What are the contaminants of concern?

Petroleum products (diesel and motor oil)

These products can cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm. Many synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are derived from by-products of the petroleum industry and many fertilizers and pesticides sold for distribution are directly dissolved in petroleum oils.

Metals 

Metals (example arsenic, lead, cadmium) are among the most long-lasting contaminants in cities, posing major health concerns. High metal concentrations in the human body can lead to various forms of cancer related to arsenic and nickel toxicity; neural damage with arsenic, mercury, and lead; and kidney damage and bone fragility with cadmium.

Dioxins/Furans

Dioxins and furans are shorthand for a group of chemicals with similar structure. Exposure can occur through breathing in contaminated air, drinking contaminated water, or eating contaminated food. Since these chemicals can accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals, food consumption can be up to 90% of exposure. However, you can also be exposed working or residing near municipal solid waste incinerators, copper smelters, cement kilns or coal fired power plants as well as through burning household waste or wood. These compounds can cause immune system and hormone imbalances, reproductive and developmental issues, and cause cancer.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. They result from burning coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, and tobacco. PAHs also occur naturally and can be found in many places in the environment. They may pose risk to human health in high concentrations. 

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are a group of 209 man-made compounds that generally occur as complex mixtures. They were banned in the US by the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976, and were also banned internationally in 2001. PCBs last for decades in the environment, and move easily between air, water, and land.  PCBs also accumulate in people and animals, becoming more concentrated in organisms at the top of the food chain, like orcas. 

Where do these contaminants come from?