Glass companies agree to stop using carcinogenic metal

PORTLAND – Two Portland glass companies have agreed to stop the use of a carcinogenic metal at the request of the state environmental agency, the Oregonian reported.

Uroboros Glass and Bullseye Glass Co. said it will no longer use hexavalent chromium, a carcinogenic metal made famous in the Julia Roberts movie “Erin Brockovich.”

But Bullseye Glass told the state it will continue using trivalent chromium, Nina DeConcini, an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality regional administrator, told the newspaper.

DeConcini told the Oregonian that the state is concerned because it is possible for trivalent chromium as a raw ingredient to result in hexavalent chromium emissions.

She said Uroboros Glass will not use any chromium compounds.

State regulators do not believe they have the legal authority to force the company to stop using all chromium, DeConcini said.