The hudson river pcbs site is a 40mile stretch of the hudson river between mechanicville and fort edward, new york. Why is the cleanup of the upper hudson river needed. Reassessment reports and schedule the following executive summaries and reports are available on the hudson river pcbs main page. However, very few studies have assessed whether the pcb contamination in the hudson river is harming hudson river fish. Many noxious discharges have ceased, but leftovers from past pollution haunt the hudson, and new problems are becoming evident. The fate and transport model simulates pcbs in the water column and sediment bed. From the 1940s to 1970s general electrics manufacturing facilities in fort edward and hudson falls dumped 1. Before that ban, ge got permits to dump more than a million pounds of pcbs into the hudson river from their factories near fort edward and hudson falls in washington county. A rich heritage from a 500acre estate to a rustic cabin in the woods, from the hudson river school to the american revolution. 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.
Pcbs in the environment a riskmanagement strategy for. The hudson river maritime museum in kingston features exhibits on this period of the river s history. This pollution caused a range of harmful effects to wildlife and people who eat fish from the river or drink the water. Ge finally initiates cleanup of hudson river history. This chapter provides an overview of pcbs in the environment as a background to understanding their history of use, sources of input to the environment, distribution in the environment, and their human health and ecological effects. The source of the pcb discharges was two ge capacitor manufacturing plants located in fort edward and hudson falls, new york, about 50 miles north of albany. Studies have documented high levels of pcbs in hudson river fish. Hudson river cleanup hudson river pcbs superfund site. September 21, 1984 conditions at listing september 1983. Hudson river natural resource damage assessment nys dept. The federal standard for pcbs in drinking water is capped at 500 parts per trillion. In the rod, epa selected a plan that addresses the risks to people and the environment associated with pcbs in the sediments of the upper hudson river. Epa has estimated that these plants released up to 1,300,000 pounds of pcbs to the hudson river between the 1940s and 1977 epa 2002. The river became cleaner of other pollutants as well.
Having been closely monitored almost continuously for the past 25 years, the hudson now exists as one of the most extensively studied rivers in the country epa 20a. History on the half shell we learn about the bivalve bounty that once existed off the shores of manhattan. Ge dumped over a million pounds of toxic pcbs into the river between 1947 and 1977. For a thirtyyear period, from 1947 to 1977, ge pumped some 1. The above print, view from west point is from a steel engraving by w. It is an estuary, an estuary is a semienclosed coastal body of water with a free connection to the open sea and within which sea water is diluted by fresh waterlife. Nearly twothirds about 200 miles of the hudson river has been contaminated by pcbs, from hudson falls to the battery in new york city and beyond.
Dredging the hudson river for pcbs the history of the. For centuries, the hudson river has been well documented as one of the most important natural features in northeastern american history. Pcbs in floodplain soils and shrews of the hudson river, ny. The 315mile hudson river is steeped in american history. Steamboats, including the 1898 steam tug mathilda are the major focus of this museum, which highlights their place in commerce, industry and leisure. Floodplain pcbs are bioavailable to terrestrial biota. The river is named after henry hudson, an englishman sailing for the dutch east india company, who explored it in 1609, and after whom canadas hudson bay is also named. Once feared, now celebrated, hudson river cleanup nears its end general electric is entering the final year of a billiondollar cleanup of pcbcontaminated water. His research shows that certain cancer rates are higher here because of the insidious pollution by pcbs that goes back to the 1940s, painting the region in darker strokes. It is estimated that over 90 percent of the pcbs in the water column of the lower hudson originate from a 40mile stretch of river in the upper hudson between fort edward to troy.
Among those who have figured in the history of the hudson are benedict arnold, alexander hamilton, franklin and eleanor roosevelt, the astors and the vanderbilts, and thomas cole of the hudson river school. Map showing the 321 km 200 mile extent of the hudson river pcbs superfund site from hudson falls above the ge plant sites to the battery in new york city. These are the events, people and places that make our hudson river heritage so rich. Final lawsuit over ges hudson river pcb pollution nearly settled. Because pcbs are such complex chemicals, knowledge of their chemical and physical properties is needed to understand their transport, fate, and toxicity. Through labor, i gleaned what i could about the last days of hh, but the best thing even closely related to the book was my 2007 drive down the hudson river in early july, and standing in awe of such a beautiful site. Between 1947 and 1977, general electric ge dumped an estimated 1. It guided henry hudson in search of a northwest passage and served commerce as a transportation route during the industrial revolution. Hudson river pcbs reassessment reports and schedule. Kurlansnky writes, by 1880, new york was the undisputed capital of history s greatest oyster boom in its golden age, which lasted until at least 1910. Pcbs from the river are contaminating hudson river floodplains, and 2. Did you know that the hudson river is the nations largest superfund site, running for almost 200 miles from hudson falls, ny to manhattan, because of general electric. Revisiting projections of pcbs in lower hudson river fish.
As part of the injury assessment for the hudson river natural resource damage assessment, this fact sheet provides an overview of the work to be done to document exposure of grey catbirds to pcbs, as a means to determine potential restoration requirements for avian resources impacted by hudson river pcbs. Fish toxicity pilot study for the hudson river nrda nys. Lays out the reason why it was and remains important to remove 1. Dredging the hudson river for pcbs tens of thousands of years ago, glaciers carved out the hudson river. River pcbs hudson river pcbs hudson river, new york federal register notice. Some adverse effects of pcbs on fish include impaired reproductive, endocrine, and immune system function, increased lesions and tumors, and death. The water in the town of halfmoon is a top priority issue and because of the pcbs and the hudson river, and my position as. 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. Pcbs in floodplain soils and shrews of the hudson river, ny t. Hudtox was developed to simulate pcb transport and fate for 40 miles of the upper hudson river from fort edward to troy, new york. Reports not presented here, can be viewed at any of the information repositories maintained for the site. We produced this slideshow with support from the w.
The left panel for the upper hudson shows the river sections rs for the. Industry provided jobs, created communities, and brought economic growth to the region. Since 1929, over one million pounds of pcbs have been released into the hudson river. Carpenter, the director of the school of public health, has studied the health impacts of pcbs in the river, soil and air up and down the hudson valley.
Final lawsuit over ges hudson river pcb pollution nearly. Published on jun 27, 2008 the tape tells the story of pcb pollution in the hudson river, and what might be done to alleviate the problem. Hudson river pcbs reassessment rifs phase 3 report. This is somewhat puzzling in this edition in view of the preface that he wrote in 1979, ten years after the first publication of the book that he does not eat any waterfowls taken from the hudson river south of hudson falls because of likely contamination by pcbs or other chemicals. The purpose is to look at how polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs affect peoples nervous system. Hudtox is a transport and fate model, which is based on the principle of conservation of mass. National priorities list hudson river pcbs hudson river. Theres also a display on hudson river lighthouses featuring the 1915 rondout ii lighthouse. It had previously been observed by italian explorer giovanni da verrazzano sailing for king francis i of france in. Quantitative environmental analysis qea, may, 1999 amended july, 1999.
The hudson river pcb story is a slideshow on the web that will tell you the whole story, from the first production of pcbs to the current situation, and what we can do to change it. The hudson river from the poughkeepsie bridge between 1947 and 1977, general electric polluted the hudson river by discharging polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs, causing a range of harmful effects to wildlife and people who eat fish from the river or drink the water. The hudson river is a 315mile 507 km river in new york. Tens of thousands of years ago, glaciers carved out the hudson river. The hudson river pcb story a toxic heritage youtube. Edward plant on the eastern shore of the hudson river. The authors selfimportant claim to his staunch liberal views was the final straw for me, as it had zero relevance to henry hudson. Their compelling narratives attest to the hudson river s distinctive place in american history and the american imagination. The illustrations include maps, depictions of the various sailing and steam vessels, the process of ice harvesting, the work of the hudson river school of painting, and images of important characters in the story of the hudson such as king james ii. Once feared, now celebrated, hudson river cleanup nears. Skinner bureau of habitat, division of fish, wildlife and marine resources new york state department of environmental conservation albany, new york july 2005. Ges plants at hudson falls and port edward, two towns in upstate new york, dumped polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs, a harmful compound manufactured for ge by monsanto, into the hudson from 1947 to. Cleanup plans and documents hudson river pcbs superfund.
Of time, pcbs and the fish of the hudson river by ronald j. Pollution of the hudson river is largely due to dumping of pcbs by general electric from 1947 to 1977. With repeated contact, pcbs build up in living creatures including humans over time. The actions in the upper hudson will lower the risks to people, fish, and wildlife in the lower hudson. The hudson river pcbs superfund site extends nearly 200 river miles 320 km from the fenimore bridge in hudson falls river mile rm 197. The hudson river has been heavily contaminated with pcbs from general electric ge since the 1940s.
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