Study finds source of pollutants around Elyria Swansea neighborhood

DENVER ( KDVR ) — A new study found the causes of pollution in the Elyria Swansea neighborhood near Commerce City, with two well-known facilities causing most of the pollution.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder looked into the neighborhood that is filled with manufacturing plants like the Suncor Energy oil refinery, the Robert W. Hite wastewater treatment plant, local industrial shops and major highways.

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While it's referred to as a "heavily polluted urban area" in the study, some of these facilities are causing more pollution than others.

The study took place over the summer of 2022 when researchers measured air pollutants by driving instruments around the Elyria Swansea neighborhood. While the study said the neighborhood is part of Commerce City, the boundaries technically lie within Denver city limits .

The research took place over six days to identify the sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in the area. While some of the research took place two years ago, the findings are now being released.

Facilities causing pollution in Elyria Swansea neighborhood

The study found that the Suncor oil refinery and a small woodshop are both major contributors to emissions of VOCs in the neighborhood.

The study said the oil refinery had high concentrations of many aromatics and heavier compounds, like benzene in the air. This research comes after the recent lawsuit over repeat air pollution violations. Meanwhile, the woodshop contributed large amounts of solvents, like toluene and acetone, to its surroundings.

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While some facilities tested high for pollutants, other major parts of the neighborhood didn't have as big of an effect. The study found that the Interstate 270 stretch of U.S. 36 north of the neighborhood, as well as the Robert W. Hite wastewater treatment plant, were not major VOC contributors.

However, the study found that the wastewater treatment plant emitted some sulfur-containing and aromatic compounds, which it said could contribute to odor on some days.

These mentioned facilities are some of the many concerns in the neighborhood.

Many residents have submitted complaints over the years about the odor of Purina, the pet food manufacturer facility. One cited that it smelled so bad they couldn't even be outside. Recently, a federal lawsuit was filed , claiming the pet food plant has a "noxious" odor that severely affects the lives of the residents near it.

The full study can be found in the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association .