Page One

As a youth soccer league kicks off its fall season, the city received more preliminary information that a highly used west Berkeley soccer field has excessive levels of airborne particulate matter that may pose a health risk. 

The city commissioned a $40,000 air study to determine the levels of Particulate Matter 10 at Harrison Field, located at Fifth and Harrison streets. The most recently released test results show particulate matter exceeded state standards seven times from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15. During July, the PM10 levels exceeded state standards nine times. 

The city commissioned the air study because of Harrison Field’s location in the midst of Interstate 80, a waste disposal transfer station and the site of several industrial manufacturing facilities. The field opened in 1999. 

The test results also show particulate matter levels were the highest between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., the same times the Alameda-Contra Costa Soccer League will be holding soccer matches during its fall season. According to a league Web site, 137 games are scheduled at the soccer field between Sept. 8 and Nov. 10, when the season ends. 

The air study results for the early afternoon of Sept. 8, while four soccer games were taking place, showed particulate matter levels were above 150 micrograms per cubic meter or three times the state’s 24-hour standard for PM10. 

The air study, which began in July, is being conducted by Applied Measurement Science. AMS will continue to collect air samples from Harrison Field for nine months so air quality can be measured during a variety of climates and weather conditions. Hazardous Materials Supervisor Nabil Al-Hadithy cautioned it would be unwise to draw conclusions about health risks until the study is completed and the data is analyzed, some time next summer. 

The city’s air study contract with AMS also included measurements of particulate matter 2.5 but equipment problems have delayed the collection of that data for another one to three weeks, according to AMS president Eric Winegar. 

The Bay Area Air Quality Control Management District considers PM2.5 to be a greater health risk than PM10 because the PM2.5 is smaller and capable of embedding deeper in the lung’s membrane. Though the PM2.5 information is not available, Al-Hadithy said it is reasonable to assume high levels of PM10 mean high levels of PM2.5. 

Melanie Marty, chief of Air Toxicology and Epidemiology Section of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, said there is a growing body of information that shows particulate matter is related to respiratory problems in children, seniors and people who suffer from respiratory illnesses. Marty, who did not see the Harrison Field air study results, said generally high levels of particulate matter is worthy of concern.  

“There are a number of studies that show particulate matter exacerbates asthma and kids have worse asthma symptoms because their air passages are smaller,” she said. “It sounds like the study results is reason for concern, but not panic.” 

Parks and Waterfront Director Lisa Caronna said she had not had a chance to review the recently released study results and said she was not willing to jump to any conclusions until the study has been completed and the data is analyzed.  

“We need to find out what the scope of this thing is,” she said. “We want to see what time of day the levels are the highest and what’s causing it.” 

Caronna said if the numbers are consistently high, the city might “implement warning information, as needed.” 

Alan Fong, Manager of the Albany Berkeley Soccer Club, said the league will be watching the study closely and monitoring children who have respiratory problems. 

Community Environmental Advisory Commissioner L.A. Wood suggested the city require that parents sign a waiver if their children are scheduled to play soccer at Harrison Field. He added that he is anxious to find out the PM2.5 results. 

“If the PM2.5 levels are running as high as the PM10, it becomes a much more serious situation,” he said. “If parents are required to sign a health waiver it will be an excellent device to make sure parents know there may be a risk at the field.” 

For to-date test data from the Harrison Field air study go to www.airmeasurement.com/berkeley.html and for more information about particulate matter 10 go to www.baaqmd.gov/pie/pm10bacm.htm.