The Ave 34 site is a Vapor Intrusion risk to neighbors!
When there is toxic waste underground, dangerous gases travel away from their original source and rise up through the soil, becoming a danger to nearby homes, businesses and schools. The fumes can rise up through cracks in the floor, or through utilities like water and sewer pipes, filling the indoor air. Breathing these fumes can be incredibly dangerous, especially over long periods of time.
The Avenue 34 developers have determined that the “current nearby residents and workers are subject to Vapor Intrusion exposure.” However, nobody is trying to determine what those risks are to neighbors, or what can be done to eliminate the vapors that may already be filling our homes with toxic air.
Toxic Waste at the Avenue 34 project:
These are the toxic chemicals found in the soil gas. These all are dangers for Vapor Intrusion:
PCE (Tetrachloroethylene) was found as high as 640,000 ug/m3, which is 42,666 times higher than the recognized safety level for residences. PCE was found at high levels at every sampling location across the entire property. Inhaling PCE fumes can cause cancer, Parkinson’s disease, brain damage, vision failure, immune disorders, and more.
TCE (Trichloroethylene) was found as high as 100,000 ug/m3, which is 6,250 times higher than the safe level for residences. It was also found at high levels across the entire property. Inhaling TCE can cause liver and kidney failure, brain and nerve damage, cancer, and more.
TPH-v (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon vapors) was found as high as 1,800,000 ug/m3, which is calculated to create an indoor air risk 17 times higher than what is safe for residences. TPH refers to the various chemicals in crude oil. We know there is an abandoned underground oil well just a few feet from the Avenue 34 project. There has only been limited testing for these vapors, but they have been found at dangerous levels at every sampling location. The highest concentrations are adjacent to sewers that extend into the community, and the developers believe that they are traveling through these pipes. Incredibly, the cleanup plan will not address the highest concentrations, and there are no plans to follow this contamination off site, in contradiction to very clear State regulatory guidance.
Vinyl Chloride was found as high as 7,000 ug/m3, which is 21,875 times higher than the safe level for residences. Inhaling vinyl chloride fumes can cause brain and muscle failure, liver toxicity, cancer, heart damage, and lung failure.
Benzene was found as high as 44 ug/m3, which is 13.75 times higher than the safe level for residences. Inhaling benzene causes cancer, bone marrow failure, DNA and chromosomal damage, and leukemia.
cis-1, 2-DCE (cis-1, 2 Dichloroethene) was found as high as 5,500 ug/m3, which is 19.64 times higher than the safe level for residences. Inhaling cis-1, 2-DCE can cause blood and liver damage, as well as immune system and nervous system toxicity.
This map shows the concentrations of just 3 of the toxic chemicals identified in the soil gas. PCE was identified at 640,000 ug/m3, which is 42,666 times higher than the safe level for homes of 15 ug/m3. As you can see from the map, dangerous levels were found at every sampling point across the entire property. Based on this, it’s very possible that the contamination goes beyond the property, into the surrounding neighborhood.