Hudson River Pcb Contamination Case Study

A view of the hudson river looking north from the walkway over the hudson a footbridge that spans the river near poughkeepsie.

Hudson river pcb contamination case study. In 2001 after a ten year study of pcb contamination in the hudson river epa proposed a plan to clean up the river by dredging more than 100 000 pounds 45 000 kg of pcbs. The administrative order on consent aoc provides for a comprehensive study of the contamination in the floodplain of the upper hudson river. Hudson river mink populations are declining because of pcb contamination from general electric s past practice of dumping the chemicals into the river according to a new federal study. The hudson river communities project project background.

A summary of available information on pcb contamination in the hudson river ecosystem focusing on data collected and analyzed between 2002 and 2008 as part of ongoing nrda activities. Mink density is substantially lower in the hudson river system with about 40 fewer mink in the hudson river study area than in the mohawk river study area. The purpose is to look at how polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs affect people s nervous system. These differences are not attributable to landscape features.

The hudson river pcb polychlorinated biphenyls cleanup is one of the largest environmental cleanups in modern history. River which has extremely high levels of pcb contamination and in the nearby mohawk river where there are lower pcb levels. This will include a human health and ecological risk based assessment of pcb contamination of over 40 miles of floodplains encompassing more than 3 000 properties extending from hudson falls to troy n y. E m c n of c n d a and guidance criteria as well as to effects thresholds from the scientific literature.

The worst pcb hotspots are targeted for remediation by removing and disposing of more than 2 6 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment. From 1947 to 1977 general electric co. The hudson river natural resource trustees released a report pcb contamination of the hudson river ecosystem today 1 16 2013 showing that the hudson river for greater than 200 miles below hudson falls new york is extensively contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs. The hudson river communities project is an environmental health study being done by the new york state department of health nysdoh in the fort edward hudson falls and glens falls areas of upstate new york.

Pcb c er ontamination of the hudson river ecosystem compilation of contamination data through 2008 c n of e h n r r described in this report include but are not limited to. The benjamin center for public policy initiatives at suny new paltz has published a new study that details the history of chemical pollution in the hudson river and the state and federal policies aimed at rectifying decades of contamination.