Air Monitoring

Air quality at the Richmond Field Station is generally very good due to the proximity to San Francisco Bay with on-shore prevailing winds transporting clean air from the Pacific Ocean. Remediation activities, including excavation of soils and sediments, mixing of stabilizing materials (such as limestone, activated carbon and lime), loading of trucks and hauling clean soils in and contaminated soils out have the potential to release pollutants or dust in nuisance levels. Emissions from these activities are controlled through construction best management practices, such as using spray water to suppress dust and avoidance of loading in windy conditions. 

To ensure that remediation project activities at the RFS and neighboring Zeneca sites are not adversely impacting air quality, oversight agencies require regular air monitoring during work periods. In addition to this air monitoring, the campus Office of Environment, Health & Safety monitors indoor and outdoor air when concerns are raised.

RFS Remediation and Restoration Project

Air quality monitoring plans and results for the first three phases of remediation work at the RFS are presented in the three phase implementation reports in sections presented below. Future air monitoring results will be posted as available. 

October 2007: Time Critical Removal Action at former Forest Products Laboratory Wood Treatment Laboratory

As described in the Soil Confirmation and Perimeter Air Monitoring Plan, air was monitored using a MIE Personal Data Real-time Aerosol Monitors (PDR) which have a particle size maximum range of response of 0.1 to 10 micrometers (μm) and a lower detection limit of 0.001 mg/ m3. Data is presented in tables for each work day. A corresponding figure shows the locatoin of the PDRs.

December 2018: Air Monitoring: Mercury Fulminate Area Excavation Pilot

January 2020: Air Monitoring: Mercury Fulminate Area Removal Action

As described in Attachment D: Air Monitoring Plan of the 2014 Final Removal Action Work Plan, air was monitored for dust using real-time aerosol monitors (MIE Personal Data Rams (PDR) which have a particle size maximum range of response of 0.1 to 10 micrometers (μm) and a lower detection limit of 0.001 mg/ m3. In addition real-time mercury vapor was monitored using a Lumex RA-915. The Lumex RA-915 meter has a detection limit of 0.002 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) for mercury. Data is presented in tables for each day and is uploaded as it is made available. Blank results in the Lumex data are from the machines self-calibrating.

November 2020: EPA North Meadow Removal Action

Air was monitored for dust using real-time aerosol monitors (MIE Personal Data Rams (PDR) which have a particle size maximum range of response of 0.1 to 10 micrometers (μm) and a lower detection limit of 0.001 mg/ m3.

Zeneca Remediation

Information on air quality monitoring data for the Zeneca site is found at the Department of Toxics Substances Control website at: https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report?global_id=07280002

Daily Marsh Cleanup Air Monitoring at the Zeneca site is posted on the Campus Bay Forward(a.k.a. Zeneca) website at: www.campusbayforward.com

Pollen Counts

American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immmunology Pollen and Spore Levels- Western Region