Portland takes the Number 1 Spot. In Pollution?

The story hit the front page of the Oregonian on Monday, Aug. 26 2013 that Precision Castparts was designated the number one toxic air polluter in the nation, based on a report issued by the Political Economy Research Institute, an independent research organization affiliated with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The ranking combines measures of pounds released with toxicity of pollutants and population exposure to yield a score for each company. One-third of Precision's score comes from three Portland-area factories that emit cobalt and cobalt compounds. Acute exposure to high levels of cobalt, a natural element found throughout the environment, results in respiratory effects, such as a significant decrease in ventilatory function, congestion, edema and hemorrhage of the lung, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Ranked solely on pounds of pollutants released in 2010, Precision drops low in the list of the nation's top 100 air polluters. But an author of the University of Massachusetts study says the company's high score raises questions that members of the public should ask companies and regulators. "I would be concerned if I were downwind from the company that comes up at the top of this list," said Michael Ash, a UMass professor of economics and public policy.

In a follow-up story Precision disputed the number 1 ranking as "Deeply Flawed". based on incorrect assumptions in the underlying EPA data.

Precision ranked No. 1 despite a relatively low volume of emissions because of its plants' proximity to population centers and reportedly higher toxicity. One-third of Precision's pollutant score came from Portland-area plants that emit cobalt and cobalt compound.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality confirmed Thursday that Precision is in compliance with its emissions permits and hasn't been the target of an enforcement action in at least a decade.

Michael Ash, a UMass professor of economics and public policy and one of the researchers behind the rankings, said Thursday their report isn't intended to be a risk assessment tool.
"We think we've used the data in an appropriate way, as a screening tool to engender public understanding and dialogue over potential health risks from industrial toxic emissions," Ash said.

You may come to your own conclusions if you happen to live in Portland near one of their plants.