The Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP) has been established to monitor
local air quality in real-time, operate a website, and provide education on health as related to air quality.
BCAMP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Donations to BCAMP are tax deductible and will help us fund future operations.
If you wish to donate, please click below. A PayPal account is not required. Thank you.
If you have questions, please contact us at bcamp94510@gmail.com
Donate through Paypal (account not required):
Donations can also be made via check. Checks made out to BCAMP can be sent c/o Kathy Kerridge to PO Box 1987, Benicia CA 94510.
Abbreviations
ND - No detection PPB - Parts per billion ug/m3 - Micrograms per cubic meter MDL - Minimum detection limit REL - Reference exposure level OEHHA - Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
For more information about chemicals, click on the Resources tab
Gauge Color Indicator |
System status as of September 7 2024, 6:21 PM |
Benzene No detection |
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Benzene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) on the State of California's "Prop 65" list of known chemical carcinogens. Benzene is a neurotoxin and can be found at low detections in ambient air. |
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Black Carbon 0.1 ug/m3 |
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When inhaled, particles of soot (such as from tailpipe emissions and burning charcoal), may lead to increased breathing difficulty and asthma attacks, and affect heart and circulatory system functions, including blood pressure/hypertension. Repeated exposures may require emergency room visits (Scientists have not yet concluded how black carbon affects health). |
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Sulfur Dioxide No detection |
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Short term exposure can cause lung problems, burning of nose and throat. Longer term effects of chronic exposures are decreased lung function and chronic asthma. |
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Toluene No detection |
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Short term exposure can cause eye and nose irritation, confusion, headaches, anxiety, dizziness, and insomnia. More serious effects from chronic exposures may include kidney and liver damage, and possibly infertility. |
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Xylene No detection |
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Exposure for any amount of time can cause headaches, lack of coordination, confusion and dizziness. Exposure to high concentrations can cause skin, eye, nose, throat irritation, lung problems, breathing difficulty, memory loss, liver and kidney changes. |
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PM1 2.1 ug/m3 |
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PM10 10.4 ug/m3 |
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PM10 includes dust from construction sites, landfills and agriculture, wildfires and brush/waste burning, industrial sources, wind-blown dust from open lands, pollen and fragments of bacteria. |
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PM2.5 3.1 ug/m3 |
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Tiniest, invisible particles, at 2.5 microns or less (“PM2.5”) are most dangerous for health. PM2.5 can't be expelled by coughing, because the particulates travel deep into the lungs, lodging in tissues and releasing into the bloodstream other air toxins attached to them. Chronic exposure to PM2.5 can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart attacks. People with compromised immune systems may be more susceptible to viruses and bacterial infections, which can lead to pneumonia in children and older people. |
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H2S No detection |
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Hydrogen sulfide can usually be smelled at low levels of concentration with immediate symptoms such as burning eyes, coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath. At moderate levels of concentration, exposure can cause severe eye and respiratory irritation, including fluid in the lungs, nausea and staggering. The results of exposure to high levels of concentration can be life threatening with effects such as the inability to breathe, convulsions, unconsciousness, coma, and death. |
Pollutant | Current Reading |
Data Trend Graph | Range |
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Benzene | No detection |
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Black Carbon | 0.1 ug/m3 |
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Sulfur Dioxide | No detection |
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Toluene | No detection |
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Xylene | No detection |
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PM1 | 2.1 ug/m3 |
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PM10 | 10.4 ug/m3 |
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PM2.5 | 3.1 ug/m3 |
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H2S | No detection |
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For more information about chemicals, click on the Resources tab
The purpose of this page is to evaluate the ability of the equipment installed as part of the Rodeo Fence-line Air Monitoring Program to detect and quantify gases that are ever-present in the air we breathe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests this is one way to assess the validity of data from fence-line air monitoring systems. Methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone are examples of gases that are always present. As per the EPA, should an air monitoring system fail to detect these gases within specific concentration ranges, the credibility of the data should be questioned.
In addition, at the request of individuals living in the community of Rodeo, the BCAMP monitoring program has relocated an ozone monitor to this community. The purpose of this is to measure the ozone in the ambient air using a technology that has been accepted as a Federal Equivalent Method. This monitor, as well as ozone data from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) ambient air monitoring systems, can be used to assess the overall quality of the data being presented to the community. The nearest BAAQMD monitors are located in Vallejo and San Rafael . It should be noted the actual location of BCAMP ozone monitor has been masked to respect the privacy of the host site.
BCAMP expresses its gratitude towards Phillips 66 for offering real-time data for methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. It is noteworthy that no other refinery in the Bay Area currently offers such information for public scrutiny.
For additional information, here are some useful links:
BCAMP Ozone at Rodeo
Pollutant | Data Trend Graph | Range |
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BCAMP Ozone at Rodeo |
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Ozone |
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Methane |
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Nitrous Oxide |
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What is Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP)?
BCAMP is a non-profit established for the benefit of the community to monitor ambient air quality in Benicia. BCAMP independently holds, operates, and maintains air monitoring equipment at a community-based monitoring station and provides a public access website. BCAMP's mission is to sample and measure local air in real time; report and archive raw data on the website; and provide education on health risks as related to air quality.
Who operates the BCAMP station?
BCAMP has contracted Argos Scientific to operate and maintain our monitoring station's equipment and website. Established in 2006, Argos is a recognized expert in air quality monitoring throughout the world. Currently, Argos currently operates fence line monitoring systems at several Bay Area refineries and also supports community monitoring systems in southern California, and contributes research on state-of-the-art advances in monitoring technologies, working with state-wide Air District regulators.
Connect with Bay Area community organizations, campaigns, and resources
Health risks information
Connect with elected officials and regulators
Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Benicia and Valero