Air Quality Monitoring

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

After five years, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) ended 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.

Trinity Consultants continues to take air samples every six days at six strategic locations in 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 nanogram per cubic meter 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.

Routine lab results for air quality samples during the week of January 26 indicated that the City of Paramount’s air monitor at 15701 Minnesota Ave. detected elevated levels of hexavalent chromium during recent consecutive samples. Hexavalent chromium is a known human carcinogen, and the City has taken measures to work closely with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), the regional agency responsible for regulating stationary sources of air pollution and enforcing air quality rules. Read more.

Most Recent Sampling Data (ng/m3)

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

Until late 2019, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) posted Notice of Violations (NOVs) on the Compliance & Enforcement page of their websites when violations arose. The notices listed information, including: issue date, NOV number, facility name and address, relevant SCAQMD Rule(s), and the 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 2019, 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.