Swissvale Air Toxics Monitoring Study
In the past five years, two studies were conducted at or near Kopp Glass in Swissvale: one study in 2017 by the EPA and the other from 2020-2021 by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). Kopp Glass manufactures handmade technical and signal glassware like lenses for airport runway and taxiway lights, walk signs, and other commercial and industrial lighting. Kopp Glass operates one large furnace and several smaller furnaces to make the glass. Metal hazardous air pollutants are emitted from the furnaces during operation.
After a 2015 study from Portland, Oregon showed high levels of metals in moss found near an art glass plant, the EPA wanted to study plants producing this type of glass. Kopp Glass was one of the selected facilities and the EPA requested ACHD to monitor air quality at Kopp Glass from April to October 2017. Two monitors were set up to measure 11 pollutants including arsenic and cadmium upwind and downwind from the facility. ACHD assisted the EPA with the monitoring portion of the study; the data processing, analysis and reporting was done by the EPA. On Nov. 21, 2019, in their report titled “Preliminary Risk Assessments for Three Art Glass Manufacturing Facilities,(PDF, 3MB)” the EPA determined that emissions from the plants it studied did not exceed the 100-in-1 million risk of cancer deemed acceptable by the EPA.
Despite the EPA’s findings, ACHD wanted to act on the report and began discussions with the EPA and Kopp Glass about emissions reductions at the facility. These discussions led to conversations on metal toxicity reduction, multiple site visits by ACHD air quality engineers, and continued air monitoring. ACHD and Kopp Glass worked collaboratively and found ways to reduce the toxicity output by changing some of the glass formulas and adjusting operations, and production. After these adjustments were applied, ACHD conducted its own air monitoring study from June 2020 to June 2021 on a property located in Swissvale just outside of Kopp Glass’ property line (shown below). The goal of this study was to better understand the health risk to the public and see if the health risk due to ambient air toxics decreased since the first study.
ACHD collected samples from June 14, 2020 through June 15, 2021. Within the year of sampling, Kopp Glass and ACHD signed a Consent Order and Agreement in September 2020. Kopp Glass agreed to limit production of metal-HAP’s (Hazardous Air Pollutants) and to additional reporting to confirm their compliance. With this production reduction, ACHD agreed that Kopp Glass was not considered a major source of pollution and no longer need a Title V Permit.
In March 2021, ACHD released a preliminary data report(PDF, 264KB). The full report, released in April 2022, shows lower levels of metal hazardous air pollutants at the Swissvale monitor compared with the data taken at Kopp Glass by the EPA in 2017, as seen in the graphs below. These data also imply lower non-cancer and cancer risks from the air toxics. Working with sources to successfully reduce harmful emissions is part of the mission of the Air Quality Program and Health Department. Though successful projects like this can take years to accomplish, the results and benefits to the community are worth the detailed commitment from everyone involved. Read the full study(PDF, 899KB).
Cancer Risk from 2020 and 2017 Studies
Non-Cancer Risk from 2020 and 2017 Studies
Timeline
This timeline shows the development of the Allegheny County Health Department’s enforcement order against and air toxics monitoring study of Kopp Glass.
2021 Actions
March, 2021 - Preliminary data report released by ACHD
June 15, 2021 - Final air sampling date
2020 Actions
September 9, 2020 - ACHD and Kopp Glass signed a Consent Order and Agreement in which Kopp Glass agreed to limit production of metal-HAP (hazardous air pollutant) containing glass and additional reporting to confirm compliance. With this production reduction, ACHD agreed that Kopp Glass was no longer required to submit a Title V Permit application.
July 27, 2020 - ACHD issues an Enforcement Order against Kopp Glass which requires the facility to submit an application for a Title V Operating Permit and to submit a plan for the facility’s compliance with the requirements of federal air quality regulations applicable to glass manufacturing facilities.
July 1, 2020 - Kopp Glass files a Notice of Appeal of the ACHD’s June 5, 2020, determination that Kopp Glass is subject to federal air quality regulations applicable to glass manufacturing facilities.
June 30, 2020 - Kopp Glass submits to ACHD voluntary measures to reduce emissions.
June 14, 2020 - The ACHD starts ambient air monitoring for metal HAPs on a private property located near the Kopp Glass facility.
June 5, 2020 - The ACHD issued a determination(PDF, 545KB) that Kopp Glass is subject to federal air quality regulations applicable to glass manufacturing facilities.
May 2020 - ACHD submits an information request to Kopp Glass for purposes of determining whether Kopp Glass is subject to federal air quality regulations applicable to glass manufacturing facilities and performs a site visit to obtain additional information. Kopp Glass responds to information request and cooperates with site visit.
April – May 2020 - ACHD Air Quality staff locate a site for placement of an ambient air monitor on a private property located near the Kopp Glass facility and enter into a lease agreement for placement of the monitoring equipment.
Feb. – May 2020 - ACHD Air Quality staff meet with representatives of Kopp Glass and conducted site visits of the facility. During the discussions, Kopp Glass offered voluntary measures to reduce metal HAP emissions at the facility.
Feb. 2020 - After reviewing, analyzing and discussing the report with EPA, ACHD shares report with Kopp Glass.
2016 - 2017 Actions
April 2017 - Air monitoring for metal HAPs starts on the Kopp Glass property to determine emissions of HAP metals during normal operating conditions at the plant. That monitoring concluded in October.
Oct. 2016 - The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is notified by EPA that Kopp Glass, located in Swissvale, has been selected as one of three facilities for monitoring of metal hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). The other two facilities are Kokomo Opalescent Glass in Indiana and Paul Wissmach Glass Company in West Virginia.
Feb. 2016 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began contacting state and local agencies to identify art glass facilities similar to the facilities located in Portland, Oregon. The EPA determined that there are eight art glass facilities using metal HAPs.
2013 - 2015 Actions
2013 – 2015 - U.S. Forest Service conducts exploratory study to measure air pollution in Portland, Oregon, using samples of moss growing on urban trees. The study was issued in May 2015 and showed high levels of metals in moss found near an art glass plant. Later that year, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality conducts ambient air monitoring near several art glass manufacturing facilities in Portland and issues a report in January 2016 that confirmed high levels of cadmium and arsenic in the area near the facilities.
Monitoring Methodology
Air sampling started on June 14 following the EPA’s recommended frequency of 1 sample every 6 days. The first samples were sent for analysis on July 9.
ACHD installed monitoring on a residential property northwest of the facility to determine the long-term average concentrations of metal hazardous air pollutants in the community. The monitor is sited at a location that was determined through air dispersion modeling to be at the highest point of impact to the surrounding community.
FAQ
What is a Title V Permit?
Any source of significant air emissions must have an operating permit. A “Title V” operating permit is a federally enforceable permit for major sources or other sources required to get a Title V permit under Part 70 of the Clean Air Act. Because they are subject to 40 CFR 63, Subpart SSSSSS, Kopp Glass is required to have a Title V permit even though their emissions do not raise to the level of “major.”
What are hazardous air pollutants?
The EPA has identified 187 chemicals that have health risks, either for short-term exposure (breathing problems and other) or long-term exposure (cancer and others.)
What is the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)?
A federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ATSDR develops health-based values, such as minimal risk values, to protect the health of the general population. Visit atsdr.cdc.gov for more information.
What is a minimal risk level (MRL)?
An MRL is an estimate of the amount of a chemical a person can eat, drink, or breathe each day without a detectable risk to health. MRLs are developed for health effects other than cancer. If someone is exposed to an amount above the MRLs, it does not mean that health problems will happen. When health assessors find exposures higher than the MRLs, it means that they may want to look more closely at a site.
Why is cadmium bad for you?
Studies are limited, but a long-time exposure to raised levels of cadmium could contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among smokers, respiratory cancer, and possible effects on kidneys.
Why is arsenic bad for you?
According to the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, “Longer exposure at lower concentrations can lead to skin effects, and also to circulatory and peripheral nervous disorders.” Higher levels can contribute to lung cancer.