The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is conducting additional air monitoring and investigating potential sources of hexavalent chromium emissions in the industrialized areas of Paramount following slightly elevated and persistent readings identified through the City of Paramount’s ongoing air monitoring networks.
The findings highlight the importance of local air monitoring in identifying potential air quality concerns and alerting the appropriate agencies when further investigation is needed.
Paramount is unique among cities with a sizable industrial sector in independently monitoring local air quality, providing the community with an additional level of localized data and oversight. Because other cities with heavy industry do not have city-funded monitoring networks, it is difficult to determine whether similar conditions exist in those communities. Without consistent, localized monitoring, potential air quality concerns may go undetected or unidentified in those cities.
Since assuming responsibility for routine air monitoring from South Coast AQMD in 2021, the City has invested in the equipment and resources needed to monitor local conditions. The City-funded monitoring network provides local data that helps identify elevated readings and alerts South Coast AQMD when further investigation may be needed.
Continued funding for these monitors is essential to maintaining this resource and supporting the City’s efforts to protect residents’ health and safety. By prioritizing air monitoring in its budget, the City of Paramount can continue collecting local data and working with South Coast AQMD and other partners to keep air quality a priority for the community.
The City will continue working with South Coast AQMD as its investigation progresses and share updates with residents as information becomes available. For more information, visit www.AQMD.gov/Paramount.
