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. <READ MORE>

• Overview of Project
• Community Grant: Air Monitoring of Pacific Steel Casting Company
• Standard Operating Procedures West Berkeley Community Air Monitoring Project
• West Berkeley Air Pollution Sources (2005)
• West Berkeley Community Monitoring Project Sampling Results
• West Berkeley Community Monitoring Project Sampling Results Spreedsheet
• Community Air Monitoring of Pacific Steel Casting Company NEWS & Additional Press Coverage
• Press Releases and Media Advisories for the West Berkeley Community Monitoring Project
• Information on the Health Effects of Manganese and Nickel
• Science For Citizens: Ambient Air Monitoring Data
• Health Risks in Dispute
• COMMUNITY MEETING Press Release Air Monitoring Results in West Berkeley
• Press Coverage West Berkeley Community Monitoring Project

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.