Is the air on campus safe?

February 3, 2022

Smoke from the Weaver Fertilizer Plant fire has prompted many in the Wake Forest community to ask questions about air quality. 

Steve Fisenne, director of environmental health and safety at Wake Forest, reports that air-quality readings on and near campus indicate no threat to individual health and explains how his office is monitoring air quality on campus, as well as collaborating with local and federal agencies to gather current data on air quality.

“In speaking with the EPA Region IV representative, the data they have collected matches with what WFU monitoring has revealed; that there have been no harmful levels detected of the chemical byproducts — specifically, nitrogen dioxide and ammonia — that would result from this type of fire,” Fisenne said. 

The role of EHS is to assure that the University is in compliance with all the pertinent laws, administered by over half a dozen governmental regulatory agencies, including EPA and OSHA and is tasked with the oversight of programs designed to protect the environment and the health and safety of the students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Stan Meiburg, director of graduate programs in sustainability, spent four decades as an official with the EPA. During that time, he led efforts to protect the nation’s air and water quality and clean up hazardous and toxic waste sites. He shared some thoughts that can help us understand questions about air quality. 

For more answers to questions about the University’s response and the evolving response to the fire, please visit the University’s Weaver Fire informational webpage. 

Below is a statement from Wake Forest’s Environmental Health and Safety Department:

Smoke generated from the Weaver Fertilizer fire has been a cause of concern for many individuals. The Environmental Protection Agency Region IV, Winston-Salem Fire Department, Forsyth County Department of Environmental Assistance and Protection and the WFU Environmental Health and Safety office have all participated in air monitoring of this event to identify potential harmful contaminants carried in the smoke plume.

It is important to understand what is tested for and why to know whether there are any health risks to the Wake community. In this case, the ammonium nitrate fertilizer at the Weaver plant is a chemical oxidizer, meaning it will add oxygen to an existing fire making it burn more intensely and spread. Not all of the ammonium nitrate is consumed in the fire, and byproducts of nitrogen dioxide and ammonia can be released into the atmosphere. In addition, the wood pallets, building materials and anything else consumed by the fire will also release byproducts, generally consisting of very small particles of partially combusted materials.

In speaking with the EPA Region IV representative, the data they have collected matches with what WFU monitoring has revealed; that there have been no harmful levels detected of the chemical byproducts — specifically, nitrogen dioxide and ammonia — that would result from this type of fire.   

We continue to actively monitor air quality on campus and work with local, state and federal agencies to ensure the safety of our community. Localized heavy rain will assist in the extinguishing of the fire, and winds have changed direction away from the University. These will both aid in reducing or eliminating any residual smoke from reaching campus.