Hudson River Pcb Contamination

Ge pcbs in the hudson 1947 to 1977 ge discharged as much as 1 3 million pounds of pcbs from its capacitor manufacturing plants at the hudson falls and fort edward facilities into the hudson river.

Hudson river pcb contamination. 2013 pcb literature search. 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. E m c n of c n d a and guidance criteria as well as to effects thresholds from the scientific literature. This five year review is a statutory review and will review the remedial action at the remnant deposit sites as well as the remedy currently being implemented for the upper hudson river sediments.

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. Hudson river remains contaminated new report says. Hudson river pcb comments and related reading.

Dumping and leakage from general electric ge plants at fort edward and hudson falls have resulted in pcb contamination of the water animal and plant life and sediment in the hudson river. Includes second bohlen report may 17 2010. The hudson river communities project project background. Epa s hudson river pcb s superfund site dredging project update fall 2009 5 2mb pdf a brief history.

This contamination is present from hudson falls to new york city 200 miles that compose the nation s largest non government superfund site. Pcbs or polychlorinated biphenyls were used by many industries as insulation fluids in capacitors transformers and electrical systems. 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. Pcb contamination is considered the most serious environmental problem affecting the hudson river.

The worst pcb hotspots are targeted for remediation by removing and disposing of more than 2 6 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment. The purpose is to look at how polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs affect people s nervous system.