused of blanketing the neighborhood in dust, causing not just a nuisance but a potential health hazard.
The outcry reached a crescendo when more than 50 determined Brooklynites formed a human shield outside the plant, intent on halting the trucks and demanding action.
Jana Weill, a 21-year resident of Columbia Street, became the face of the protest, driven to drastic measures by what she described as “countless lies” and unfulfilled promises from the facility's operators.
“We’re really mad. We needed to do something drastic to get them to listen to us because they’ve told us countless lies. We’ve tried to be nice.”
The community's frustration is palpable.
Residents like Sharon Gordon, who has lived near the SIM site for two decades, have noticed a marked decline in their respiratory health.
“We can never open the windows. We run air purifiers 24/7 and I’m always getting sick,” Gordon shared.
Gordon, a professional singer, has been particularly hard hit due to her selective immune deficiency, which makes her especially susceptible to the dust's effects.
The concerns of Cobble Hill's residents go beyond mere inconvenience.
The potential long-term health implications of constant exposure to concrete dust are deeply troubling.
“You measure health issues over years, sometimes decades. Health effects, whatever they are, we won’t know for a long time, but I personally have [definitely noticed] sore throat. Definitely respiratory differences,” said one Kane Street resident, who wished to remain anonymous.
Concrete dust can contain silica, which, when inhaled, can lead to serious conditions such as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.
Moreover, the location of the plant raises serious questions.
With an elementary school just two blocks away and a public park and greenway in close proximity, the choice to operate a dust-generating facility in a residential area seems, at best, ill-considered.
In response to the community's outcry, the city Department of Transportation (DOT) has claimed to implement several measures to mitigate the dust and noise.
These include reducing the size of the recycled concrete aggregate piles, installing noise minimizers, and planning to cease operations when winds reach high speeds.
A new irrigation system is also on the cards, intended to dampen the piles and prevent dust from becoming airborne.
Yet, despite these assurances, residents remain skeptical.
The lack of transparency regarding environmental impact assessments and the continued presence of dust and noise suggest that the measures taken may be insufficient.
For the people of Cobble Hill, the fight for clean air and a safe living environment continues.
The community's resilience is a testament to the importance of local activism and the need for environmental justice
As they stand united, demanding real solutions and not just temporary fixes, their message is clear: the health and well-being of residents cannot be sidelined.
Have you experienced similar issues in your community? How have you addressed them?
Share your stories and insights in the comments below. Together, we can raise awareness and advocate for a cleaner, healthier future for all.
What’s being done to address this growing crisis?
Imagine waking up each day to a fine layer of dust coating your home, infiltrating your lungs, and disrupting your peace.
This has been the reality for the residents of Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill, who have been waging a battle against the SIM Municipal Recycling facility.
The plant, which crushes concrete for recycling, has been accused of blanketing the neighborhood in dust, causing not just a nuisance but a potential health hazard.
The outcry reached a crescendo when more than 50 determined Brooklynites formed a human shield outside the plant, intent on halting the trucks and demanding action.
Protesters are demanding the plant’s shutdown, citing constant dust in homes and health concerns. Image source: New York Post.
Jana Weill, a 21-year resident of Columbia Street, became the face of the protest, driven to drastic measures by what she described as “countless lies” and unfulfilled promises from the facility's operators.
“We’re really mad. We needed to do something drastic to get them to listen to us because they’ve told us countless lies. We’ve tried to be nice.”
The community's frustration is palpable.
Residents like Sharon Gordon, who has lived near the SIM site for two decades, have noticed a marked decline in their respiratory health.
“We can never open the windows. We run air purifiers 24/7 and I’m always getting sick,” Gordon shared.
Gordon, a professional singer, has been particularly hard hit due to her selective immune deficiency, which makes her especially susceptible to the dust's effects.
The concerns of Cobble Hill's residents go beyond mere inconvenience.
The potential long-term health implications of constant exposure to concrete dust are deeply troubling.
“You measure health issues over years, sometimes decades. Health effects, whatever they are, we won’t know for a long time, but I personally have [definitely noticed] sore throat. Definitely respiratory differences,” said one Kane Street resident, who wished to remain anonymous.
Concrete dust can contain silica, which, when inhaled, can lead to serious conditions such as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.
Moreover, the location of the plant raises serious questions.
With an elementary school just two blocks away and a public park and greenway in close proximity, the choice to operate a dust-generating facility in a residential area seems, at best, ill-considered.
In response to the community's outcry, the city Department of Transportation (DOT) has claimed to implement several measures to mitigate the dust and noise.
These include reducing the size of the recycled concrete aggregate piles, installing noise minimizers, and planning to cease operations when winds reach high speeds.
A new irrigation system is also on the cards, intended to dampen the piles and prevent dust from becoming airborne.
Yet, despite these assurances, residents remain skeptical.
The lack of transparency regarding environmental impact assessments and the continued presence of dust and noise suggest that the measures taken may be insufficient.
For the people of Cobble Hill, the fight for clean air and a safe living environment continues.
The community's resilience is a testament to the importance of local activism and the need for environmental justice
As they stand united, demanding real solutions and not just temporary fixes, their message is clear: the health and well-being of residents cannot be sidelined.
Share your stories and insights in the comments below. Together, we can raise awareness and advocate for a cleaner, healthier future for all.
