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This is an email I received from a chemist, I have been in contact with regarding my findings. He has been extremely helpful and informative. Below you will find one of the correspondence he has sent me regarding his conclusions based on information I have sent to him:

"From the information you have supplied I can conclude that the factory will
produce a number of toxic pollutants. Some of the pollutants will be common
ones, such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide etc, but
there will be others that are less typically encountered in everyday life.
The big question I have, and can not conclude from the information, is, what
sort of exposure have you and your family had ? Exposure to pollutants
emitted to the environment from pollution sources is dependent on a number
of factors, such as meteorological conditions, abatement equipment fitted to
the process, deposition factors, persistence factors, and the height of
stacks. From the fact that your family has suffered some terrible illnesses,
typically associated with a prevalent exposure to toxic substances, I would
conclude you have had a significant exposure. However, whilst I might
conclude this, proving exposure has resulted in illness in a court of law is
a very different matter. It is for this reason so many companies literally
get away with, in some cases, murder.

Below I have listed the substances I think you have probably been exposed to
and the source of the pollutant.

Nitrogen oxides.

Whenever a fuel is burnt in air this pollutant is formed. The heat from
burning the fuel causes molecules of nitrogen and oxygen in the air to split
into atoms that then react to form the pollutant. Nitrogen oxides attack the
lower respiratory system and severely aggravates respiratory conditions such
as asthma and bronchitus. They are commonly encountered in the air because
burning fuel in vehicles produces them. However, industrial processes can
produce quantities far greater than many thousands of cars. In the case of
the factory these will be produced when coal is burnt to provide heat for
making lime.

Sulphur dioxide.

This pollutant is formed whenever fuel containing sulphur impurities is
burnt in air. It attacks the upper respiratory system and severely
aggravates respiratory conditions. It is commonly encountered in the air
because gasoline contains sulphur impurities. However, as with nitrogen
oxides, industrial processes can produce quanities of sulphur dioxide many
times greater than many thousands of cars. In the case of the factory this
pollutant will be produced when coal is burnt.

Carbon monoxide.

This pollutant is formed whenever a carbon based fuel burns incompletely, or
from side reactions involving carbon and oxygen. It attacks the blood and
any system in the body containing iron. It causes raised blood pressure and
effects one of the most important detoxification enzymes in the body
(cytochrome p450). It is commonly encountered in the air because of
vehicles, but again, industrial processes produce very large quantities. The
burning of coal will be one source, but the reaction of coke with calcium
oxide will be another. (Whilst they burn the carbon monoxide from the
process to produce carbon dioxide, the reaction will never be 100%
complete.)

Volatile organic compounds (VOC's).

These are compounds of carbon and hydrogen, sometimes also with oxygen and
nitrogen, that can have many different effects on the body. The effect
typically depends on the type of VOC released. They are either formed by the
decomposition of complex organic compounds or are released from a source of
VOC's such as gasoline. They are typically found in the air, but quantities
from industrial processes again can be many times greater than for vehicles.
The most dangerous class of VOC's are the aromatics (such as benzene) and
polyaromatics (such as anthracene) that can produce cancer. VOC's can also
interfere with the immune system and produce nerve damage. The combustion of
coal will be one source of VOC's, but the decomposition of coke in the
furnace will be another. The ones produced by the decomposition of coke
should predominately burn with the carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide.

Dioxins and furans.

These are a very deadly class of compounds. They are a class of organic
compounds containing chlorine and oxygen in a certain structural pattern.
Dioxins are formed during combustion when chlorine containing compounds are
present. (This is a gross oversimplification, but I do not want to go into
the complexities of the chemistry here.) They produce cancer, interfere with
the immune system and interfere with the hormone balance. They will be
produced when coal is burnt.

Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)

This isn't so much a specific chemical, but refers to solid chemicals
suspended in the air. The key characteristic with particulate matter is the
size of the suspended solid. Particulate matter is commonly refered to as
PM10 or PM2.5. The 10 and 2.5 refer to the size of particulate matter. PM10
refers to particles with an aerodynamic size of 10 microns or less, whilst
PM2.5 refers to particles with an aerodynamic size of 2.5 microns or less.
PM2.5 is the most dangerous type of particulate matter because it can
penetrate the body's natural defence systems and get into the alveoli of the
lungs, where, if the particle is soluble, it can get into the bloodstream.
The effects of particulate matter depend not only on size, but also chemical
composition. The chemical composition tends to determine long term effects
(see heavy metals), but short term PM2.5's will cause inflammation in the
lung and hence aggravate respiratory problems. The inflammation can cause
heart attack. The suspension of dust and soil by wind is typically
responsible for PM10 in the air, but PM2.5 usually results from man's
activities. The burning of coal and vaporisation of metal impurities in the
coke will be responsible for PM2.5s around the plant. Sulphur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides are usually gases, but can be converted to PM2.5 sulphate
and nitrate.

Heavy metals

This term refers to metals such as mercury, lead, vanadium, arsenic, and
nickel etc. They are usually released when impure fuels are burnt. The heat
of burning usually results in the metals being vaporised, but as the
vapourised metal cools it forms PM2.5 particulates of the metals. The
effects of heavy metals vary. The exact effects depends on how the metal
interacts with the bodies chemistry. Some of the heavy metals cause cancer,
whilst others effect vital organs such as the brain. These will be released
from the burning of coal and the heating of coke to high temperature in the
kilns."