Environmental Contaminants Often Found at Brownfield Sites Brownfield properties are often overlooked for reuse or redevelopment due to fear of environmental contamination. Understanding the types of contaminants present (or potentially present) and how people may be exposed to those contaminants will help a community plan cleanup and site reuse options that limit exposure risk. U.S. EPA, states and tribes have programs that can help communities identify properties that are brownfields, determine whether the property is environmentally-contaminated, address contamination when needed and plan for site reuse that will bring new benefits to the community. Below are the contaminants most commonly reported from brownfields cleaned up using U.S. EPA grant funds. Each circle's size reflects how often the contaminant was reported to the U.S. EPA.1 PAHs Asbestos Other Metals Petroleum Lead VOCs PCBs Arsenic Contaminant 1. Lead (Pb) 2. Petroleum 3. Asbestos 4. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) 5. Other metals 6. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 7. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) 8. Arsenic (As) Substance Type Metals Oil, hydrocarbon compounds Fiber in rock Hydrocarbon compounds, combustion byproduct Metals Manmade chemicals Manmade chemicals Metals Examples of Past Uses Mining, fuel, paint, inks, piping, batteries, ammunition Drill and refining, fuel, chemical and plastic production Mining and processing, piping, insulation, fire proofing, brakes Coal tar, creosote, soot, fire, industry/ manufacturing byproduct Metal fabrication, plating, mining, industry/ manufacturing Industry and commercial product solvents, degreasers, paint strippers, dry cleaning Heat and electrical transfer fluids, lubricants, paint and caulk Pesticides, agriculture, manufacturing, wood preservative ------- Contaminants can cause a range of health effects when a person is exposed, and the contaminant is absorbed into the body. Exposure pathways refer to the ways people come into contact or are exposed to a contaminant. The extent of exposure and absorption depends on how much contaminant is present, how a person is exposed, how often and how long they are exposed. Sensitive populations may be at a greater risk from exposures, such as children, the elderly and those with chronic conditions. The three basic exposure pathways are (1) breathing, (2) eating or drinking, and (3) direct contact with the skin. Of the three, breathing and eating or drinking are the most common but all three can occur. When contaminants attach to small dust and soil particles or occur as a vapor, breathing can expose people. Exposure can occur when people eat or drink contaminated water, food, dusts or soils. Children that suck their fingers or chew toys contaminated with dust or soils may be exposed. f* v> • • Skin can absorb some forms of contaminants from direct contact with contaminated dust and soil particles, the contaminants or vapors. Contaminant Potential Health Effects 1. Lead (Pb) Damage to brain, nerves, organs, and bone; cancer 2. Petroleum Headache; nervous system, immune, liver, kidney, and respiratory damage; cancer 3. Asbestos Lung scarring, mesothelioma and lung cancer 4. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Liver disorders; cancer 5. Other metals 2 5 Immune, cardiovascular, developmental, gastrointestinal, neurological, reproductive, respiratory and kidney damage; cancer 6. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Eye irritation; nausea; liver, kidney and nervous system damage; birth defects; cancer 7. Polychlorinated Biphenyls Disruption or damage to the immune, hormone and neurological system; liver and skin (PCBs) disease 8. Arsenic (As) Nausea, vomiting and stomach pain; blood disorders; nerve damage; skin disease; lung and skin cancer 1 U.S. EPA grant recipients are required to report the presence of contaminants found and cleaned up through U.S. EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). The following information is based on 6,350 grant recipient reported cleanups from 2006-2018. This data is publicly available at www.epa.gov/cleanups/cleanups-my-community 2 Other metals category includes a range of metals not limited to the heavy metals listed below 3 Cadmium, Integrated Risk Information System, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncrea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=141 4Chromium Compounds, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/chromium-compounds.pdf 5 Mercury, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/mercury 4% United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA 560F19007 September 2019 ------- |