The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) said that a broad-based committee representing public interest groups, communities, government, health and industry began work on helping DEQ develop a plan to reduce toxic air pollution in the Portland region, Oregon. At Portland Air Toxics Solutions Advisory Committee’s first meeting, DEQ presented preliminary, science-based information on what is known about the levels and health effects of 19 air toxics of concern in the Portland region.

Then the committee began to consider the range of possible actions and potential solutions and identified information needs and potential topics for upcoming meetings. Many potential strategies also would reduce smog, fine particle and global warming pollution.

The purpose of the committee is to recommend strategies for a 10-year plan to reduce toxic pollutants in the air we breathe. The plan may consist of regulatory and voluntary measures to reduce the air toxics causing the most health risk in the Portland region including portions of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. Yamhill county and Clark county in Washington are also partners in this process.

Oregon is the first state in the nation to use a geographic approach to reducing health risk from air toxics by concentrating on the Portland region, the area in Oregon with the highest levels of toxic air pollution. Many committee members expressed an interest in helping DEQ create a plan that could serve as a comprehensive, community-based model for other regions in the state and in the country. The health risk from air toxics in Portland is similar to the risk in other urban areas throughout the nation.

Air toxics are pollutants suspected or known to cause serious health problems including cancer, birth defects, organ damage and respiratory irritation. Young children, older adults and people with asthma, lung or heart disease may be more sensitive to the effects of air toxics.

A wide array of sources contributes to toxic air pollution in the Portland area. Gasoline and diesel vehicle emissions, wood stove and fireplace use, and emissions from day-to-day activities such as using gas powered mowers and fumes from paint are the largest contributors. DEQ regulates toxic air emissions from large industrial and commercial sources through permits.

The committee plans to hold five additional meetings over a nine month period. The next meeting will be on September 29, 2009.