Kansas City Star | 02/24/2007 | Questions arise about tests that EPA did after plant fire

Kansas City Star | 02/24/2007 | Questions arise about tests that EPA did after plant fire: "Questions arise about tests that EPA did after plant fire
Some wonder whether further analyses were needed for dioxins and other chemicals.
By KEVIN MURPHY and KAREN DILLON
The Kansas City Star
FRED BLOCHER | The Kansas City Star
Workers doing the environmental cleanup of the Chemcentral plant this week wore suits to protect them from possible contaminants.

Although air tests showed no dangerous chemicals, the Chemcentral plant will likely be designated a hazardous-waste site because of the amount of chemicals, officials said.

Within hours of the Feb. 7 Chemcentral plant explosion and fire, federal officials said tests showed the resulting plume of smoke, soot and ash was not harmful to long-term human health.

Nearly three weeks later, some scientists and others are questioning whether initial Environmental Protection Agency tests were adequate to reach that conclusion and why no further tests have been done.

They also wonder whether there were sufficient tests of ash and soot for dioxins and other chemicals that contain compounds known to cause cancer.

The explosion at the plant in the East Bottoms sent hundreds of thousands of gallons in chemicals up in smoke. Chemcentral sells solvents, caulks, sealants and other industrial products. Although"