Health and Safety
Superfund Cleanup
Portland Harbor was designated a Superfund site in December 2000 due to decades of industrial harm to the Willamette River from hazardous substances.
PHCC insists on a comprehensive cleanup of all 29 toxic compounds including PCBs, DDT, PAHs, lead, arsenic, mercury, and other heavy metals posing risks to ecological and human health.
Community member standing next to an air sampler to quantify PCB air concentrations around the Willamette.
Community Health & Resilience
Based on longstanding community concerns about compounding exposures to toxins in and around the harbor, PHCC is addressing cumulative impacts and identifying solutions for impacted communities through a future community resilience plan.
Check out our two-pager on a cumulative health assessment made with Willamette Partnership!
Addressing Community Impacts
PHCC leads the charge to secure the first ever community-driven community impact and mitigation plan to set legally binding air quality performance measures, safety, and others to protect communities during the cleanup.
We also raise awareness of health risks from the consumption of resident and migratory fish and other dangers that will increase during the cleanup while fighting for policies that will lead to healthy fish, wildlife, and people.
The Lower Willamette River Fish Advisory is available from the Oregon Health Authority in these languages: