Federal and state environmental agencies have found elevated levels of chemicals near the Stellantis Mack Assembly plant, Detroit’s east side.
Officials said that the chemicals don’t appear to be at enough levels to cause harm to human health during a Thursday night presentation to community members.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S Environmental Protection Agency conducted air quality sampling around the automaker plant. Although it only began operations in March 2021 and has already been subject to several violations by EGLE, three of them were for nuisance odors, and one was for improperly-installed emission control ductwork.
Brandon Reid, an MDHHS toxicologist said that air sampling found 20 chemical compounds near the Mack Assembly plant. Stellantis is aware of eight of them. This included high levels of volatile organic compound (VOC) compared to other areas.
Reid stated that all of the chemicals detected were below their respective health risk values. According to our data, the levels of chemicals detected did not pose a risk of increased health risks.
EPA officials stated that similar sampling did not reveal any detectable concentrations of hydrogen sulfide or benzene.
Reid and other officials warn that their data is not complete and can only capture a snapshot of the past. Some residents felt frustrated that the officials called the operations of the plant safe, even though they didn’t have enough information.
You’re already saying you don’t know all the information. But you keep telling people that they’re safe. Then there are chemicals you can’t even detect or test for. Why would you tell people they are safe? It’s not common sense.
Eden Bloom said that you don’t seem to be concerned about the potential health effects. You seem to be focusing only on the smell and not the fact your eyes are burning, your throats are sore, or that your lungs are sore.
Environmental and health officials assured that they will continue to monitor the facility for potential violations and health effects. Stellantis has created a plan for neutralizing odors emanating from its paint shop, which has been the subject of many citizen complaints. However they did not specify when that plan would be implemented.