 | |
The Global Community Monitor (GCM), Students of McCylmond’s High School and the Rose Foundation have been conducting an investigation of pollution in West Oakland. A series of three air samples were taken in late February to determine what heavy metals are in the particulate matter in the air that is throughout the Dogtown area neighborhood of West Oakland. The samples were taken of particles in the air using a portable system that draws air through a filter over a 24-hour period. The filters are analyzed for the presence of heavy metals by a US EPA approved laboratory. All samplers were analyzed for Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, Magnesium, Mercury, Nickel, Zinc. Here are the results to these samples:
1) Sample taken on the rooftop of McClymond’s High School when the wind direction was not specifically blowing from the direction of CASS metals and the industrial areas.
This sample is serving as a “background” sample, to get an accurate understanding of what is in the air on a day-to-day basis. The sample detected only tiny amounts of Chromium and Copper.
2) Feeney rooftop, next to CASS metals
This sample was taken on the rooftop of Feeney at Union and 26th Street.
This sample detected the following compounds:
Heavy Metal Level of detection
Aluminum 3.6
Chromium 0.4
Copper 0.3
Lead 0.2
Magnesium 5.4
Zinc 2.4
3) Residential neighborhood home, Union Street across the street from CASS
Heavy Metal Level of detection
Aluminum 3.5
Chromium 0.7
Copper 0.3
Lead 0.2
Magnesium 4.5
Nickel 0.4
Zinc 2.0
According Dr. Mark Cherniak, of Science for Citizens, the level of nickel present exceeds 11 times higher than the World Health Organization guideline for exposure to nickel of 0 .0029 micrograms per cubic meter over a 24-hour period.
Health Effects of Nickel
Based on findings of carcinogenicity and the results of risk and exposure assessment, the California Air Resources Board has determined that nickel and nickel compounds are toxic air contaminants.
The State of California has determined that all nickel compounds should be considered potentially carcinogenic to humans by inhalation. Several studies of nickel refinery workers have demonstrated that there is an association between respiratory cancer mortality and nickel exposure. California’s Department of Health staff found this association to be consistent, replicable, of substantial magnitude, and having a clear dose-response relationship with high statistical significance.
Health effects of exposure to multiple heavy metals
No Public Health Agency in the United States or globally has sent health based standards for exposure to multiple heavy metals found in the sample results. There is however widespread consensus that exposure to multiple toxic metals creates a increased health risk.
While levels of lead in the samples did not exceed a health based standard, any exposure results in accumulation in the human brain which over time may become a serious health risk, especially to children.
What YOU can do
Global Community Monitor (GCM) is organizing a Community Monitoring Action Team to conduct more air tests at homes and businesses in the area. We need your help to volunteer to be trained and participate in a variety of monitoring activities.
If you are interested in taking action to find out what you are breathing and how we can organize to clean up pollution in your neighborhood, please contact Ruth Breech of GCM at 415-643-1870 or email ruth@gcmonitor.org
Global Community Monitor (GCM) is an international Human Rights and Environmental Justice non-profit that empowers communities to monitor their environment and take action to clean it up. Learn more about us at www.gcmonitor.org
| 
