We received results from the sample we collected on June 5 in response to the incident that occurred at the Shell plastics plant. Please find the results outlined in the infographic below along with links to the information recently released by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). If you’d like a black and white … Read more
Hello everyone, I’m Hilary Starcher-O’Toole, Executive Director of the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, or BCMAC. Thank you to the organizers of No Kings for creating space for us to gather. Today is about solidarity. It’s about communities standing together to ask important questions—like why resources that were committed to our region have quietly disappeared. … Read more
Project SPOTlight (Sensing Pollution Outdoors Together) Monthly PurpleAir Monitor Data Report Time Period: May 1 – May 31, 2025 Number of Monitors: 24 Questions addressed in this report: How do this month’s PM2.5 levels compare to previous months? How do the PurpleAir monitor readings compare to regulatory monitors? Outstanding Questions: How have weather and temperature … Read more
AirSense Report (March 2025-June 2025) Key Findings from Monitoring PM2.5, NO2, Ozone, and VOCs Below is a summary of key findings from the second quarterly report on data collected from five Aeroqual AQM-65 air monitors in Beaver County, PA from March 2025 through June 2025. The Environmental Health Project (EHP) collected this data with the … Read more
What’s Moving In and Out by Rail: A Closer Look at Train Traffic Near the Shell Plastics Plant The Beaver County Train Cam Project is a new initiative launched by the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC) in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s CREATE Lab and the Breathe Project. The goal is simple: to monitor … Read more
Project SPOTlight (Sensing Pollution Outdoors Together) Monthly PurpleAir Monitor Data Report Time Period: April 1 – April 30, 2025 Number of Monitors: 21 In April 2025, the average PM2.5 level recorded by Project SPOTlight’s PurpleAir monitors was 6.13 µg/m³. This figure includes an EPA adjustment applied to raw PurpleAir data. The adjustment is a correction … Read more
Detailed Breakdown of Detected Chemicals from 3.4.25 Benzene Concentration: 1.3 µg/m³ (Above MRL of 0.15 µg/m³) Health Risk Threshold (8-hour exposure): 3 µg/m³ Health Risks: Short-term exposure: Drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, and skin/eye irritation. Long-term exposure: Carcinogenic – linked to leukemia, immune system suppression, and reproductive issues. EPA & WHO Classifications: Known human carcinogen. Common Sources: … Read more
Shell is hosting a town hall on Thursday—but only Center Twp residents with a “golden ticket” can attend. If you’re one of them, we’ve got you covered. Whether it’s the Title V permit, Plan Approval D, or a potential sale, here are the real questions that demand answers. Talking Points The Community Deserves Transparency — … Read more
Detailed Breakdown of Detected Chemicals from 2.4.25 Benzene Concentration: 0.63 µg/m³ Health Risk Threshold (8-hour exposure): 3 µg/m³ Health Risks: Short-term exposure: Drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, eye/skin irritation. Long-term exposure: Carcinogenic – linked to leukemia, immune system suppression, and reproductive issues. EPA & WHO Classifications: Known human carcinogen Common Sources: Emissions from petrochemical plants, refineries, and … Read more
AirSense Report (December 2024-March 2025) Key Findings from Monitoring PM2.5, NO2, Ozone, and VOCs Below is a summary of key findings from the first quarterly report on data collected from five Aeroqual AQM-65 air monitors in Beaver County, PA from December 2024 through March 2025. The Environmental Health Project (EHP) collected this data with the … Read more