Oxnard Firm Ranked No. 1 for Potential Cancer Risk : Health: Assessments by the county’s leading air polluters rate the dangers to residents and workers near plants.

The risk of cancer from air pollution for people who live or work near Oxnard manufacturer Reichhold Chemicals could be nearly double that of the rest of the county, preliminary reports released by county air quality officials show.

Overall, without the added risk from the facility, the chances of a Ventura County resident contracting cancer from breathing the air are 412 in 1 million over a 70-year lifetime, air quality officials estimate. But near Reichhold, the risk to residents and workers who are constantly exposed to chemical emissions could be increased by 352 cases per 1 million people, according to the reports based on 1989 emissions.

“That’s a lot of cases of cancer,” said Leslie Bernstein, associate professor of preventive medicine and scientific director of the USC Cancer Surveillance Program. “No one will ever be able to prove that exposure from that plant caused cancer, because no one will ever live there for 70 years. But it is not healthy, and it should be cleaned up.”

Throughout the United States, the chances of contracting cancer from all sources, including diet, sun, radiation, occupation and smoking, are estimated at one in four, or 250,000 in 1 million over a lifetime. The risk for Reichhold neighbors could be increased to 250,764 in 1 million, according to the reports, called health risk assessments.

In addition, neighbors of Oxnard defense contractor Del Manufacturing and Oxnard rock crusher CalMat Co. could increase their risk of cancer by 130 cases and 68 cases in 1 million, respectively, the assessments show. Five oil companies--Santa Fe Energy, Pacific Operators Offshore, Arco, Conoco and Pacific Energy Group--also could increase cancer risks by more than 10 cases in 1 million people, according to the assessments, based on information supplied by the companies.

Air quality officials said that the distance to which the risk extends varies with each source of contaminants and prevailing winds. But in general, those who live or work within 100 yards of the facilities are believed to be at greatest risk, with chances of contracting cancer diminishing with greater distance.

People risk their lives every day to smoke cigarettes, drive cars and engage in dangerous sports, said Richard Baldwin, who heads the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

“But when people smoke a cigarette, they know they are killing themselves,” he said. “When toxic chemicals are being emitted into the air, it is without people’s knowledge.”

The eight companies are among a list of 16 in Ventura County that could pose significant increased risk of cancer, according to the assessments, which still must be verified for accuracy by the county and state. The assessments are the first round of reporting required by the state Air Toxics Hot Spots Information and Assessment Act of 1987, one of a flurry of so-called right-to-know laws passed in recent years.

County officials required those companies with the highest potential for increased risk of cancer or other serious health effects to perform the assessments.

After the reports are evaluated by the state Department of Health Services, a process that could add or delete companies from the list of those that pose significant cancer threats, neighbors or workers who are at risk will be notified in writing, officials said.

One company that may be added is Chase Production near East 5th Street and Del Norte Boulevard in Oxnard, which failed to submit a risk assessment in violation of the hot spots act, officials said. The oil-producing company emits benzene, toluene and xylene, all chemicals with serious health effects, county records show.

Other companies, including Reichhold and Del Manufacturing, say they have curtailed their releases.

“We would like to eliminate hazardous emissions,” said Norman Fahnoe, plant manager at Reichhold, where polyester resin is produced for use in fiberglass products. “We’re committed to being a good neighbor, but I guess we still have some work to do.” Since 1989, Reichhold has spent $125,000 to install equipment to reduce its emissions by 40%, Fahnoe said.

“But even if they cut their emissions in half, they will still be at the top of the list,” said Terri Thomas, the Air Pollution Control District engineer who heads the toxic hot spots program.

Del Manufacturing, which produces aircraft parts for the Department of Defense, has suspended operations that involved the cancer-causing pollutant chromium, said Paul Delgado, plant manager.

“We did the risk assessment and saw that we would be listed as having a potential for health effects,” he said. “So we’ve ceased our operation with that product. We just don’t need that kind of publicity.”

GE Plastics of Oxnard also voluntarily reduced emissions after preliminary figures showed risks would be high to neighbors, Baldwin said. Northrop Corp. in Newbury Park will be closed completely by the end of the year, so it was exempted from the requirement to write a risk assessment, a report for which consultants command $100,000 or more.

Representatives of several oil companies said their emissions had also decreased since 1989, because the firms are converting from internal combustion engines to electric-powered oil pumps.

In past years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued lists of companies that release toxic emissions, but there was no evaluation of the potential effects on health. On those lists, 3M Co. in Camarillo is consistently the top toxic polluter in the county due to its emissions of the chemical methyl ethyl ketone, which can cause birth defects but not cancer.

That chemical is not included on the state’s list of toxic substances but will be added next year, air quality officials said.

The assessments that identify the 16 companies as potentially significant risks represent the first round of reporting under requirements of the toxic hot spots legislation.

This year, companies that emitted more than 25 tons of the toxic chemicals in 1989 were required to report emissions to the Air Pollution Control District. Next year, companies that emit 10 to 25 tons per year must report, and in 1993, companies with toxic emissions of less than 10 tons per year must report emissions to the district.

Baldwin said the assessments will give the public a better picture of the environment in which they live. But some industry officials questioned the validity of the reports.

The Southern California Rock Products Assn., a trade group of rock crushers, and sand and gravel operators, said studies have indicated that the chemical for which CalMat was listed causes cancer in mice but not in humans.

But Thomas called crystalline silica, a chemical dust that is released during rock crushing, a “definite carcinogen.” “We just don’t know how strong it is,” she said.

Thomas pointed out that, under state guidelines, the risk assessments are based on the most extreme assumptions possible. For instance, the risk is figured assuming that people are exposed to the chemical over 70 years.

“Worst plausible case assumptions are made where there is uncertainty,” she said.

Janet Baas, senior environmental specialist at Southern California Edison, said such conservative assumptions are deceptive to the public. Edison’s risk assessments put the company’s two Oxnard plants on the bottom half of the list, with estimates that they could increase the risk of cancer to area residents and workers by three cases in 1 million people.

Baas said the final evaluation will show that Edison does not pose a significant risk to its neighbors. She cited the height, more than 200 feet, of Edison’s smokestacks.

“In a tall stack, the pollutants are dispersed over a wider area and become less potent,” Baas said. In addition, she said, the company plans to reduce its emissions over the next several years.

Bob Chase, production superintendent at the Ventura office of Conoco, said the chemicals involved in his company’s operation are safe for neighbors.

“Our operations are up in the Rincon hills, so the nearest place where people live is Solimar Beach, a quarter mile from the entrance to our property,” he said. “But our production equipment is several miles away.”

Thomas said the risk substantially diminishes with distance.

But she said, “Our job here at the Air Pollution Control District is to protect health. If there is debate over what theory of carcinogenesis is right, we’ll take the conservative one.”

CHEMICAL SPILL: Four evacuated after leak at Reichhold Chemicals. B8

Toxic Problem Sites

Companies in Ventura County with greatest potential for significant increased risk of cancer or other serious health effects for nearby residents or workers:

COMPANY: 1. Reichhold Chemicals Inc. LOCATION: 5980 Arcturus Ave., Oxnard MAIN POLLUTANT: methylene chloride, styrene CANCER RISK*: 352 COMPANY: 2. Del Mfg. Co. LOCATION: 950 Richmond Ave., Oxnard MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium CANCER RISK*: 130 COMPANY: 3. CalMat Co. LOCATION: 6029 Vineyard Ave., Oxnard MAIN POLLUTANT: crystalline silica, beryllium, cadmium CANCER RISK*: 68 COMPANY: 4. Santa Fe Energy LOCATION: Hobson leases, Ventura MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium, benzene CANCER RISK*: 55 COMPANY: 5. Pacific Operators Offshore LOCATION: 7459 Pacific Coast Hwy. MAIN POLLUTANT: formaldehyde, benzene CANCER RISK*: 22 COMPANY: 6. Arco Oil & Gas LOCATION: Ojai Fee Lease, Santa Paula MAIN POLLUTANT: formaldehyde, chromium, benzene CANCER RISK*: 15 COMPANY: 7. Conoco Inc. LOCATION: Grubb Lease, Rincon MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium, cadmium CANCER RISK*: 14 COMPANY: 8. Pacific Energy Group LOCATION: 2501 N. Ventura Road, Oxnard MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium, cadmium CANCER RISK*: 12 COMPANY: 9. Seneca Resources Corp. LOCATION: Frankel B leases, Fillmore MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium, arsenic, cadmium CANCER RISK*: 4 COMPANY: 10. So. Cal Gas LOCATION: 1555 N. Olive St., Ventura MAIN POLLUTANT: benzene, formaldehyde CANCER RISK*: 4 COMPANY: 11. So. Calif. Edison LOCATION: Ormond Beach, Oxnard MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium, arsenic, cadmium CANCER RISK*: 3 COMPANY: 12. So. Calif. Edison LOCATION: Mandalay Bay, Oxnard MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium, arsenic, methyl chloroform CANCER RISK*: 3 COMPANY: 13. Texaco Inc. LOCATION: Ventura Ave. field, Ventura MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium, benzene, formaldehyde CANCER RISK*: 3 COMPANY: 14. Unocal Co. LOCATION: Bardsdale lease, Fillmore MAIN POLLUTANT: benzene, cadmium CANCER RISK*: 2 COMPANY: 15. Texaco Inc. LOCATION: South Mountain field, Fillmore MAIN POLLUTANT: chromium, benzene, formaldehyde CANCER RISK*: 2 COMPANY: 16. Shell Western E&P; LOCATION: Ventura Ave. field, Ventura MAIN POLLUTANT: formaldehyde, benzene, xylene CANCER RISK*: 2 COMPANY: 17. PTI Tech. Technologies LOCATION: 950 Rancho Conejo Blvd., Newbury Park MAIN POLLUTANT: methylene chloride, methyl chloroform CANCER RISK*: 2 COMPANY: 18. 3M Co. LOCATION: 350 S. Lewis Road, Camarillo MAIN POLLUTANT: acetaldehyde, toluene CANCER RISK*: .3 * Excess cancer risk per 1 million people

Source: Ventura County Air Pollution Control District. Figures are based on 1989 emissions, the most recent emission inventories available.