A metal finishing company in Southeast Portland has agreed to stop using a chemical solvent that posed a potential risk to the nearby community.
Electro-Chem Metal Finishing used the solvent to clean aluminum about once a week, but air quality modeling by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality found that the toxin levels on those days were higher than was deemed safe, even for occasional use. The dangerous chemical is known as trichloroethylene, or TCE.
Electro-Chem’s overuse of the substance came to light as DEQ was evaluating its air quality permit under the stricter air quality rules adopted in 2018 under the Cleaner Air Oregon program. The company cooperated with all requirements and agreed to stop using the solvent immediately…