I’ve always known that good old Eastside Metal Plating Plant #5, poofing out smoke and dust and full of clanking, strange industrial-revolution-era machines and strange chromed products, was quietly dangerous. You can look at it and just know: that factory is up to no good with respect to human systems and groundwater and amphibians and the like. For seven years of my life I worked across the street from the building in the Central Eastside. We called it, simply, “Plant 5″. Every so often there would be some sort of fire or malfunction and blue-jumpsuited employees would come running out of the building ragtag to escape the presumably-toxic smoke, facemasks hanging rather ill-advisedly around their necks.
Turns out you can look up a geezow-plethora of data about any site of environmental concern in Oregon via the online Environmental Cleanup Site Information (ECSI) Database on Oregon’s DEQ site. There are hundreds of sites in Portland, and 26 in 97214 (my work and home ZIP code) alone.
Including, of course, Plant 5.
Concentrations of toxic metals in stormwater runoff have exceeded freshwater aquatic Continuous Maximum Concentrations (CMCs) and 99th percentile levels for all DEQ Northwest Region Industrial Stormwater. Metals of concern include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc. Stormwater pH has ranged between 4.3 and 10.1. TOC has ranged beween non-detect and 81 ppm. COD has ranged between non-detect and 870 ppm. Site has also used cyanide solutions and chlorinated solvents (including TCE and PCE), although stormwater has never been analyzed for these potential contaminants. Contaminated stormwater is directed to the Lower Willamette River. Acidic stormwater may have corroded stormsewers.
Pedestrians and workers in nearby facilities might be exposed to hazardous vapors and dust near the facility.
Entries in the comprehensibly-searchable database include prose descriptions like those above, as well as specific measurements of bad stuff and test dates. It’s rather terrifying but a fascinating font of information. Enjoy. Learn. Freak out. Let me know if you find anything really interesting.
Oh, and this stuff is mostly going right into the Willamette River. Enjoy that swim!
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Grrreeat. I’m growing a baby while being exposed to this place 5 days a week?
And people wonder why I eat/drink my daily concoctions! Well, because greens, sea veggies, miso and cilantro (yes, cilantro @grigs) are known to remove toxins like heavy metals from the body. And, they taste good. Plant 5 scares the shit out of me, making me ever vigilant about my diet. Next step: haz-mat suits for me & my colleagues.
And for God’s sake people, stop filling our ice trays with tap water!
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