MARTINEZ, CA — Contra Costa Health said it was notified of a release of coke dust from Martinez Refining Co. on Saturday night, the second release in 11 days.
Teams from the health department and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District didn't find evidence of material from the release in surrounding neighborhoods, CCH said in a social media posting.
The refinery reported the release of coke dust, a byproduct of the petroleum refining process, at 6:04 p.m., CCH said.
Find out what's happening in Martinezfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
On July 11, Martinez Refining Co. reported a coke release that collected on cars, garbage cans and other surfaces in neighborhoods around the refinery.
Laboratory analysis of the dust didn't contain high levels of toxic metals, CCH said July 15.
Find out what's happening in Martinezfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
MRC reported that release to the county around 10:20 a.m. July 11, almost three hours after the release took place around 8:30 a.m.
Health officials said the company was required to notify the Community Warning System and CCH as soon as possible or within 15 minutes.
MRC has said coke dust primarily contains carbon and is chemically similar to charcoal.
The health department said the primary health concern from the release of coke dust is irritation of throat, lungs and the respiratory system while the release was occurring and the material was in the air, particularly for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
MRC came under fire last year for releasing 20-24 tons of spent catalyst starting Thanksgiving night and continuing until the next day.
In that instance, MRC didn't notify CCH. Health officials found out from media reports the following Saturday.
The spent catalyst was comprised of elevated levels of aluminum, barium, chromium, nickel, vanadium, and zinc, all of which can cause respiratory problems.
A toxicologist hired by the county said in June that the November release didn't increase public health risks from exposure of hazardous materials in nearby soil.
However, that didn't account for any effects the release may have had on humans who breathed in the dust during the release and in the immediate days afterward, county officials said.
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