Sims Metal Management

Sims Metal facility view from the public roadway.

On this Page:

Summary

EPA required air monitoring at Sims Metal Management because we want the community to have clean air. EPA understands that the community has environmental justice concerns, and we want to be responsive to them. EPA is requiring monitoring to hold Sims accountable while its new controls that will reduce emissions are installed—after which City of Chicago rules will require continued monitoring for PM10. EPA will continue to require air monitoring until the new controls are installed and we determine that the controls are operating as intended. In partnership with Illinois EPA and the City of Chicago, EPA will continue to work with this community to improve air quality.

Background

On April 21, 2022, EPA issued a Clean Air Act 114(a) Request for Information (RFI) to Metal Management Midwest Inc. (doing business as Sims). The RFI required the company to install and operate air pollution monitors at its metal shredding and recycling facility at 2500 S. Paulina Street, Chicago, Illinois. The monitoring will help EPA assess the company’s compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA). 

Under the requirements of the CAA Section 114 RFI, Sims is required to continue monitoring until the new controls are installed and the agency is able to determine that the controls are operating as intended—after which City of Chicago rules will require continued monitoring for PM10. As Sims submits additional data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk. 

The pollution monitors: 

  • continuously monitor real-time PM10— at all five locations, hourly data; and
  • sample for eleven metal Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP)— at three locations (AQ1, AQ2, AQ5), 24-hr sample every third day; and
  • sample for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)— at three locations (AQ1, AQ2, AQ5), 24-hour sample every third day.  

EPA reviewed and approved the company’s monitoring and quality assurance plans and the five monitors began operating on September 23, 2022. EPA inspected Sims on October 4, 2022 to address a citizen complaint and check on the air monitors. The inspection report is available below. 

Sims submits monthly reports to EPA with air monitoring, quality assurance, and facility operational data. EPA closely reviews monthly submittals and routinely follows up with Sims as questions arise during EPA’s review of the data.  EPA compares the reported PM10, metals and VOC data to health benchmarks, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and Minimum Risk Levels (MRLs).

The NAAQS are established by EPA to protect public health, including the health of sensitive or at-risk groups (including children), with an adequate margin of safety. They are set for six criteria pollutants, including PM, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead. EPA works with states to ensure areas are in attainment with the standards through air quality planning, permitting, and enforcement.

MRLs are an estimate of the level of a chemical that a person can breathe without a detectable risk to health. The acute MRL is based on a 1–14-day exposure for non-cancerous health effects. The chronic MRL is based on an exposure greater than 365 days. MRLs are screening tools used by public health professionals and are not intended to serve as definitive action levels. Exposure to a level above the MRL does not mean that adverse health effects will occur. Rather, it indicates a need to investigate the situation further.

Facility Map, Windrose and Pollutant Table

Facility Map

The following map identifies the facility boundaries, locations of processes at the facility, and locations of the air pollution monitors.

facility boundaries for SIMS Metal Management
[Click to view a larger version of this image.]

Wind Rose September 2022 - August 2024

The wind rose shows the predominant wind directions during the duration of this monitoring study, based on data on wind speed and direction collected on site at Monitor AQ1. The circular format of the wind rose shows the direction the winds blew from and the length of each "spoke" around the circle shows how often the wind blew from that direction. For example, the wind rose below shows that during this sampling period, the wind blew from the southwest more than 15 % of the time, etc. The different colors of each spoke provide details on the speed, in meters per second (m/s), of the wind from each direction. 

Windrose diagram in shades of green and yellow
Windrose diagram September 2022 - August 2024.  [Click to view a larger version of this image.]

Table of pollutants measured at each monitoring location.

Monitor PM10 Metals VOC Wind Speed and Direction
AQ1
AQ2  
AQ3      
AQ4      
AQ5  

PM10 and Production Data Visuals

The graphs below represent all quality-assured daily 24-hour averaged PM10 and production data from Sims. PM10 values that did not meet EPA’s quality assurance/quality controls standards have been excluded from the graphs. The horizontal line indicates EPA’s PM10 NAAQS. To attain the standard, a monitor’s 24-hour average concentration cannot exceed 150 µg/m3 more than once per year over three years.

More information about PM concentrations and health impacts can be found on the Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution (pdf) (2pp, 197KB) on the AirNow webpage.

The period when smoke from Canadian wildfires may have affected air quality in Chicago has been grayed out. Smoke from wildfires, even from wildfires hundreds of miles away, can significantly affect air quality and impact human health. Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and PM, produced when wood and other organic materials burn. To learn more about wildfires and air quality, visit EPA’s Smoke-Ready Toolbox for Wildfires.

Graph representing data from 5 monitors
Timeseries of 24-hour Daily Averages of PM10 (µg/m3) by Monitor from September 2022 to August 2024. [Click to view a larger version of this image.]
graph of hours and date of production at sims
Sim's Production Data from September 2022 to August 2024. [Click to view a larger version of this image.]

Sims provides EPA with each month’s production information. This includes the hours the shredder and metals recovery plant (MRP) are in operation, and information about the scrap delivery methods (rail, truck, and barge).

 Acrolein

After careful review, EPA has determined that the acrolein data are unreliable and should not be used for any analysis. Since 2010, EPA has known that acrolein is difficult to measure in the air. It can react easily with other chemicals to form other compounds that complicate laboratory analysis. Acrolein is not emitted from metal shredders, like Sims, and there are no nearby facilities that emit acrolein. For transparency, EPA is posting the acrolein data reported by Sims and is requesting that Sims flag future acrolein data. EPA will continue to analyze future acrolein levels for accuracy. 

Long-Term Health Impacts

Now that over a year of data has been collected, EPA has evaluated whether the measured levels of PM10, metals, or VOC could cause any long-term health effects. EPA has found that if monitoring data collected over the last year represent typical levels, emissions from Sims would not cause either short- or long-term health effects for the community near the facility. To make this determination, EPA compared the monitoring results to current health benchmarks. Monitored concentrations of pollutants were below both short- and long-term health benchmarks. EPA will continue to assess the potential for any health impacts with each new data submission from Sims.

Data Summaries

August 2024 Data Summary (posted 11/22/2024)

On September 30, 2024, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for August. 

Production Data: Each month, Sims provides EPA with the hours the shredder and MRP are in operation, and information about the scrap delivery methods (rail, truck, and barge). 

VOCs: Measured concentrations for VOCs in August 2024 were below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts from exposure to the air around the facility.

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in August were above EPA’s health-based PM10 NAAQS standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3, but this is not an exceedance of the health-based standard.

Metals: Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, and mercury were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. Concentrations of other metals were below detection limits. 

July 2024 Data Summary (posted on 11/22/2024)  

On September 4, 2024, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for July.  

Production Data: Each month, Sims provides EPA with the hours the shredder and MRP are in operation, and information about the scrap delivery methods (rail, truck, and barge).  

VOCs:  Measured concentrations for VOCs in July 2024 were below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts from exposure to the air around the facility.   

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in July were above EPA’s health-based PM10 NAAQS standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3, but this is not an exceedance of the health-based NAAQS standard. 

Metals: Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, and selenium were detected below levels that would cause short-or long-term health impacts. Concentrations of other metals were below detection limits.  

June 2024 Data Summary (posted on 11/22/2024)  

On July 31, 2024, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for June.  

Production Data: Each month, Sims provides EPA with the hours the shredder and MRP are in operation, and information about the scrap delivery methods (rail, truck, and barge).  

VOCs:  Measured concentrations for VOCs in June 2024 were below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts from exposure to the air around the facility.

On June 17th, the 24-hour average concentration of benzene recorded at the AQ2E monitor was 13.23 ppb. After further evaluation, Sims reported to EPA that this reported value resulted from a dirty sampling canister that had not been fully cleaned by the laboratory—not from high levels of benzene in the air near Sims. On November 22, EPA sent Sims a letter reemphasizing that Sims must continue to prioritize the air monitoring which is required under EPA’s Clean Air Act 114(a) information request, as well as verify and validate all data prior to reporting it to EPA.  

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in June were above EPA’s health-based PM10 NAAQS standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. 

Metals: Concentrations of chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, and mercury were detected below levels that would cause short-or long-term health impacts. Concentrations of other metals were below detection limits.  

May 2024 Data Summary (posted on 08/12/2024) 

On June 28, 2024, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for May. 

Production Data: Each month, Sims provides EPA with the hours the shredder and MRP are in operation, and information about the scrap delivery methods (rail, truck, and barge). 

VOCs: Measured concentrations for VOCs in May 2024 were below MRLs or levels that would cause health effects from short-term exposure to the air around the facility. Now that over a year of data has been collected (September 2022 through May 2024), EPA finds that if monitoring data collected over this period represent typical levels, emissions from Sims would not cause either short- or long-term health effects for the community. 

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in May were above EPA’s health-based PM10 NAAQS standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3, but this is not an exceedance of the health-based standard.

Metals: Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, and mercury were detected below levels that would cause short-or long-term health impacts. 

April 2024 Data Summary (posted on 06/20/2024) 

On May 31, 2024, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for April. 

Production Data: Each month, Sims provides EPA with the hours the shredder and MRP are in operation, and information about the scrap delivery methods (rail, truck, and barge). 

VOCs: Measured concentrations for VOCs in April 2024 were below levels that would cause health effects from short-term exposure to the air around the facility. Now that over a year of data has been collected (September 2022 through April 2024), EPA finds that if monitoring data collected over this period represent typical levels, emissions from Sims would not cause either short- or long-term health effects for the community. 

EPA has determined that the acrolein data are unreliable and should not be used for any analysis. Acrolein is not emitted from metal shredders, like Sims, and there are no nearby facilities that emit acrolein. For transparency, EPA is posting the acrolein data reported by Sims.


PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in April were above EPA’s health-based PM10 NAAQS standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. Though still below health-based standards, EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. 

Metals:  Concentrations of chromium, lead, nickel, and manganese were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 

March 2024 Data Summary (posted on 06/20/2024) 

On April 30, 2024, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for March. 

Production Data: Each month, Sims provides EPA with the hours the shredder and MRP are in operation, and information about the scrap delivery methods (rail, truck, and barge). 

VOCs: Measured concentrations for VOCs in March 2024 were below levels that would cause health effects from short-term exposure to the air around the facility. Now that over a year of data has been collected (September 2022 through March 2024), EPA finds that if monitoring data collected over the last year represent typical levels, emissions from Sims would not cause either short- or long-term health effects for the community. 

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in March were above EPA’s health-based PM10 NAAQS standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. Though still below health-based standards, EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3.

Metals:  Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, nickel and selenium were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 
March 2024 Production Rail-Truck-Barge (xlsx)

March 2024 Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and Metals Data (xlsx)

March 2024 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx)
 

February 2024 Data Summary (posted to the web 05/09/2024) 

On March 29, 2024, received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for February. 

Production Data: In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: February 2024 Production-Rail-Truck Barge (xlsx) (51.08 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. Now that a year of data has been collected, EPA is evaluating whether emissions from the facility present any long-term risks to human health.    

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in February were above EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. Though still below the health-based standard, EPA is analyzing the cause of these higher values.

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of chromium, lead, nickel, and manganese were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 

  February 2024 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (36.02 KB)

February 2024 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (121.73 KB)

January 2024 Data Summary (posted to the web 05/09/2024) 

On February 29, 2024, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for January.

Production Data: In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: January 2024 Production-Rail-Truck Barge (xlsx) (50.35 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. Now that a year of data has been collected, EPA is evaluating whether emissions from the facility present any long-term risks to human health.    

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in January were above EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. Though still below the health-based standard, EPA is analyzing the cause of these higher values.

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of chromium, lead, nickel, and manganese were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 

January 2024 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (132.86 KB)

January 2024 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (36.5 KB)

December 2023 Data Summary (posted to the web 05/09/2024) 

On January 30, 2024, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for December.  

Production Data: In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: December 2023 Production-Rail-Truck Barge (xlsx) (33.54 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. Now that a year of data has been collected, EPA is evaluating whether emissions from the facility present any long-term risks to human health.    

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in December were above EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. Though still below the health-based standard, EPA is analyzing the cause of these higher values.

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of chromium, lead, nickel, and manganese were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 

 
December 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (134.92 KB)

December 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (38.84 KB)

November 2023 Data Summary (posted to the web 03/20/2024)

On December 29, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for November. 

Production Data:  In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: November 2023 Production-Rail-Truck Barge (xlsx)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. Now that a year of data has been collected, EPA is evaluating whether emissions from the facility present any long-term risks to human health.    

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in November were above EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period.  EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. Though still below the health-based standard, EPA is analyzing the cause of these higher values.

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of chromium, lead, nickel, and manganese were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts.

  November 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx)

November 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx)

October 2023 Data Summary (posted on 01/05/2024)

On November 30, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for October.  

Production Data:  In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: October 2023 Production-Rail-Truck Barge (xlsx) (43.37 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. Now that a year of data has been collected, EPA is evaluating whether emissions from the facility present any long-term risks to human health.    

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in October were above EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period.  

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of chromium, lead, nickel, and manganese were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts.

  
October 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (136.83 KB)

October 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (37.6 KB)

September 2023 Data Summary (posted on 01/05/2024)

On October 27, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for September.  

Production Data:  In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: September 2023 Production-Rail-Truck Barge (xlsx) (45.89 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk.  

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in September were above EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period.  

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of chromium, lead, and manganese were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 

  September 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (csv)

September 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (36.89 KB)

August 2023 Data Summary  (posted on 01/05/2024)

On September 29, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for August.  

Production Data:  In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: August 2023 Production Rail Truck Barge (xlsx) (46.28 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk.   

PM10: No 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in August were above EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period.  

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of chromium, lead, and manganese were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 

  August 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (136.08 KB)

August 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (34.32 KB)

July 2023 Data Summary (posted on 01/05/2024)

On August 30, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for July. Chicago experienced smoke from Canadian wildfires in July, as described above.   

Production Data:  In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: July 2023 Production Rail Truck Barge (xlsx) (43.28 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk.  

PM10: On July 25, 2023, the 24-hour average PM10 concentration was above EPA’s health-based standard. Smoke from Canadian wildfires may have affected air quality in Chicago and caused this elevated reading. 

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of lead, nickel, manganese and chromium were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 

  July 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (133.87 KB)

July 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (33.33 KB)

June 2023 Data Summary (posted on 01/05/2024)

On July 31, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for June. Chicago experienced smoke from Canadian wildfires in June, as described above.  

Production Data:  In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available here: June 2023 Production Rail Truck Barge (xlsx) (46.05 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk.  

PM10: From June 26-29, 2023, the 24-hour average PM10 concentration on each day was above EPA’s health-based standard. Smoke from Canadian wildfires may have affected air quality in Chicago and caused these elevated readings. 

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of manganese and chromium were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. 

On June 11th, the 24-hour average concentration of lead recorded at the AQ5SW monitor was 0.169 µg/m3. EPA’s health-based standard is a 3-month average of 0.15 µg/m3. Over the past three months, the average lead concentration at Sims has not approached this standard, but EPA takes any elevated lead reading very seriously. EPA has been investigating the potential cause of this elevated reading and there have not been elevated lead levels since then. EPA will continue to review the lead values each month and take additional action, as necessary. 

 
June 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (130.85 KB)

June 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (34.86 KB)

May 2023 Data Summary (posted on 09/20/2023)

Production Data:  In response to EPA’s request for information, each month, Sims provides EPA with information about hours the shredder is in operation, scrap delivery methods and times, etc. EPA has made this information available: May 2023 Production-Rail-Truck Barge (xlsx) (46.55 KB)

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. As noted above, there is one sample collected and analyzed in May that contained an elevated value of one air pollutant called acrolein. 

EPA is carefully assessing whether the acrolein data being reported is accurate. Since 2010, EPA has been aware of challenges associated with measuring ambient air concentrations of acrolein, which may be affected by canister cleaning methods and gas standards1.   Given the challenges of accurately measuring acrolein, EPA is verifying these concentrations with the laboratory. EPA will update this website as additional information is known.

Acrolein is a chemical that can enter the air when trees, tobacco, gasoline, or oil are burned. Cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust also contain acrolein. EPA identified one sample of acrolein that measured 4.16 ppb on May 15, 2023, which exceeded the acute (short term) Minimum Risk Level (MRL) of 3 ppb. This is the second monitored exceedance of the MRL for acrolein during this monitoring effort: the first exceedance of 4.60 ppb occurred on November 7th, 2022.

PM10: All 24-hour average PM10 concentrations collected in May are below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period.

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of lead, manganese and chromium were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants, EPA will evaluate for potential risk.  

  Data Quality Evaluation Guidelines for Ambient Air Acrolein Measurements (pdf) (111.92 KB)

May 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (135.6 KB)

May 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (25.39 KB)

April 2023 Data Summary (posted on 09/20/2023)

On May 30, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for April. 
The available, quality-assured monitoring data shows no pollutant concentrations that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data would be needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk. 

VOCs: Concentrations for all measured pollutants are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility.  More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks.  As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk.  

PM10: All 24-hour average PM10 concentrations are below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. As Sims submits additional PM10 data, EPA will continue to compare the reported levels with the health-based standard. 
 
Lead and other metals: Concentrations of lead, manganese, nickel, and chromium were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants, EPA will evaluate for potential risk.  

  April 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (132.25 KB)

April 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (24.88 KB)

March 2023 Data Summary (posted on 09/20/2023)

On April 28, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for March. The available, quality-assured monitoring data shows no pollutant concentrations that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk. 

VOCs: Concentrations are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. EPA needs more data to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate for potential risk. 

PM10: All 24-hour average PM10 concentrations are below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. As Sims submits additional PM10 data, EPA will continue to compare the reported levels with the health-based standard.

Lead and other metals: Concentrations of lead, manganese and chromium were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants, EPA will evaluate for potential risk. 

  March 2023 Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (126.66 KB)

March 2023 Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (24.02 KB)

February 2023 Data Summary (posted on 04/13/2023)

VOCs: Concentrations are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. EPA needs more data to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  
 
PM10: All 24-hour average PM10 concentrations are below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe two hourly PM10 concentrations at one monitoring location that were above 150 µg/m3.  These were measured on February 4 during the Sims scrap pile fire, and describe in the February update, below.  As Sims submits additional PM10 data, EPA will continue to compare the reported levels with the health-based standard. 
 
Lead and other metals: Concentrations of lead, manganese and chromium were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants, EPA will evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  

February Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (124.69 KB)

February Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (23.08 KB)

January 2023 Data Summary (posted on 03/27/2023)

VOCs:   Concentrations are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. EPA needs more data to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks.
 
PM10:   All 24-hour average PM10 concentrations are below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. Though still below the health-based standard, EPA is analyzing the cause of these higher values. As Sims submits additional PM10 data, EPA will continue to compare the reported levels with the health-based standard.
 
Lead and other metals:   Concentrations of lead, manganese and nickel were detected below levels that would cause short- or long-term health impacts. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants, EPA will evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  

  January Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (140.26 KB)

January Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (23.19 KB)

February 2023 Update (posted on 02/13/2023)

On January 28, 2023, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for December. Additionally, on February 7, 2023, EPA received hourly PM10 data for February 4, 5 and 6 to evaluate potential air quality impacts from a scrap pile fire at the facility on Saturday, February 4. 

The available, quality-assured monitoring data shows no pollutant concentrations that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks. 

Update on Sims’ February 4, 2023 fire:  On February 6, 2023, U.S. EPA contacted Sims about air emissions from the scrap pile fire that occurred at about 4:00pm on Saturday, February 4. Although Sims is not required to provide U.S. EPA with February air monitoring data until March 30, Sims provided all available air monitoring data for February 4, 5, and 6, 2023. PM10 concentrations at the north monitor were elevated for a two-hour period that coincided with the fire, but the 24-hour PM10 average remained below EPA’s health-based standard. All other PM10 monitors were not elevated, which corresponds to the wind direction during the fire. 

Samples of VOCs, lead and other metals are collected every third day on a set schedule. The fire occurred on a day when these samples were not collected, so data for these pollutants during the fire will not be available. 

A U.S. EPA inspector visited Sims on February 6, and confirmed that the fire has been extinguished. The inspector also checked for any fire-related odors or smoke and did not observe any. 

February Fire data (xlsx) (36.34 KB)

Clean Air Act Inspection Report (pdf) (206.07 KB, February 6, 2023)

December 2022 Data Summary (posted on 02/13/2023) 

VOCs: Concentrations are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. EPA needs more data to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  
 
PM10: All 24-hour average PM10 concentrations are below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. Though still below the health-based standard, EPA is analyzing the cause of these higher values. As Sims submits additional PM10 data, EPA will continue to compare the reported levels with the health-based standard. 
 
Lead and other metals: Air samples did not have lead concentrations high enough to be detected. “Not detected” should not be interpreted as meaning that the pollutant is not present. Rather, the pollutant could be present, just not at levels that the monitors could detect. “I’” indicates an issue with the sample collection or analysis that prevents results from results from being interpreted.     

Since 24-hour lead concentrations were below the detection level of 0.035 µg/m3, they are also well below EPA’s health-based standard 0.15 µg/m3 over a three-month average. The other metals concentrations were also below detection limits. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants, EPA will evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  

  December Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (130.83 KB)

December Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx) (25.69 KB)

November/December 2022 Data Summary (posted on 01/31/2023) 

On December 31, 2022, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for November. Additionally, on January 6, 2023, EPA received Sims’ hourly December PM10 data, as well as VOC and metal HAP data for part of December. 

The available, quality-assured monitoring data shows no pollutant concentrations that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks. 

VOCs: Concentrations are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. EPA needs more data to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  
 
PM10: All 24-hour average PM10 concentrations are below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. Though still below the health-based standard, EPA is analyzing the cause of these higher values. As Sims submits additional PM10 data, EPA will continue to compare the reported levels with the health-based standard. 
 
Lead and other metals: Air samples did not have lead concentrations high enough to be detected. “Not detected” should not be interpreted as meaning that the pollutant is not present. Rather, the pollutant could be present, just not at levels that the monitors could detect.  

Since 24-hour lead concentrations were below the detection level of 0.035 µg/m3, they are also well below EPA’s health-based standard 0.15 µg/m3 over a three-month average. The other metals concentrations were also below detection limits. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants, EPA will evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  

Data collection: EPA previously noted some instances when the monitoring equipment was not operating properly and provided this information to Sims so that they could address. Sims addressed these issues in November and EPA’s review of this latest data confirms that these issues continue to be addressed and equipment downtime has been minimized.  

  November Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (csv)

December Continuous Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Met Data (xlsx) (130.83 KB)

November and Partial December Volatile Organic Compound and Metals Data (xlsx)

October/November 2022 Data Summary (posted on 12/22/2022) 

On November 30, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for October. Additionally, on December 9, EPA received Sims’ hourly November PM10 data, as well as VOC and metal HAP data for the first half of November. 

EPA previously noted some instances when the monitoring equipment was not operating properly and provided this information to Sims so that they could address. EPA’s review of this latest data confirms that these issues were addressed in November.  

The available, quality-assured monitoring data from October and November shows no pollutant concentrations that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  
 
VOCs: Concentrations are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. EPA needs more data to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  
 
PM10: All 24-hour average PM10 concentrations are below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. EPA did observe a limited number of hourly values that were above 150 µg/m3. Though still below the health-based standard, EPA is analyzing the cause of these higher values. As Sims submits additional PM10 data, EPA will continue to compare the reported levels with the health-based standard. 
 
Lead and other metals:  Air samples did not have lead concentrations high enough to be detected. Since lead concentrations were below the detection level, they are also well below EPA’s health-based standard. The other metals concentrations were also below detection limits. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants, EPA will evaluate both short- and long-term risks.  

EPA has posted the data submitted by Sims.

September 2022 Data Update (posted on 11/21/2022)

On October 31st, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for September 23 - 30, 2022.  Below is EPA’s review of the data. Separately, EPA has noted some instances where the monitoring equipment was not operating properly, and we have provided this information to Sims so that they can address the problems. 

The available, quality-assured monitoring data from September shows no pollutant concentrations that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. More data is needed to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks. 

Health Impacts and Results: The primary pollutants of concern from metal shredders are volatile organic compounds, or  VOCs, and particulate matter, or PM, which can contribute to respiratory illness. PM emissions can also include hazardous metals – particularly lead.  EPA’s Clean Air Act 114(a) information request required Sims to monitor these air pollutants before installing its new pollution-control equipment. This control equipment will help achieve significant reductions in VOC and PM emissions.

VOCs: EPA reviewed the September VOC data and concluded that the concentrations are below levels that would cause human health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility. EPA needs more data to evaluate long-term risks. As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and long-term risks. 

PM10: EPA concluded that the September 24-hour average PM10 concentrations are all well below EPA’s health-based PM10 standard of 150 µg/m3 over a 24-hour period. The 1-hour concentrations were also all below this level. As Sims submits additional PM10 data, EPA will continue to compare the reported levels with the health-based standard.

Lead and other metals: September’s air samples did not have lead concentrations high enough to be detected. Since lead concentrations were below the detection level, they are also well below EPA’s health-based standard. The other metals concentrations were also below detection limits. As Sims submits additional data on metal hazardous air pollutants EPA will evaluate both short- and long-term risks. 

September 2022 Data Summary (posted on 11/04/2022) 

On October 31st, EPA received Sims’ monitoring and sampling data for September 23 - 30, 2022. Consistent with the terms of EPA’s April 2022 request for air data, Sims provided VOC and metal HAP sample results for three days from three locations and continuous PM10 monitoring data from five locations.   

EPA has reviewed the September VOC data and concluded that there are no public health effects from short-term exposure to the air in the area around the facility.  Not enough data is available at this time to evaluate longer-term risks.  As Sims submits additional VOC data, EPA will continue to evaluate both short- and longer-term risks. 

After reviewing the September metal HAP and PM10 data, EPA has concerns that the monitoring equipment did not work as designed.  Specifically, EPA is concerned that the monitoring equipment may have pulled in either too much or too little air, potentially invalidating the results.  Air flow rate is important for accurate monitoring results because it is used to calculate the final concentrations of pollutants.  EPA has not received October data and does not yet know if the October data will present similar concerns.  The October data is due to EPA by November 30. 

EPA will continue to evaluate the September metal HAP and PM10 data to determine if it can be used. EPA is also working to ensure that future data will meet quality standards.  EPA is in discussions with Sims and its third-party monitoring contractor to address these issues and is arranging an on-site technical assistance visit.   

EPA has posted the data submitted by Sims, including the potentially invalid data, at the link below. 

Sims Metal Management en español

Contact Information

Nathan Frank
([email protected])
312-886-3850 or 800-621-8431, ext. 63850

Karina Kuc
([email protected])
312-353-5090 or 800-621-8431, ext. 35090

Links

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Last updated on November 26, 2024