A Disaster That Didn’t Stop With the Fire
The explosion at Smitty’s in Roseland was not an isolated event. According to independent chemist Scott Smith, the damage spread far beyond the facility. Contamination has moved through Tangipahoa Parish and continues downriver toward Lake Pontchartrain.
Although the fire is out, Smith says the disaster is ongoing. Chemicals and oil still flow through drainage ditches, ponds, and creeks. Those waterways connect directly to the Tangipahoa River, allowing pollution to travel miles from the original site.
What Testing Has Revealed
Smith has responded to more than 80 environmental disasters over the last 20 years, including the BP Deepwater Horizon spill. His testing in Roseland shows a troubling mix of chemicals, not just one or two substances.
The EPA has reported hundreds of damaged containers, chemical spills, and unlabeled materials on the Smitty’s property. Smith’s independent testing found similar chemicals in Pond 4, in ash and soot, and downstream in the river. These include benzene compounds, dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and “forever chemicals” that build up in the body over time.
Smith warns that government standards focus on single chemicals. Real-world exposure is different. Low levels of multiple chemicals can combine and create stronger, more dangerous effects.
How Pollution Keeps Spreading
Drainage ditches at Smitty’s feed into a chain of ponds before emptying into the Tangipahoa River. Smith says the ponds do not filter pollution. They only dilute it. Heavy rain pushes contaminants farther downstream and deeper into the environment.
Health Concerns and Lack of Transparency
Residents have reported symptoms they did not experience before the incident. These include breathing problems, nosebleeds, brain fog, and neurological issues. Smith does not claim direct medical proof, but he stresses the importance of identifying possible exposure.
His biggest concern is simple. The public still does not know the full truth about what was released or where it has gone.