The Multnomah County Health Department is closely following information that people in southeast Portland near 22nd and Powell Boulevard have possibly been exposed to cadmium and arsenic. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is investigating the exposure, believed to be from emissions at the nearby glass manufacturer, Bullseye Glass Co. On Feb. 4, the company issued a press release saying it suspended all use of those materials.
The Oregon Health Authority is working with DEQ to determine the extent of exposure to cadmium and arsenic. Multnomah County is working with these state agencies on how they will determine the impact to the public's health and communicate that risk to the affected people. That plan includes gathering additional monitoring and producing maps to outline the affected area.
DEQ and OHA have notified Fred Meyer corporate headquarters and the Creative Children’s Learning Center, both of which are located within the immediate vicinity of the glass company and where the DEQ air monitoring samples were taken.
Multnomah County is working to plan a community meeting and to assure that this investigation and what it means for a neighborhood is fully conducted and communicated to the residents of Multnomah County.
Questions for the public?
EHAP.info@state.or.us or 971-673-0185.