Contra Costa Health (CCH) said Thursday a toxicologist determined that Martinez Refinery Company's (MRC) release of spent catalyst in November didn't increase public health risks from exposure of hazardous materials in nearby soil.
"Contra Costa County has taken all steps to determine whether residents suffered any health consequences from November's hazardous materials release," John Gioia, chair of the county Board of Supervisors, said in a statement."We are committed to holding MRC responsible for any impacts to the community and to ensuring that this type of incident does not happen again."
Initial samples of the dust showed elevated levels of aluminum, barium, chromium, nickel, vanadium, and zinc, all of which can cause respiratory problems. CCH said county health officer Dr. Ori Tzvieli will lift a March health advisory that warned refinery neighbors not to eat produce grown in soil possibly contaminated by spent catalyst dust until environmental testing could be completed.
CCH said the soil testing underscored the fact that metals in the ground are"a fact of life in developed areas like Contra Costa with heavy industry and agriculture." Metals found in the samples included lead and arsenic, once commonly used in pesticides, but the measured amounts didn't suggest a link to the spent-catalyst release.
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