Metals in Portland Air Samples Show Increase in Hexavalent Chromium, Says Recent Data

Thursday, April 07, 2016

GoLocalPDX News Team and Graphiq

There is a slight increase of hexavalent chromium measured by air monitors near Bullseye Glass Co. in southeast Portland between March 16 and March 24, an interagency group investigating metals emissions is reporting.

Click Here to see the Data

"The values are slightly over what we've seen in previous weeks and only for hexavalent chromium, and above the typical urban levels," said Brian Boling, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's laboratory program manager.

The monitor results, collected from five monitors, four near Bullseye and one near Uroboros Glass in North Portland, operating 24 hours a day since March 1, show that values for the hexavalent chromium remain well below levels of immediate health concern.

David Farrer, PH.D. toxicologist with Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division, added the hexavalent chromium values picked up near Bullseye are still far below short term health limits.

"Air monitoring readings are still below levels that would indicate short-term health threats. We don't have enough information to know about long-term health effects," he said.

Bullseye Inspected

DEQ laboratory inspected Bullseye on April 5 to see if the facility was using chromium and hexavalent chromium. The inspection confirmed it was not.

"At this time, we do not know the source of the fluctuation in hexavalent chromium levels. We are investigating other possible sources of the hexavalent chromium, and we will be analyzing wind speed and direction to help us identify potential sources," said Brian Bolling, DEQ laboratory program manager.

The New Data

The newly released data covers monitoring from March 16 to March 24. The monitoring locations are the same five sites as those used in February to collect air samples that were first reported in mid-March.

The metals will continue to be closely monitored and the community will be immediately alerted if there are any hangs in levels that could effect people's health.