6 Plants Rank on the Top-20 List of Air Polluters in ’90 : Environment: The air quality district releases its annual figures. The good news is that in most cases the plants released less pollution than in 1989.

Six area plants ranked among the largest air polluters in the Southland in 1990, according to statistics released this week by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

But in most cases the Southeast/Long Beach plants released less pollution than they did in 1989, and are expected to reduce emissions further in response to tougher regulations, AQMD and plant officials said.

“We have seen a continuing trend in the reduction of emissions pretty much across the board, which we think is attributable to the (pollution-control) regulations that have been adopted,” said Nick Nikkila, AQMD’s director of engineering who oversees the compilation of the top-20 lists.

Each year, the AQMD lists the top 20 emitters of several types of pollutants that contribute to the smog problem in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes all or part of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The local plants that ranked among the top 20 polluters in one or more categories are:

* Southern California Edison Co. electricity generating plant in Long Beach.

* Los Angeles Department of Water and Power electricity plant in Long Beach.

* Douglas Aircraft Co. in Long Beach.

* Golden West Refining Co. in Santa Fe Springs.

* Powerine Oil Co. in Santa Fe Springs.

* American National Can Corp. plant in Maywood.

The top-20 lists cover emissions of oxides of nitrogen, reactive hydrocarbons, particulates, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Air quality officials say emissions of oxides of nitrogen and reactive hydrocarbons are of biggest concern. The two pollutants contribute to the formation of lung-damaging ozone, one of the region’s most serious air pollution problems.

Oxides of nitrogen are emitted when fuel is burned in power plants, refineries and in engines. Reactive hydrocarbons are generated by burning fossil fuels, but also come from the use of solvents and paints.

The Edison power plant, just west of the San Gabriel River, was the largest single source of oxides of nitrogen in the Southeast/Long Beach area. It generated 1,555 tons of the pollutant in 1990, about 35% less than it put out in 1989. The plant burns natural gas and sometimes oil.

Just across the river, the DWP plant put out 1,166 tons of oxides of nitrogen, a 62% decrease from the previous year. The plant also burns natural gas and oil.

Edison and DWP officials said lower production levels and some new pollution control equipment contributed to lower emissions.

More reductions are expected as the plants move to meet increasingly stringent air pollution regulations.

“There’s additional work under way. You’ll see (oxides of nitrogen emissions) going down even further,” said Jack D. Sovern, manager of the Edison power plant.

The Golden West Refinery, which is scheduled to close next month because of financial problems, put out 548 tons of oxides of nitrogen in 1990--21% less than in 1989.

David J. Dragt, the refinery’s manager of environmental affairs, attributed the decrease to new air pollution control equipment.

Golden West was the area’s largest emitter of reactive hydrocarbons in 1990. It released 500 tons of the pollutant, a 4% increase from 1989. Dragt said increased production was responsible for the higher level of emissions.

Douglas Aircraft and Powerine were the other two large sources of reactive hydrocarbons.

Golden West also was the largest local source of particulates. Powerine and the Edison and DWP plants also made the top-20 list for particulates.

Some particulates are generated by fuel combustion but others are simply road dust and other types of dust. Particulates aggravate lung problems. They also include cancer-causing particles that can lodge deep in the lungs.

The Edison plant put out the most sulfur dioxide in 1990, followed by the DWP plant, Golden West, Powerine Oil and American National Can, which manufactures bottles.

Sulfur dioxide is generated by burning fuel in plants and cars. It irritates the lungs and can cause shortness of breath and other symptoms in sensitive people.

Two local plants were on the top-20 list for carbon monoxide emissions in 1990. Douglas Aircraft was the largest local source, followed by the Edison plant.

Vehicle engines are the largest source of carbon monoxide. But the pollutant, which starves the body of oxygen and may aggravate cardiovascular problems, also is released when plants burn fuel.

Douglas Aircraft spokesman John Thom said carbon monoxide emissions increased in 1990 because the plant stepped up production. That required greater use of trucks, lifts and other machinery with engines.

Area’s Largest Air Polluters

The following Southeast/Long Beach area firms ranked among the top 20 stationary sources of key pollutants in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes all or part of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO., LONG BEACH

1989 1990 Pollutant Tons Rank Tons Rank Oxides of nitrogen 2,391 5th 1,555 7th Particulate matter 147 13th 95 13th Sulfur dioxide 926 3rd 373 7th Carbon monoxide 377 13th 292 19th

L.A. DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER, LONG BEACH

1989 1990 Pollutant Tons Rank Tons Rank Oxides of nitrogen 3,032 2nd 1,166 10th Particulate matter 214 7th 74 20th Sulfur dioxide 1,482 1st 366 8th Carbon monoxide 354 16th 211 unranked

GOLDEN WEST REFINING CO., SANTA FE SPRINGS

1989 1990 Pollutant Tons Rank Tons Rank Oxides of nitrogen 694 18th 548 19th Reactive hydrocarbons 481 11th 500 8th Particulate matter 185 9th 175 7th Sulfur dioxide 310 14th 231 14th

DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO., LONG BEACH

1989 1990 Pollutant Tons Rank Tons Rank Reactive hydrocarbons *743 6th 400 14th Carbon monoxide 346 17th 834 3rd

POWERINE OIL CO., SANTA FE SPRINGS

1989 1990 Pollutant Tons Rank Tons Rank Reactive hydrocarbons 200 unranked 276 18th Particulate matter 180 12th 169 9th Sulfur dioxide 145 unranked 195 16th

AMERICAN NATIONAL CAN CORP., MAYWOOD

1989 1990 Pollutant Tons Rank Tons Rank Sulfur dioxide 151 20th 149 20th

* Douglas Aircraft Co. contends that its Long Beach plant emitted only 556 tons of reactive hydrocarbons in 1989. The AQMD has yet to verify the lower figure, however.

Source: South Coast Air Quality Management District.