High Benzene Level Readings in the West High Parking Lot

  A Community Meeting to discuss the elevated benzene levels at the air quality monitor

located in the West High School parking lot originally scheduled for February 3, 2020

will be rescheduled  to a new date pending  the close of the AQMD investigation.
Initial results of the AQMD investigation revealed an issue with the calibration of the monitors used

to detect benzene.

John Bailey, President

Southeast Torrance Homeowners’ Association, Inc. (SETHA)

23404 Walnut St

Torrance CA  90501

setha-torrance.blogspot.com

Here are additional details on the elevated benzene levers from South Bay Flare,

https://www.facebook.com/southbayflare/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARBugQGn6hGWx3imym_UM_hvIRPe2Xk-ZYYJ4DE28s60I1yjHpV1thWyNEpdrxoL3Ya5WKPHwnjsQoE-

Quick Summary of Elevated Benzene Levels Recorded at West High School

What we know:

1) Monitor B (West High School) went live on torranceair.org on Dec. 27. Since that time it has consistently captured 3-7 PPB of benzene levels beginning in the early evening and extending sometimes into late morning. This is one of three monitors that was launched through a community won monitoring project, overseen by SCAQMD. The monitors are being funded through a grant paid for by the penalties Torrance Refinery (then ExxonMobil) paid following the 2015 explosion. They have enough funding to run for two years. This monitoring is being executed by a 3rd party contractor (Sonoma Tech) and overseen by the SCAQMD. It is completely separate from the rule 1180 required refinery fence line monitoring that went into effect January 1, 2020 - rule 1180 monitoring is run by the refinery.

2) Monitors A and C also catch elevated benzene levels but monitor B is consistently much higher, sometimes 3-5 more PPB. On the evening of January 15 into the morning of Jan 16, acute benzene levels were reported up to 15 PPB. Unfortunately, the fence line monitoring at the refinery (paths 11 and 12) which were mandated to be capturing data as of Jan. 1, 2020, were not running during this surge. Therefore, we cannot compare data. There is no safe threshold for benzene, but the AQMD says the acute (1 hour) exposure levels are unsafe starting at 8.9 PPB and chronic (over 8 hours to lifetime) is 0.9 PPB. We are concerned with both the acute and the chronic exposure.

3) SCAQMD is currently investigating. They released an update on January 16: http://www.aqmd.gov/…/news-events/community-in…/torrance-air

4) City councilman George Chen has organized a community meeting on Feb. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Toyota meeting hall in Torrance.
Torranceair.org/SouthBay

5) The community monitoring program (run by Sonoma Tech and overseen by SCAQMD - Torranceair.org) is launching a fence line monitor at the refinery in the next week or so, this will provide additional data - but it will be on the North side of the refinery, along 190th street, so it is less likely to provide clear data about the West High Readings. This fence line monitor will be run by Sonoma Tech and is separate from rule 1180 fence line monitoring, which is run by the refinery.

6) The city of Torrance released a press release this afternoon https://bit.ly/2QX7GF0

What we don’t know:

1) We do not know how long this has been occurring.
2) We do not yet have a reason for these high levels of benzene.
3) We do not know if the levels are coming from the refinery or another local source.
4) We do not know how far these levels are affecting the community, if it is local to the West High parking lot or if it is affecting the school, surrounding homes and neighborhoods, or other parts of Torrance and Redondo.

Where can I get more info?

1) Follow South Bay Flare on Facebook for the latest updates.
2) Attend the community meeting on Feb, 3 from 6-8 p.m. at the Toyota meeting hall in Torrance.

How can I check the benzene levels for my area?

1) Check torranceair.org and click on monitors and select Benzene from the drop down menu - watch for the benzene readings if you have a monitor in your area.

What should I do?

1) Continue to call the South Coast Air Quality Board at 1-800-CUT-SMOG when the levels are high. Report smells of gas or other strange odors in your areas and any eye, nose, throat irritation you feel may be related. You can call 24 hours a day. If no one picks up leave a message. Sometimes they get back to you within 10-15 minutes, sometimes it takes a day. But always call!
2) You can also email Advance Monitoring Technologies Manager, Dr. Andrea Polidori at APolidori@AQMD.Gov.
3) Talk to friends and neighbors - inform them!