PORTLAND — A Portland glass-maker has suspended part of its operations after environmental regulators found the plant was leaking elevated levels of carcinogens.
Environmental regulators had suspected for months that Bullseye Glass was releasing unsafe levels of cadmium and arsenic, The Oregonian reports. Regulators placed an air monitor next to the business in October.
Officials didn’t release their findings until Wednesday, hours before the Portland Mercury reported that recent monitoring found the carcinogens in the area.
The Department of Environmental Quality said in a statement that the concentrations of the pollutants are concerning. On Jan. 20, average arsenic levels in inner Southeast Portland were 149 times higher than the state’s safety goal and cadmium levels were 49 times higher.
