As part of the Mineral Wool Production and Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing rulemaking, EPA sent requests to 29 fiberglass manufacturing plants across the nation, asking them to provide emissions data. From this information, EPA learned that the CertainTeed plant in the Fairfax Industrial District of Kansas City, Kansas, showed chromium VI emissions that were higher than any other facility in the industry. It is believed that refractory bricks used in CertainTeed’s manufacturing process are the source of the facility’s chromium VI emissions. To determine if these emissions may pose health concerns for local residents, EPA Region 7 decided to conduct air monitoring at John Garland Park, located between the facility and nearby residential areas.

For more details on the sampling plan, see:
Quality Assurance Project Plan - Chromium VI Air Study, Kansas City, Kansas (PDF) (86 pp, 15.17MB, About PDF)

Results of air monitoring show that the chromium VI levels in air do not indicate a health concern. Region 7 placed monitoring equipment in John Garland Park in December 2011 to measure chromium VI concentrations in the air and to determine whether further action, if any, is necessary. Chromium VI air sample results for December 2011 through March 2012 are summarized below.

The CertainTeed plant normally operates two furnaces (K1 and K2). K2 has temporarily ceased operations. Only the K1 furnace was operating during the air monitoring conducted after Dec. 11, 2011. Chromium VI air sampling has been suspended due to the low levels detected in the outdoor air samples. If operation of the K2 furnace resumes, EPA will re-evaluate the need to resume chromium VI air monitoring.

December 2011
Sample Date	12/8	12/11	12/14	12/17	12/20	12/23	12/27	12/29
Monitor C1	0.015	*ND	0.0327	0.0128	1.05	0.0132	0.0503	0.0126
Monitor C2	0.0162	*ND	0.0291	0.0129	1.02	0.0121	**NA	0.0138
Wind Direction	N	SSW	SSW	SW	NE	SW	NW	SW
January 2012
Sample Date	1/1	1/4	1/7	1/11	1/13	1/16	1/19	1/22	1/25	1/28	1/31
Monitor C1	*ND	0.0195	0.0593	0.0171	*ND	0.022	0.0411	*ND	0.0471	*ND	0.0162
Monitor C2	*ND	0.0183	0.0568	0.0411	0.0146	0.0094	0.037	*ND	0.0447	*ND	0.011
Wind Direction	NW	NW	NE	NW	WNW	SSW	NNE	S	ENE	SW	SW
February 2012
Sample Date	2/3	2/6	2/9	2/12	2/15	2/18	2/21	2/24	2/27
Monitor C1	0.0952	0.0079	0.0142	0.0173	0.0909	0.087	*ND	*ND	0.0284
Monitor C2	0.105	0.0132	0.0176	0.0199	0.111	0.0963	*ND	*ND	0.028
Wind Direction	ENE	NW	SW	SSE	ENE	NE	NW	SW	N
March 2012
Sample Date	3/1	3/4	3/7	3/10	3/13	3/16	3/19
Monitor C1	0.0272	0.0078	*ND	0.0202	0.0843	0.0086	0.0089
Monitor C2	0.0314	0.0078	*ND	0.0167	0.0833	0.0093	0.0081
Wind Direction	N	ENE	NW	SSE	S	SSE	SSE

* ND – Non detect | ** Monitor malfunction

EPA also used computer modeling on stack test emissions data in reaching its initial conclusions that there are no immediate health concerns. The stack test emissions data were provided to EPA by CertainTeed as part of the rulemaking and additional tests ordered by the Agency. A second round of stack test sampling by all 29 U.S. fiberglass plants has been requested by EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS). OAQPS has also asked manufacturers to provide the amount of chromium VI in their refractory bricks.

Recent soil samples taken by EPA as part of another project in the Garland Park Landfill area also did not indicate chromium levels that would be of health concern.

Chromium occurs naturally in rocks, animals, plants, and soil. It can exist in several different forms. Depending on the form it takes, it can be a liquid, solid, or gas. The form of chromium of most concern from a health perspective is chromium VI, also called hexavalent chromium. Inhalation of chromium VI at high levels can damage the respiratory system and cause cancer. Other forms of chromium are chromium (0) and chromium (III). Chromium (0) is the metal form of chromium. It is used in steel manufacturing. Chromium VI and chromium (III) are used for chrome plating, dyes and pigments, refractory bricks, leather tanning, and wood preserving. Chromium (III) is an essential nutrient that helps the body use sugar, protein, and fat.

Exposure to chromium occurs from ingesting contaminated food or drinking water or breathing contaminated air. It is odorless and tasteless. Air emissions of chromium are predominantly of chromium (III), and in the form of small particles or aerosols. The largest industrial sources of chromium in the atmosphere are those related to ferrochrome production. Ore refining, chemical and refractory processing, cement-producing plants, automobile brake lining and catalytic converters for automobiles, leather tanneries, and chrome pigments are also sources of chromium emissions to ambient air.

David Bryan
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Public Affairs
901 N. 5^th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Phone: 913-551-7433
bryan.david@epa.gov