I live upwind of the Buffalo Trace distillery and of both existing and proposed sites of bourbon warehouses in Peaks Mill, but I’d like to share some thoughts on the matter.
The fungus that occurs due to off-gassed ethanol from bourbon curing in wooden barrels is formally called Baudoinia compniacensis. A government site refers to this fungus as a "black fungus that is velvety or crust-like and can reach 1-2 cm in thickness.” This material is euphemistically referred to as the “angel’s share” in distillers’ parlance.
The World Health Organization defines air pollution as: “Contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.”
I contend that any airborne fungus, especially when evident and obvious, is unhealthy for anything with lungs. I believe fungus densely covering any living organism could smother and negatively affect it.
Being one of many with lung disease from smoking tobacco in my youth, breathing smoke, pollen, dust, scents, fumes, molds and fungi can all make it difficult for me to breathe. I don’t need medical studies to know this — I experience it daily.
I wish our “good neighbor” Buffalo Trace and Sazerac Co. put as much effort and funding into installing effective ventilation for bourbon warehouse air pollution from fungus rather than engaging in campaigns pitting neighbor against neighbor and county against county. Until bourbon warehouses stop emitting pollution, I don’t think any location is safe.
I totally agree we have too much black fungus as it stands now! To whom it may concern, the agricultural land use folks who live at the top of the hill where the ten warehouses are already, it is not recommended to grow food near this "whisky fungus," as it's been historically called. I don't remember seeing this black fungus on the surfaces of the palisade rocks when I go up the hill on Owenton Road when I was growing up. Why??? Because it wasn't there! Furthermore, I live in Indian Hills and in damp weather I have this black mold growing on my front step as I enter my house! Enough of pleasing this distillery to do anything it wants hoping we won't notice!
That is correct, but this is not about what is right or wrong, it is about money! So, if an industry is going to make us sick, we should be adequately compensated. It should provide the community with the golden nectar of copious high-paying jobs, not just the scrapings off the bottom of the barrel, no new jobs and taxes off of warehouses. Really! That is what Wells and Bradshaw are trying to sell us!
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I totally agree we have too much black fungus as it stands now! To whom it may concern, the agricultural land use folks who live at the top of the hill where the ten warehouses are already, it is not recommended to grow food near this "whisky fungus," as it's been historically called. I don't remember seeing this black fungus on the surfaces of the palisade rocks when I go up the hill on Owenton Road when I was growing up. Why??? Because it wasn't there! Furthermore, I live in Indian Hills and in damp weather I have this black mold growing on my front step as I enter my house! Enough of pleasing this distillery to do anything it wants hoping we won't notice!
Well said! No industry has the right to make us physically sick.
That is correct, but this is not about what is right or wrong, it is about money! So, if an industry is going to make us sick, we should be adequately compensated. It should provide the community with the golden nectar of copious high-paying jobs, not just the scrapings off the bottom of the barrel, no new jobs and taxes off of warehouses. Really! That is what Wells and Bradshaw are trying to sell us!
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State-Journal.com’s comments forum is for civil, constructive dialogue about news topics in our community, state, nation and world. We emphasize “civil” at a time when Americans, in the words of the current president, need to “turn down the temperature” of political debates. The State Journal will do its part by more carefully policing this forum. Here are some rules that all commenters must agree to follow:
Absolutely no attacks on other commenters, on guest columnists or on authors of letters to the editor. Our print and online opinion pages are sacred marketplaces of ideas where diverse viewpoints are welcome without fear of retribution. You may constructively critique the ideas and opinions of others, but name-calling, stereotyping and similar attacks are strictly prohibited.
Leeway will be given for criticism of elected officials and other public figures, but civility is essential. If you focus your criticism on ideas, opinions and viewpoints, you will be less likely to run afoul of our commenting rules.
Keep comments focused on the article or commentary in question. Don’t use an article about the Frankfort City Commission, for example, to rant about national politics.
Hyperpartisanship that suggests anyone on the other side of an issue or anyone in a particular particular party is evil is not welcome. If you believe that all Democrats are socialists intent on destroying America or that all Republicans are racists, there are lots of places on the internet for you to espouse those views. State-Journal.com is not one.
No sophomoric banter. This isn’t a third-grade classroom but rather a place for serious consumers of news to offer their reactions and opinions on news stories and published commentary.
No consumer complaints about individual businesses. If you’ve had a bad experience with a private business or organization, contact the Better Business Bureau or the government agency that regulates that business. If you believe the actions of a private business are newsworthy, contact us at news@state-journal.com and we will consider whether news coverage is merited.
Absolutely no jokes or comments about a person’s physical appearance.
No promotion of commercial goods or services. Our outstanding staff of marketing consultants stands ready to help businesses with effective advertising solutions.
If you state facts that have not been previously reported by The State Journal, be sure to include the source of your information.
No attacks on State Journal staff members or contributing writers. We welcome questions about, and criticism of, our news stories and commentary but not of the writers who work tirelessly to keep their community informed. Corrections of inaccurate information in news stories should be sent to news@state-journal.com rather than posted in the comments section.