Healthy Air

Every Oregonian has the right to breathe clean and healthy air in their homes and neighborhoods. Clean and healthy air outdoors means cleaning up soot and smog from transportation, helping people replace polluting wood stoves, protecting people from toxic pollution in our air from industry, and controlling pollution to protect Oregon’s climate.

Oregon’s air has less soot and smog today than a generation ago; but we have more work to do to ensure air stays healthy and safe. Oregon is gaining momentum on climate solutions, and Oregon Environmental Council is committed to keep that momentum rolling. As for toxic air pollution, it’s time to get serious to address today’s dangers and ensure that we prevent health crises in the future.

Healthy solutions to Oregon’s toxic air pollution problems:

Clean up diesel engines

Diesel exhaust is a very toxic pollutant that has had a very simple solution. Today’s new diesel engines can make trucks and construction equipment as much as 95% cleaner. OEC advocated for and helped pass HB 2007 which requires the phase out of 1997 and older diesel engines by 2023, and 2010-and-older diesel engines by 2029. We also petitioned DEQ to promulgate an indirect source rule to reduce aggregate emissions from all mobile sources.

Together, we can save lives and protect the health of everyone in Oregon by taking common-sense measures to reduce air pollution from vehicles.

Reduce exposure to wood smoke

Old wood stoves are still in use across many parts of Oregon. Wood smoke pollution harms the heart and lungs, and raises the risk of cancer. The pollution can also limit a county’s ability to meet EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards. In fact, biomass is one of the largest sources of PM 2.5 pollution in Multnomah County. We partner with community advocates and the Multnomah County Commission extended wood smoke surveillance season from five months to year-round, to protect public health. OEC continues to help educate our members and the public on why we should skip the fire and love our lungs.

Reducing Industrial Air Pollution

Over the years, OEC has worked with DEQ, advocacy groups, and local neighborhood groups to reduce various sources of industrial pollution. Specifically, we have been advocating for Owens Brockway in the Cully neighborhood to install ceramic filters so that their glass manufacturing process mitigates the amount of air toxins like cadmium, lead, and arsenic released into the neighboring community. Due to OEC advocacy, DEQ levied a $ 1 million fine (the highest fine on record) on the facility, after years of violating its Title V permit under the Clean Air Act.

Take a health-first approach to managing toxic air pollution

What do you care most about: (a) making sure neighborhood air is safe to breathe or (b) making sure every business meets their permitted amount of toxic pollution?

Oregon’s permit system is based on (b). Our state sets standards for pollution control technology without thinking about how one business right next to another might add up to a health hazard. If we switch to a health-based system, Oregon will be required to consider how pollution spreads in the air and what other sources are already releasing air toxics in a neighborhood before issuing a permit.