Brown County, Northeastern Wisconsin, Your Next

This could be the Bay of Green Bay.

"Brown Co. graded below soot standards
Air quality impacting health,

By Tony Walter • twalter@greenbaypressgazette.com •
January 5, 2009 "
Brown Co. graded below soot standards | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette

The health of the air in Brown County ranks among the worst in the United States, according to a recently released study of fine particle pollution by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Brown County, you had to know your turn was coming.

Brown County is one of 54 new counties that received a negative designation based on three successive years of being graded below the federal government's soot standards. In all, 211 counties did not meet the EPA's standards.

The sky is falling, maybe soot.

"It's no surprise to us," said Richard Wulk, air management supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Northeast Region. "It's from fuel combustion, cars, diesel trucks and power plants that burn coal. They produce small particles that can create deep lung irritants and that can cause problems."

Sure some fruit cake (nut) from the WDNR says it's bad. You mean like the number of deer that was supposed to be in Wisconsin in 08? And we are to believe his numbers?

It's a health issue that has continued to fly under the radar in the county, according to Dr. Manar Alshahrouri, a pulmonologist with the Sleep & Respiratory Care Department at the Prevea Allouez Health Center.

Oh my GOD, where is our free health care?

"Absolutely, it's a problem," Alshahrouri said. "There is medical data that supports the fact that across the board there is an increase in incidence of problems and a significant reduction in lung function (in counties graded poorly) compared to people in less polluted areas."

Again, show us your data! You mean like global warming this past fall was the hottest month in history?

Alshahrouri said medical studies of asthma patients, healthy patients and children between 10 and 18 have all concluded that there is damage to the lungs when exposed to the particles.

"They essentially are carbon molecules surrounded by other things that induce inflammation within the lungs," Alshahrouri said. "We see a lot of patients who relocated from someplace else who have problems here."

I bet these problems started when he started his practice in the area. $ $ $ $

There's a cost factor, Alshahrouri said. "People are missing work."

Oh yes, if you can't breathe, come see me, I will help you.

Alshahrouri said there also is data to indicate that when there is a spike in air pollution here, there also is an increase in heart attacks and strokes because inflammation in the lungs can increase the possibility of blood clotting.

Brown County's status as a nonattainment county can have an economic impact, Wulk said.

"When you're deemed a nonattainment county, there can be significant restrictions on new industry expansion or sitings," Wulk said.

That EEEEVVVVIIIILLL Brown County. DIRTY,STINKY,HARD TO BREATHE Brown County, EEEEEEVVVVVIIIIILLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!

What new business will move to Wisconsin anyway? He has to know the TAX HELL it is.

Weather can be a major factor, he said.

Some of the highest noncompliance readings come when temperatures are between 30 and 35 degrees, producing moisture in the air that prevents the soot particles from getting into the atmosphere.

Ok, call off all school between November and December and February and March. We need to go to a six months a year work schedule for all workers!

The same problem exists during high ozone level days in the summer, he said.

Keep the children inside June July and August!

Residents can cut pollution by driving less during days when weather conditions indicate a likely pollution problem, Wulk said.

Alshahrouri said residents also should pay closer attention to the daily air quality indicators that are available through media Web sites.

Does he know where the WDNR gets its air quality reading from? From a station on the Illinois and Wisconsin boarder. So air quality from Chicago is making northeastern Wisconsin air sooty? Come on, wake up man!

"You need to listen to the news," Alshahrouri said.

You sure this wasn't a paid advertisement for this guys clinic?

Pending changes through the state and federal governments also would reduce emissions from power plants, Alshahrouri and Wulk said.

Yep, shut that coal plant down and put ten thousand windmills in the Bay of Green Bay!

And I forgot to mention you will get your very own Vehicle Emissions testing station. That is right. For a small fee, oh, no fee but, "Motorists do not pay a fee for testing, but they are responsible for the cost of repairs if their vehicles do not meet emissions standards".

Wulk said the county could return to good attainment status once the 2008 data is available.

And when will that be?

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton, said cutting emissions likely will be addressed in the 111th Congress, hopefully as part of a national energy policy based on energy conservation, efficiency, and investment in renewable energy resources.

Oh, great, the data for 08 is not in and our (I didn't vote for him ) Congressman Kagen wants to, no will change laws and put people out of work.

Lets see,when will James River and P&G close from Kagen's change in laws. Sorry, I forgot some of those jobs are union.

When will the power plant shut down because of air pollution? Light rail to a town near you.

I will go on record as saying a study is probably already done on putting a light rail system in the Fox Valley to Green Bay. Doyle and Kagen will announce it this summer.

Oh, did Mr. Kagen tell you how high he will raise the gasoline tax? Did he tell you how high your electric bills are going to go up? Go ahead ask him! O golly will you be surprised.


And I might end up living in Brown County this spring. Oh Joy!

Speaking of light rail. I can see it now. Every Packer game you will have to commute to the game on light rail from Suamico, Pulaski, Seymour, Denmark, Chilton maybe Kaukauna.

Oh Joy! We are truly blessed to have all these good things happen to us.

Higher gasoline taxes.
Higher electric bills,
Light rail.
Windmills on the bay.
Vehicle emission stations.
Electric shortages.
Did I say light rail.

Oh Joy.