Category: Environment and Green

bookmark_borderPlymouth Meeting, PA and the Creation of the Climate Crisis

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by Daniel Brouse

Train Derailment in Plymouth Meeting, PA

Hypothesis

The train derailment in Plymouth Meeting (July 17, 2023) and the seven people swept away by flood waters in Washington’s Crossing (July 15, 2023) were caused in part by our forefathers’ creation and contribution to climate change. In the 1600’s and 1700’s, the United States fostered worldwide freedom, abolition, revolution, war, finance, commerce, and industry. In 1688, the American forefathers created the cradle of human induced global warming in Plymouth Meeting, PA with the establishment of a limestone quarry and limekilns.

Limekilns are used to make quicklime by cooking limestone to 1,650 ℉. Quicklime is used in fertilizer, insecticides, tanning, mortar, plaster, high-grade steel, paper, and cement. Until the creation of the limekilns in 1688, colonists crushed oyster shells to create quicklime. The quicklime industry helped fund the American Revolution and the Underground Railroad.

Decomposing limestone (CaCO3) into quicklime (burnt limestone; CaO) releases significant CO2 emissions, both from the combustion of fuel needed to heat the kiln to temperatures over 1,000°C, and by the release of CO2 from the reaction itself (CaCO3 –> CaO + CO2). Because quicklime is a key ingredient in the production of cement, as well as being used in steel, pulp-and-paper and other industries, efforts are underway to reduce the carbon footprint of this operation. — Chemical Engineering / February 1, 2022

Plymouth Meeting

Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse: birthplace of the American Revolution
The Quaker Meetinghouse (located at the corners of Butler Pike and Germantown Avenue) is where the forefathers met to plan and carry out the creation of the USA.

Across the street…
The Underground Railroad: birthplace of Freedom in the USA
“As part of the Plymouth Meeting Anti-Slavery Society they held meetings in the Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse across the street from their home.”

Head north just a bit…
Limekilns: The cradle of commerce in the USA
“Remains of an industry that began in the village of Plymouth Meeting in 1688”
The original Made in America human influencer of climate change on an industrial scale.

If you head east a bit…
Old Corson Quarry: original mine for the limekilns and site of the train derailment
Before they discovered limestone in Plymouth Meeting, colonists had to crush oyster shells. The quarry is still in use today and was purchased by Highway Materials, Inc. in 1997.

Conclusion

On a weekend in July 2023, extreme rainfall caused flash flooding that resulted in:

  • seven drowning fatalities in Washington’s Crossing, PA
  • sinkholes to develop in the carbonate rock under the railroad tracks in Plymouth Meeting causing a train derailment

The deaths and damage to infrastructure were caused in part by the culture, economics, and “cradle of climate change” created in Plymouth Meeting in 1688. Limekiln Sign in Plymouth Meeting

The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment

bookmark_borderFree and Natural Air Purifiers in the Philadelphia Area

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By Daniel Brouse

Air pollution is: a leading cause of death worldwide, the leading cause of climate change, and the greatest threat to humankind.

Herbs, Spruce, Aromatic Plants, and Phytoncides
Plants are natural air filters and can increase your indoor air quality.

There is not much an individual can do about the outdoor air quality; however, there is a lot one can do to improve their individual air quality.

The EPA reports, risks from long-term exposure to indoor pollution “include some respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable.”

In the Spring of 2023, wildfires in Canada made the symptoms noticeable to many residents in the United States. Outdoor air quality measured hazardous for days in a row. When people could see and smell the air quality, it became obvious. Their indoor air quality also became noticeably poor.

With extreme weather events increasingly impacting both outdoor and indoor air quality, a long-term breathing experiment is underway.

1. Origin of Virgin Air
Where is the air you are breathing coming from? The more outside air brought into the living space, then the more need for air purification. Filters that clean all the contaminants out of the air are both expensive and difficult to keep maintained. On the other hand, many houses are becoming over insulated in an effort to improve their energy efficiency. Unfortunately the more airtight a dwelling is, then the more the internally generated pollution will impact air quality and life expectancy.

2. Purify the Air: Plants
No matter where your virgin air comes from, most likely the best way to purify the air is with plants.

The most famous study was conducted by NASA to remove formaldehyde from the air and found spider plants removed 95 percent of the toxic substance from a sealed Plexiglas chamber in 24 hours.

As part of the long-term breathing experiment we have cultivated multiple generations of spider plants. They are a great place for a novice to get started. Spider plants thrive in bright to moderate light. In the spring and summer, once-a-week watering is sufficient. During the winter, the soil should dry between waterings. (Spider plants are almost as easy to care for as cacti.) Snake plants are also easy to grow in all kinds of lighting situations, require little watering, and are one of the best air purifying plants.

Aromatic Plants and Phytoncides
Almost all plants are good for air purification. The spider plant and snake plants are great for taking pollutants out of the air, as well as optimize sustainability. The long-term breathing experiment is also looking at adding to the air quality.

Aromatherapy and Forest Bathing are easy to implement in your natural air purification experiment. Many plants can help take contaminants out of the air while adding medicinal properties to the air. Rosemary, mints, basil, sage, and most other herbs can add anti-bacterial, anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, stress, pain relief and other beneficial properties to air quality.

During the Air Quality Crisis of 2023, the long-term breathing experiment collided with the Tree Extinction Experiment. As part of the tree experiment, we grow a small nursery of trees in containers. Their main purpose is usually outside to act as a windblock for the structure to help reduce heating and cooling energy needs. Luckily, during the hazardous air quality days we were able to bring some (spruce and oak) inside to help purify the air and add phytoncides. The US Department of Agriculture reports, “These chemicals are natural oils that plants use to defend themselves against unwanted pests such as insects, bacteria or fungi. Phytoncides improve the human immune system by increasing natural killer cell activity. These cells respond rapidly to virus-infected cells and tumor formation. Studies show that increased natural cell activity can last for more than 30 days after a trip to a forest, suggesting that a trip once a month would enable individuals to maintain a higher level of natural killer cell activity. Other benefits from phytoncides include an increase in anti-cancer proteins; a reduction in blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones; reduced test scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion; and increased scores for vigor.”

Trees known to produce especially high levels of phytoncides include the evergreen trees (Cedars, Spruces, Conifers and Pine) and Oak trees.

More on Clean Water, Air, and Healthy Plants

More Things You Can Do to Help the Environment and Your Health

bookmark_border#8 Worst Air Quality: Semi-rural Areas in Central Pennsylvania (Lancaster, Harrisburg)

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A new study confirm an ongoing air quality problem not far from Philadelphia, PA — Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Lebanon, and Wyomissing.

“There is a lot of agriculture in the area, but it is also a transportation thoroughfare and is dotted with clusters of industry, including food processing plants, metals fabricators and plastics manufacturing.”

This also impacts quality of life and life expectancy. An indoor air exchange systems with well maintained filters is recommended. Wearing an N95 mask while outdoors will help reduce ill-health effects.

Health and Air Quality
Climate Change