Abstract
Following a 1983 chromic acid (hexavalent chromium [CrVI]) spill from a Garfield, NJ electroplating plant, CrVI-contaminated water was found in a local firehouse basement in 1993. An ATSDR public health advisory was issued for the plant site in 2010, and from 2008-2015, fourteen residential properties have required remediation to address CrVI-contaminated dust in the basements. As part of the Community Outreach and Engagement Core of the NYU NIEHS Center, seventytwo Garfield residents aged 18-65 years, participated in a community survey with the goal of identifying concerns related to environmental and community health. Thirty-two percent responded that they 'didn't know' if they were exposed to chemicals or pollutants where they live. This finding suggests a limited awareness of environmental chemical exposures, chromium contamination and/or potential exposure to CrVI. Furthermore, toenail clippings were collected from forty-seven Garfield residents and analyzed for total chromium levels to assess potential long-term exposure. On average, residents living on/inside the contaminated plume area had higher total chromium levels in their toenail clippings than residents living outside the plume area. However, chromium levels for all participants were within the range of historical normal. This study highlights the value of partnerships between environmentally-impacted community's and academic scientists working together to identify potential contaminant exposures and address public health concerns through research and environmental health education.
Highlights
In December 1983, a partially-buried vertical storage tank at EC Electroplating failed, releasing an estimated 3,640 gallons of chromic acid directly into the shallow aquifer and deeper bedrock aquifer
The Garfield Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site consists of a plume of groundwater contaminated with chromium at concentrations at or greater than the NJ Groundwater Quality Standard of 70 micrograms per liter
In 2002, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requested that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigate chromium contamination found in a number of basements located near the property and perform removal actions where needed
Summary
The Garfield Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site consists of a plume of groundwater contaminated with chromium at concentrations at or greater than the NJ Groundwater Quality Standard of 70 micrograms per liter (μg/L). The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be doing more work to address contamination at the EC Electroplating property. The EPA will launch three pilot tests to try out different technologies that could reduce levels of chromium in soil and groundwater to speed up the EPA’s cleanup work. Over a four-month period, the EPA will bring in a trailer, connect utilities for site work, install additional groundwater monitoring wells, and sample existing and new wells to update information on the concentrations and location of chromium contamination. Excavated soil and large metal containers used to store groundwater will be temporarily stored in staging areas on site. Some site workers might be dressed in protective clothing to keep contaminated soil and groundwater off their clothes, or wear dust masks, but this does not indicate a risk to residents.
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