DAVENPORT - High levels of a cancer-causing chemical agent known as chromium 6 were detected in the air at the elementary school and fire department in Davenport during tests conducted by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District this summer.

Chromium 6, the contaminant that inspired the movie "Erin Brockovich," is present in rocks, limestone and other natural matter, and has been known to cause cancer after long-term human exposure.

The toxic substance is believed to originate from dust at Cemex, the nearby cement factory.

Results of the air monitoring - conducted June 10 to Aug. 5 - were released from the air district this week to county officials.

"It's been going on for a few years," said Ed Kendig of the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, which oversees air quality in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. "We're going to find out exactly how long and determine exposure because time of exposure matters."

The levels of chromium 6 measured eight times the air district's acceptable level at Pacific Elementary School and 10 times at the Davenport Fire Department. Both are located less than a half-mile from Cemex.

The average risk of cancer is 83 in 1 million at the school and 102 per million at the fire department, Kendig said. The probability of contracting cancer is based on a person being continuously exposed to the emissions for 70 years, he said. County Environmental Health officials

say they don't have any statistics or anecdotal evidence that show the number of cancer cases in Davenport compared with other parts of Santa Cruz County. They are not aware of any increase incident of illness in the area.

"We've already started looking at that data and we're not seeing any differences," county health Division Director Steve Schneider said Friday. "The only data we have is countywide. We're trying to drill down and get more precise data."

Kendig said Cemex employees have been cooperative in working with the air district to remedy the problem.

"It's very clear they're taking this very seriously," Kendig said. "No decision has been made by the district in pursuing any enforcement action against Cemex."

Full Story: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_10630621?source=most_viewed

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