Portland International Raceway (PIR), the racetrack that the city of Portland owns and operates in North Portland as a city park, still allows the use of leaded racing fuel, making the city one of the top lead polluters in Portland.
A recent article in The Guardian “Revealed: a toxic metal is in a US city’s air – and may be harming children’s brains” and KGW8’s piece “A Portland Park’s Dirty Little Secret” highlight the specific risks to Portlanders and the lack of action by Portland City Council to address them
While leaded fuel has been banned on our highways for decades due to the well-documented dangers of lead exposure, it’s still legal to use at a racetrack such as PIR, but legal doesn’t always mean safe.
Recent research about the continued allowance of leaded racing fuels shows that living near a raceway like PIR can cause increases in elderly mortality and decreases in the academic performance of children.
In fact, growing up near a racetrack emitting the amount of lead as PIR can cause as much as a 10% decline in performance on standardized tests by the third grade. Even a single year’s exposure can reduce their school performance by several percentage points. The damage declines over distance, but the effects can be measured as much as 25 miles away.
Concerned about these findings, Kenton neighbors reached out to the authors of these studies and were told they should move out of Kenton due to the lead exposure risk posed by PIR.
Yet, the city contends that “PIRs current operations are safe for the community.” The KNA strongly disagrees and has petitioned the commissioner in charge of Portland Parks & Recreation, Carmen Rubio, to ban leaded fuel use at PIR.
To that end, the KNA is starting a campaign to rally the community around eliminating leaded fuel at our city park. Our parks should be lead free! To be a part of this effort, please let us know.
If you want to take action now, please feel free to use the provided phone scripts and email templates below to contact City Council.
Draft phone script for Commissioner Ryan:
Dan Ryan: 503-823-3589
Hello, my name is _____________ and I live (or work) in the ________ neighborhood. As a community member (or parent, etc.) I am concerned that Portland International Raceway still allows its racers to buy and use leaded gasoline at the track. The environmental and public health impacts of leaded gasoline have been known for years and run counter to the mission of City Parks and the commitments of the City of Portland.
I am asking you, as the Parks Commissioner, to immediately ban the sale and use of leaded gasoline in order to protect the children, elderly, natural areas, and the entire community of North Portland. This is the right thing to do, and it is within your administrative power to do so.
Draft phone script for Mayor Wheeler or other Commissioners:
Ted Wheeler: 503-823-4120
Rene Gonzalez: 503-823-4151
Mingus Mapps: 503-823-4682
Carmen Rubi0: 503-823-3008
Hello, my name is _____________ and I live (or work) in the ________ neighborhood. As a community member (or parent, etc.) I am concerned that Portland International Raceway still allows its racers to buy and use leaded gasoline at the track. The environmental and public health impacts of leaded gasoline have been known for years and run counter to the mission of City Parks and the commitments of the City of Portland.
I am asking you that you encourage your colleague, Commissioner Rubio, to do what is right to protect the health and wellbeing of the children, elderly, natural environment, and broader community of North Portland. Actively putting lead into our cities parks is unforgivable.
Draft email (Address to Commissioner Dan Ryan, copy other Commissioners):
To: CommissionerRyanOffice@portlandoregon.gov
CC: mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov, gonzalezoffice@portlandoregon.gov, , MappsOffice@portlandoregon.gov , comm.rubio@portlandoregon.gov
Dear Commissioner Ryan,
I am asking you to take action immediately to reduce the exposure of children, elderly, and other community members in North Portland to the leaded gasoline sold and used at Portland International Raceway (PIR). The dangers of leaded gasoline, and the health impacts especially on children and the elderly, is well known and documented. Additionally, the PIR sits amongst a natural wetland that is vulnerable to this type of toxin.
As the Parks Commissioner, it is your responsibility to ensure that recreational activities in city parks and venues have a positive (not negative) impact on the public health and well being of those who use the facilities and live or work around them. To continue to allow a known toxin to be sold and used for recreational purposes at the expense of North Portland’s residents and environment is antithetical to the department and city’s goals.
Please act immediately to remove leaded gasoline sales and use from PIR, it is the right thing to do!
Sincerely,
_____________
MORE INFORMATION
• Please see the KNA’s letter to Commissioner Rubio regarding leaded fuel use at PIR.