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Jackson County high on air-pollutants list From wire and staff reports PORTLAND � A national estimate on air pollution shows Oregon has 16 toxic compounds at levels higher than government regulators consider safe, largely because of automobile exhaust and wood burning. Topping the list of Oregon communities with the dirtiest air was the Portland metro area, followed closely by Jackson County, which had an overabundance of 12 of the 16 pollutants. Across the state, some toxic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde are 10 times higher than benchmarks. The estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Quality will be used to locate problem areas and determine ways to reduce pollution. "It�s the best emissions data we have to date," said Doug Hardesty, manager of the EPA regional air quality program in Seattle. Based on data collected in 1996, the estimates are part of the first phase of the EPA�s National Air Toxics Assessment program, or NATA, the most comprehensive study of toxic air pollution yet developed, according to regulators. Toxic air pollutants include those known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious human health effects, such as birth defects or reproductive problems. Some exist as gases and others are carried aloft as tiny particles, said Peter Nelson, an environmental engineering professor at Oregon State University. "The biggest concern is long exposure to low levels," Nelson said. "It�s the long-term chronic exposure (that) causes irritation that can bring on adverse health effects." Multnomah County � the most heavily populated in Oregon � had 14 of the 16 pollutants at higher-than-benchmark levels. Neighboring Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill counties all had 12 pollutants at higher-than-recommended levels. So did Jackson County and Union County in the eastern corner of the state. Another eight counties � Clatsop, Coos, Douglas, Lane, Malheur, Marion, Polk and Umatilla � all had 11 of the pollutants at levels above benchmarks. Baker, Columbia, Deschutes, Josephine, Klamath, Linn and Wasco counties each had 10. A list of 16 toxic air pollutants that exceed estimated safety levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and their primary sources (Jackson County pollutants in bold): 1. Acetaldehyde � wood smoke, motor vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke. 2. Acrolein � motor vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, oil or coal burning. 3. Arsenic � metal smelting, smoke from wood treated with arsenic. 4. Benzene � motor vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, gasoline fueling. 5. Beryllium � oil or coal burning, tobacco smoke. 6. 1,3-Butadiene � motor vehicle exhaust, burning of petroleum fuels. 7. Carbon Tetrachloride � background level from past use as cleaner, solvent and propellant. 8. Chloroform � evaporation from chlorinated water, pulp mills. 9. Chromium � chrome plating, solid waste incineration, oil or coal burning. 10. 1,3-Dichloropropene � pesticides and fungicides. 11. Ethylene Dibromide � pesticides and fungicides. 1 2. Ethylene Dichloride � chemical manufacturing, degreasing. 13. Formaldehyde � home furnishings, motor vehicle exhaust, manufacturing. 14. Lead � steel production, solid waste incineration. 15. Manganese � steel production. 16. Nickel � metal production, solid waste incineration. The Associated Press Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA