PCB contamination in and around New Bedford, Massachusetts
The contamination of water and soil in New York, Illinois, Indiana and Massachusetts with PCBs from the manufacture of capacitors is discussed in detail. The fishing town of New Bedford, Massachusetts is said to be extensively contaminated. Recent reports of levels of 90-300 kg discharged from the city wastewater plant, as much as 100,000 ppm in sediments under New Bedford Harbor, and levels in the parts-per-billion range in the water column have served to place New Bedford Harbor on the expanded Superfund listing of the nation's most hazardous sites. Results of two small-scale epidemiological tests show that residents who consume large quantities of fish had blood serum PCB levels ranging from 2 to 343 ppb (measured as Aroclor 1260) with a mean of 36 ppb. Both capicator manufactors have reached agreement with EPA and the Massachusetts DEQE in which the companies accepted the obligation of implementing limited cleanup measures. Sewer pipes have been cleaned and replaced, monitoring wells installed, and asphaltic coverings applied over all exposed soils. A state-funded study prepared in 1981 concluded that 90 percent of the PCBs could be dredged from the harbor at a cost of $140 million.
- Research Organization:
- Dept. of Public Utilities, Norwich, CT
- OSTI ID:
- 6867237
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 18:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Superfund record of decision (EPA Region 1): New Bedford Site, Upper and Lower Harbor Operable Units, New Bedford, MA, September 25, 1998
Fate and transport of PCBs at the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FISHES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
FISHING INDUSTRY
ECONOMIC IMPACT
MAN
MASSACHUSETTS
LAND POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
WASTE WATER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HARBORS
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
NEW YORK
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
DATA
FEDERAL REGION I
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION V
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
LIQUID WASTES
MAMMALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WATER
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560305 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
560306 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)