Pacific Steel Casting is a large steel foundry in West Berkeley and claims to be the third largest foundry of its kind in the USA.  According to publicly available data from the California Air Resources Board, its toxic air emissions have increased up to 160% over the period 2002-5.  According to the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, these toxic air contaminants consist of substances that have been targeted in the U.S. and California for tracking and emission reductions because they are know to be toxic to humans at even low levels of exposure.  Pacific Steel’s toxic air emissions include benzene, formaldehyde, phenols and a number of highly toxic heavy metals (including lead) that persist in the environment, accumulate in human tissues, and are especially hazardous to children.

Prior community testing found alarmingly high levels of lead at two locations.  An earlier test also found high levels of formaldehyde at one location.  In both cases, EPA health standards were exceeded.  The community requested funds from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to conduct additional air monitoring focusing on toxic metal particulates.  BAAQMD agreed to provide a grant to Global Community Monitor for the community to do this follow-up monitoring. 

BAAQMD recommended that a Mini Vol Portable Air Sampler be used because it provides accurate and precise results, is easy to use, and can be moved from location to location allowing for a broader assessment of how toxic air contaminants might be distributed in West Berkeley.  This monitoring represents the first time there has been any systematic monitoring of the air in West Berkeley despite decades of complaints and health concerns about Pacific Steel’s emissions.

West Berkeley Air Monitoring Map (2008)

ABOUT AIR MONITOING
Samples of airborne particles in West Berkeley are taken with the MiniVol™ Portable Air Sampler by trained volunteers under the guidance of Global Community Monitor (GCM) Global Community Monitor (GCM) is an environmental justice and human rights non profit that empowers industrial communities to recreate a clean healthy and truly sustainable environment.

Airmetrics manufactures the MiniVol™ Portable Air Sampler, which can be used tosample ambient air at 5 liters/minute for particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, TSP) and/or non-reactive gases (CO, NOx). While not a reference method sampler, the MiniVol™ can be correlated when collected with a Federal Reference Method sampler. Lightweight and portable, the MiniVol™ is ideal for remote areas or locations where no permanent site has been established. The sampling technology was recommended by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the agency that funds the project.

Air is drawn into the sampler through a filter paper to trap particles in the air. Filters are provided from Airmetrics. Filters are analyzed for various metals, including those in the emission inventory of Pacific Steel Casting, such as manganese, zinc and lead. Analysis of the filters for metals is done by an independent lab, Columbia Analytical Services of Kelso, WA, by EPA certified method 6020. Each test has sampled 7200 liters of air or 7.2 cubic meters of air.

West Berkeley particle samples are taken when nearby wind direction monitors demonstrate that the sampling location is downwind of PSC.  Wind direction prediction models are consulted to ensure that the sampler will be downwind of PSC for the majority of the 24 hour sampling period.

Sample data will also be posted at the Global Community Monitor website: (http://www.gcmonitor.org) as they are approved by the BAAQMD, the agency funding this sampling project. [1]

[1] This report was prepared as a result of work sponsored, paid for, in whole or in part by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (District). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the District. The District, its officers, employees, contractors and subcontractors make no warranty, expressed or implied, and assume no legal liability for the information in this report. The District has not approved or disapproved this report, nor has the District evaluated the accuracy or adequacy of the information contained herein.

The air filter (far left) is typical of a number of air samples drawn downwind of Pacific Steel Casting. Photo of air monitor (far right) with stacks of PSC in background.

Additional Information:
GCM's current monitoring is structured around Pacific Steel emissions and that of prevailing wind patterns (wind rose). Second Street and Gilman (from the perspective of PSC) are in the center of the wind rose established by several studies conducted in the past ten years by the city at the Harrison Park including the study at Berkeley's Recycling Center.
 
The GCM air monitoring project is sampling for metals which may or may not be directly associated with the known odors coming from PSC. The presence of odor is likely to be associated with airborne chemicals such as formaldehyde and other materials used as mold binders. These odors appear to be generated in more of a “puff” fashion, and not continuously, as one might find at an oil refinery. The associated odor plumes are dispersed more or less by the wind.
 
For the purpose of the GCM monitoring, the odors are more of an indication that the facility is operating, and to some extent, what the wind direction might be.  The GCM project recognizes these parameters, but also looks more closely at the weather data provided by BAAQMD and others to determine when, and where, airborne particulates might be present, and to what extent they are being dispersed (wind speed).

Note: Wind direction has long been a disputed issue. The BAAQMD has insisted that Berkeley's metrological information come from their Richmond monitoring station (see windrose diagram)which clearly does not reflect Berkeley. Those who live in Berkeley know that our predominated wind direction is from West.

GCM assumes that the presence of airborne metal particulates, whether fugitive or stack emissions, to be more constant than odors, and present even when the odors are not apparent. There are few places where the wind blows in a constant direction over a twenty-four hour period. GCM monitoring is structured to sample when the prevailing winds are constant for about twelve hours or more in a twenty-four hour period.

Berkeley Citizen