To the Editors:

I write because of a growing concern over what I fear may be a significant public health issue affecting our community.

For upwards of a year now, I have noticed a foul taste in the air when walking on West Lorain Street in the vicinity of Wilder. I’m not alone in this observation; I have heard others describe the flavor as metallic or like rotten peanuts.

I suspect that this taste results from emissions at the steam plant in the service building since this facility is Oberlin’s major source of emissions and is directly upwind from where this phenomenon takes place, but honestly I have no way of knowing.

I have been exposed to many kinds of emissions with smells ranging from the irritating to the nauseating, including emissions that might be similar to those that come out of the gas and coal-fired steam plant, but never have I experienced air that so consistently tastes rancid.

Naturally, I fear that this tainted air may pose health risks, but I’m not sure what authority figure to approach with my concerns. If there is anyone in the Oberlin community who knows more about this situation, perhaps he or she can inform the rest of us in next week’s Review. Any information about this pollution would be appreciated.

–Jeremy Cooper
College senior