Air Quality Monitoring

City-Provided Air Quality Monitoring Services (September 2021 – Present)

After five years, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) completed the world’s most extensive hexavalent chromium air monitoring program in Paramount in mid-2021 (click here to see all SCAQMD monitoring results). On September 21, 2021, the Paramount City Council, aware of the importance of continued monitoring for the health of the community, unanimously voted to pay for air monitoring services in a contract with T and B Systems, which has since joined Trinity Consultants.

T and B Systems will continue taking air samples on a weekly basis throughout the City to monitor levels of hexavalent chromium. For a running log of current monitoring results, see the embedded dashboard below.

It should be noted that the AQMD has stated that concerns would be raised if there are readings above 1.0 over three consecutive samplings, and that any readings below that level are considered as relatively normal “background” levels.

Occasionally, filters may be considered invalid if the sampler operation is found outside of the recommended calibration criteria, there are power outages, rainwater impacts the filter or the filter is damaged.

Most Recent Sampling Data (ng/m3)

Update (2/5/2024)

15701 Minnesota
As of the air quality monitor reading on January 1, 2024, 15701 Minnesota has had five consecutive readings below 1.0 ng/m3. This pattern indicates that the December 2, 2023, spike was an isolated event and not a cause for concern. As a reminder, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has stated that concerns would be raised if there are readings above 1.0 ng/m3 over three consecutive samplings. Per our standard process, we will continue to test and monitor air quality at this site.

Gaines Elementary School
The Gaines Elementary School air quality monitoring location has seen additional spiked readings since the beginning of December 2023, none of which were in a consecutive pattern. The first elevated reading occurred on December 2, 2023, at 1.502 ng/m3 and the second elevated reading occurred on December 20, 2023, at 1.205 ng/m3. Although these elevated readings did not occur in a consecutive pattern, the City of Paramount has elected to rent an air monitor for additional coverage of the area to better understand where these spikes are coming from and why they’re occurring. The additional monitor will be stationed on the east side of Garfield just south of Jackson beginning on January 24. We will continue to monitor this site closely for any emerging patterns and provide updates on this page. Any identifiable origins for the elevated readings will be immediately shared with the AQMD as the regulatory authorities for further investigation.

Read more.

City of Paramount Monitoring Results & Analysis

Summary of statistics gathered from 2023

SiteNumber of SamplesAverage
15701 Minnesota570.576
City Hall590.189
Lincoln Elementary580.147
Vermont Ave.570.265
Wesley Gaines Elementary540.190

Summary of statistics gathered in 2022

SiteNumber of SamplesAverage
15701 Minnesota600.415
City Hall550.175
Lincoln Elementary320.100
Vermont Ave.280.195
Wesley Gaines Elementary430.099

Summary of statistics gathered in 2021 (11/18/21 – 12/31/21)

SiteNumber of SamplesAverage
15701 Minnesota30.191
City Hall80.57

Notice of Violation (NOV) Issuances

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) posts Notice of Violations (NOV) on the Compliance & Enforcement page of their websites as violations arise. The notice will list information, including: issue date, NOV number, facility name and address, relevant SCAQMD Rule(s), and specific violation.An NOV can range from a public nuisance to a failure to submit required reports. A “public nuisance” refers to the discharging of such quantities of air contaminants which caused nuisance to a considerable number of persons or to the public.To view enforcement activity of NOVs beginning in the fall of 2016 through the present, please visit the SCAQMD website.

SCAQMD-Provided Air Quality Monitoring Services (Prior to September 2021)

Paramount Emissions Investigation Summary of Efforts April 2021 English
Paramount Emissions Investigation Summary of Efforts April 2021 Spanish

Looking for historic monitoring data and documents? Please visit our archive page.