Cancer Risk in West Berkeley

By L A Wood

News editorial by L A Wood on the health risks to West Berkeley neighborhoods and children from the city's manufacturing district and zoning concerns. January 29, 2008

For decades, the stench from airborne chemicals emitted by Pacific Steel Casting has been allowed to pollute the air downwind from its foundries with virtual impunity. Environmental changes have come slowly to this part of the city. While other industrial polluters are much smaller, or have moved away in response to the growing residential population in this district, PSC's operations have been allowed to expand. Until recently, it appeared that nothing would ever change.

About six months ago, a group of residents, with the aid of Global Community Monitor, an environmental justice organization, began collecting air samples across the northwest portion of the city. Aided by a grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), this monitoring project is an historic effort. It is the first serious attempt to actually define the impacts from spewing stacks, unabated roof vents and open doors at the Second Street steel foundry. Nothing of this magnitude has ever been attempted in the neighborhoods outside the fence line of Pacific Steel.

A team of community volunteers set up portable air samplers on residential rooftops downwind from the steel foundry. This "citizens' science" effort has detected some startling findings about airborne metal particulates. The large collection of samples clearly shows excessive manganese and nickel levels at many locations close to Pacific Steel. Predictably, the foundry claims the airborne metals are not from their operations. However, according to the Air District, 100% of the manganese, and 99% of the nickel from all industrial sources in the area originate from PSC. Community air monitoring has proved that these airborne particulates can't be blamed on the freeway.

Global Community Monitor's report, generated by this extensive monitoring project, is due to be released this week. Needless to say, the results raise serious health concerns. It also reveals the city's unsafe zoning practices in West Berkeley that fail to adequately protect nearby citizens from this longstanding environmental injustice.

Read the complete editorial at http://www.4lawood.org