Los Angeles County has temporarily suspended air quality rules to allow the incineration of covid-19 victims, according to a executive order past the South Coast Air Quality Management District over the weekend. The rules will be suspended for 10 days, as the region operates through a “backlog” of people who have died from the coronavirus pandemic, which is still uncontrolled in many parts of the country.
Los Angeles County has 28 crematoria, although these facilities are prohibited by law from operating at full capacity to reduce air pollution. But with more than 2,700 bodies currently in cold storage due to an influx of patients dying from the covid-19 crisis, local authorities have decided that dirty air is the price Angelenos will have to pay if the delay is ever removed. .
“The coroner has determined that the current death rate in Los Angeles County is more than double the pre-pandemic years and anticipates another wave approaching as a result of the New Year holidays, as deaths tend to occur 4-6 weeks after assemblies and the capacity of the deceased’s management system, including hospitals, funeral homes, crematoria and the coroner’s office, is exceeded, ”the executive order reads.
Los Angeles has been particularly hard hit by the covid-19 pandemic, with the county recently exceeding one million cases in total. The county also reported 13,936 deaths since Monday night. The United States has identified more than 24 million cases and at least 398,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University coronavirus follower.
Incinerators create air pollution and go wild traces of hazardous chemicals such as mercury. The most common source of mercury in incineration is dental fillings in deceased persons. Baby Boomers, a generation that was given mercury dental work before alternatives are developed.
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Like a 2015 study for The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency found:
…it is known that mercury in dental amalgams vaporizes after exposure to high incineration temperature (1400-2000 ° F). It becomes emitted air at 674 ° F and contributes to environmental pollution with mercury (Mari and Domingo, 2009). The potential health effects of mercury exposure released from dental amalgam restorations during incineration have generated public concern and debate.
The vaccines are being launched in the United States, but the process has been marred by errors, largely due to a completely Trump-based approach that has left local governments to fend for themselves. And while Los Angeles hopes to get vaccines for all medical staff before opening the blows to other segments of the population, the county announced late Monday that it will allow anyone vaccinated to anyone 65 and older starting Jan. 21. .
“In the past few weeks, Los Angeles County has administered the vaccine to health care workers so that they can stay safe while doing important life-saving work, as well as residents and staff in skilled health care facilities and care. long-term facilities, ”said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Hilda Solis in a statement posted on her website.
“The launch of the COVID-19 vaccine has been a huge undertaking, especially during an unprecedented increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise,” Solis continued. “However, if we ever want to get out of this dark winter, it is essential to make progressive vaccination of people aged 65 and over as soon as possible – in line with the recommendations of Governor Gavin Newsom.”
While the end is coming, a few months ago, local health authorities continue to make tough choices – in some cases between vaccinating health workers or the elderly. And in even more annoying cases, the choice is difficult between cleaner air and the public health crisis that is being created with too many dead bodies around.