It Can Happen Anywhere -- Pollution in Paramount, CA

This story is about high levels of hexavalent chromium in Paramount, California. It is meant to illustrate the importance of environmental regulations.

^{Image courtesy of Gene Daniels}

California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (known as the AQMD) has been monitoring the air near industrial sites in Paramount since 2013 to determine the source of high levels of hexavalent chromium in the air. The city, which is situated between Compton and Downey, is highly industrialized and home to at least 80 facilities with metal processing operations. And even though residents have been complaining about burning metallic odors from industrial sites for years, state agencies investigating the matter have been slow to respond. Really, the AQMD only started taking major steps to address the emissions in the last few months. Why? Because pollution is everywhere and the agencies cannot be in 9,000 places at once.

AQMD’s Investigation

Following a series of air samples taken near Carlton Forge Works metal forging facility in 2013, the AQMD discovered concentrations of nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and cadmium that exceeded the area’s typical background levels. According to an AQMD report published in 2014, only the nickel concentrations near CFW were allegedly high enough to cause an increased risk of adverse health effects—they claimed Cr 6 levels were not. How that determination was made is unclear as the data for CFW only shows results for total chromium, which is different from hexavalent chromium or Chrom-6. At any rate, the AQMD to worked with CFW from 2014-2105 to implement processes designed to reduce nickel emissions while the search for Chrom-6 continued.

According to the AQMD, the CFW investigation made it clear that metal grinding activities were a source of odors and pollution, so the agency worked to identify other metal forging and metal working facilities conducting similar activities in the years that followed. Sadly, the available records do not indicate that other metal-based operations were actually investigated prior to 2016, but the AQMD did continue to passively monitor the air for metals at two locations south of CFW from August 2013 to September 2016.

2016 to Present

In August 2016, AQMD released an updated report with data from the long-term air monitoring and a preliminary assessment (finally!) of potential health impacts. In sum, levels of hexavalent chromium at the air monitoring sites remained the same across 2013-2015, and eventually increased in the first 5 months of 2016. On average, the levels were at least five times the typical background level found in the area. So the search continued.

But this time the AQMD meant business. This past November, the agency filed what is known as a petition for an order for abatement against Aerocraft Heat Treating Co., Anaplex Corp., and DOES 1-100 (like John Doe, meaning they anticipate adding more people). According to the petition, operations at these facilities are releasing hexavalent chromium into the air in violation state law. The Board granted AQMD’s petition and ordered the facilities to either decrease emissions or suspend operations until they can get their shit under control.

Facilities in question

^{Map courtesy of the Los Angeles Times}
So far, Aerocraft, Anaplex, and Carlton Forge are the only facilities that have been identified publicly, but the search is ongoing. I expect the AQMD to name additional facilities in the coming months, but the let’s take a look at the ones it has:

1. Aerocraft Heat Treating Co., Inc.

Aerocraft was founded in 1959 and became a subsidiary of Precision Castparts in 2012. The company provides commercial heat treating services for engine and structural components used in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance. Activities associated with Chrom-6 include heat treating, cooling, cutting and grinding forgings, castings, bars, plates, and rough-machined parts.

In October, the AQMD tested inside the Aerocraft facility after air monitors near the site showed Chrom-6 readings that were many times greater than typical background levels found in Southern California. During the inspections, AQMD observed dust and water contaminated Chrom-6 being emitted from the facility into the air. Whoops.

Since the December, Aerocraft has had to suspend its operations three times for failing to keeps its emissions below the level set out in the order. The most recent suspension was…yesterday.

2. Anaplex Corp.

Established in 1962, Anaplex supplies anodized parts to the aviation, aerospace, and defense industries.

In November, AQMD tests in Anaplex’s facility showed levels of Chrom-6 near chromate seal tanks at 682,000 ng/m3, which is insane. The AQMD identified Anaplex’s chromic acid anodizing tanks, surface treatment tanks, and spray coating operations as likely sources contributing to the elevated levels of Chrom-6 in the area. I should add that the AQMD also discovered a number of permit and operating violations, including failure to obtain necessary operating permits, failure to equip anodizing tanks air agitation controls, and altering equipment without proper authorization.

Like Aerocraft, Anaplex was forced to suspend operations for a week in early February after readings showed the company failed to its emissions below the required levels.

3. Carlton Forge Works

A manufacturing company that produces alloy rings for aerospace, gas turbine, commercial, and nuclear industries. CFW was founded in 1929 and like Anaplex is a subsidiary of Precision Castparts.

For reasons unknown, the AQMD did not name CFW in its recent petition for an abatement order even though the agency claims that the facility has not been ruled out as a potential source. Either way, I have a feeling we will be seeing more of CFW in the coming months.

So what’s at stake?

Well, it depends on who you ask. According to the AQMD, people exposed to the current levels of nickel and Chrom-6 for thirty years or more are likely to experience an increased risk of cancer as well as non-cancerous health effects. The most common cancer associated with exposure to Cr 6 is lung cancer. Non-cancerous effects associated with nickel exposure typically involve damage to the respiratory and immune systems.

Now I know that thirty years seems like a long time, but you have to remember that the facilities have been operating in the area for much, much longer. And there is no reason to think that the air emissions are a recent development—only monitoring the emissions is. Sadly, residents have been complaining about physical symptoms and respiratory illnesses for years, and most know someone who has either died from cancer or currently suffers from it.

Imagine what it would be like with fewer environmental regulations.

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For more on toxic exposure and emerging contaminants, check out my posts discussing:

PFOA
Lead (Pb)
1,2,3-TCP
Radon
Perchlorate
Bystander Expsoure
Plastics Manufacturing
Disinfection Byproducts