Our Concerns

Some of us moved here expecting that air quality near the ocean would be much better than air in large metropolitan areas. Not necessarily true, we found.

While pollutants that are normally measured, such as auto emissions, may be lower here, we discovered that there were problems such as continuous industrial emissions, and sometimes smoke and herbicides.

  • Lincoln County continues to have high cancer rates compared with other counties in Oregon.
  • We have citizen complaints, past and present, of adverse health effects due to pollution.
  • We believe that air quality rules in some cases may not provide an adequate margin of health protection for children, the elderly, some healthy adults, asthmatics, and people with various other health problems.
  • We are concerned that the air we breathe is not being tested.
  • Much is still unknown about the effects of toxic air pollutants on health, but what IS known is that long term exposures to low levels of pollution can cause permanent adverse health effects.

It makes sense to take a precautionary approach, to err on the side of health and safety for all, especially children, rather than profits or convenience for a few.

We have been encouraged by reports of industrial facilities in other regions that voluntarily reduced pollution levels to find that workers became more productive and the company benefited financially.

It is absurd and tragic to continue to poison our world and ourselves just because it is legal to do so. -Angeline Johnston, mother, Shoreline, WA.

Our Concerns

How To Find More Information:

  1. Article on local cancer rates.
  2. DEQ documents available for the 2005 Georgia-Pacific Toledo pulp mill Title V air pollution permit renewal.
  3. Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Data on emissions of hazardous air pollutants released from the largest facilities in a limited number of industries, reported to EPA by the companies.
  4. Environmental Scorecard. Type in a zip code (Toledo is 97391) to learn who is polluting, the amounts, how your area compares with others, and more.
  5. EPA Basic Air Information
  6. EPA Envirofacts Data Warehouse-Air
  7. Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets
  8. The Right-To-Know Network
  9. The Title V Handbook. Title V refers to a section of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments pertaining to certain large sources of air pollution. This is a well-organized guide to the Title V permitting process, how to review a permit, rights of citizens to petition EPA, etc.
  10. Wood smoke and particulate pollution hazards.
  11. Herbicide and pesticide fact sheets
  12. Click here to download ODOT’s No Spray Application Form