Residents report health issues after Moss Landing battery facility fire

SORE THROATS, COUGHING, TO EVEN A METALLIC TASTE IN THEIR MOUTH. “I STARTED HAVING A REALLY BAD COUGH, AND KIND OF A WHEEZY FEELING AND A REALLY, REALLY BAD HEADACHE. THAT WAS MOST OF IT. AND THEN IT PERSISTED THROUGH THE NIGHT. AND THE NEXT DAY I FELT WORSE BECAUSE MY EYES WERE REALLY, REALLY RED AND A LITTLE BIT MORE INTENSE WHEEZING.” PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE SAYING THAT THEY’RE EXPERIENCING HEALTH ISSUES AFTER THE BATTERY PLANT FIRE IN MOSS LANDING. <“I HAVE A METALLIC TASTE IN MY MOUTH THAT DOES NOT GO AWAY> THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN, BECAUSE LITHIUM BATTERY FIRES CAN BE TOXIC. “FOR LITHIUM FIRES WE WORRY ABOUT HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, WHICH IS A CHEMICAL THAT’S RELEASED FROM THESE FIRES. IN SMALL AMOUNTS, IT CAN CAUSE IRRITATION OF THE EYES AND LUNGS AND AN IRRITATION OF THE SKIN. AT HIGHER LEVELS, IT CAN GET ABSORBED INTO THE BODY AND CAUSE SEVERE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND OTHER MEDICAL ISSUES.” BUT THE EPA WAS ON THE GROUND CONDUCTING AIR QUALITY TESTS AND THEY REPORTED NO MEASURABLE HYDROGEN FLUROIRIDE IN THE PATH OF THE SMOKE PLUME…WHICH WOULD INCLUDE CASTROVILLE AND PRUNEDALE….. BUT HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE BATTERY FIRE……JUST LIKE SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES… CARRIES A LOT OF PARTICLE MATTER AND CAN BE AN IRRITANT… ..WHILE NOT AS DANGEROUS AS HYDROGEN FLUORIDE IT CAN LEAD TO PROBELMS… IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY SYMPTOMS, DR.PRAGER ENCOURAGES YOU TO GO SEE A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL…. THAT WAY, YOU CAN RECEIVE THE BEST TREATMENT. HE ALSO SAYS HE HAS HAD QUITE A FEW CALLS TO HIS OFFICE ABOUT PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRE… BUT HASN’T SEEN A SURGE IN CASES OF FIRE-RELATED HEALTH ISSUES. STILL… THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. ONCE AGAIN IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING HEALTH ISSUES, A REMINDER TO SEE A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Moss Landing residents report health issues after a battery plant fire, including headaches, sore throats, and a metallic taste in their mouths.”I started having a really bad cough, and kind of a wheezy feeling and a really, really bad headache. That was most of it. And then it persisted through the night. And the next day I felt worse because my eyes were really, really red and a little bit more intense wheezing,” said Barbara Espe. “For me, it’s primarily just been a sore throat over the last couple of days,” said Jordan Caballero, another resident.”I have a metallic taste in my mouth that does not go away,” said Roberta Webb.This is a major concern because lithium battery fires can be toxic.”For lithium fires we worry about hydrogen fluoride, which is a chemical that’s released from these fires. In small amounts, it can cause irritation of the eyes and lungs and an irritation of the skin. At higher levels, it can get absorbed into the body and cause severe respiratory problems and other medical issues,” said Dr. Steven Prager.The EPA conducted air quality tests and reported no measurable hydrogen fluoride in the path of the smoke plume, which includes Castroville and Prunedale.Health experts say the smoke from the battery fire, like smoke from wildfires, carries a lot of particulate matter and can be an irritant. While not as dangerous as hydrogen fluoride, it can lead to problems.If you experience any symptoms, Dr. Prager encourages you to see a medical professional.He also said he has received quite a few calls to his office from people concerned about the fire but has not seen a surge in cases of fire-related health issues.”Luckily, so far we have not seen an uptick in any respiratory cases in our office. And I was just in contact with Salinas Valley Health. And their emergency room has luckily also not seen an uptick in any respiratory diseases,” said Dr. Prager.Still, the community is looking for answers.”The community’s frustrated at the lack of information and kind of confused because the reports from the official agencies and the media and what people are dealing with and their physical symptoms don’t seem to be matching,” said Caballero. See more coverage of top Central Coast stories here | Download our app | Download Very Local

MOSS LANDING, Calif. —

Moss Landing residents report health issues after a battery plant fire, including headaches, sore throats, and a metallic taste in their mouths.

“I started having a really bad cough, and kind of a wheezy feeling and a really, really bad headache. That was most of it. And then it persisted through the night. And the next day I felt worse because my eyes were really, really red and a little bit more intense wheezing,” said Barbara Espe.

“For me, it’s primarily just been a sore throat over the last couple of days,” said Jordan Caballero, another resident.

“I have a metallic taste in my mouth that does not go away,” said Roberta Webb.

This is a major concern because lithium battery fires can be toxic.

“For lithium fires we worry about hydrogen fluoride, which is a chemical that’s released from these fires. In small amounts, it can cause irritation of the eyes and lungs and an irritation of the skin. At higher levels, it can get absorbed into the body and cause severe respiratory problems and other medical issues,” said Dr. Steven Prager.

The EPA conducted air quality tests and reported no measurable hydrogen fluoride in the path of the smoke plume, which includes Castroville and Prunedale.

Health experts say the smoke from the battery fire, like smoke from wildfires, carries a lot of particulate matter and can be an irritant. While not as dangerous as hydrogen fluoride, it can lead to problems.

If you experience any symptoms, Dr. Prager encourages you to see a medical professional.

He also said he has received quite a few calls to his office from people concerned about the fire but has not seen a surge in cases of fire-related health issues.

“Luckily, so far we have not seen an uptick in any respiratory cases in our office. And I was just in contact with Salinas Valley Health. And their emergency room has luckily also not seen an uptick in any respiratory diseases,” said Dr. Prager.

Still, the community is looking for answers.

“The community’s frustrated at the lack of information and kind of confused because the reports from the official agencies and the media and what people are dealing with and their physical symptoms don’t seem to be matching,” said Caballero.

See more coverage of top Central Coast stories here | Download our app | Download Very Local