Several sites near Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal, including the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, have tested positive for dangerously unsafe air containing cancer-causing vapors seeping from polluted soil. This discovery has prompted state investigations of roughly 100 blocks in the area to determine the extent of contamination, with 21 properties found to have air levels of hazardous chemicals above acceptable levels. The church was identified in a letter sent to parents of students at a nearby school, confirming the elevated levels of tetrachloroethylene in parts of the church and rectory.
The DEC has been conducting tests near the canal since September, targeting 626 properties in the ongoing investigation. While some areas, such as the International School of Brooklyn, were given the all-clear, elevated levels of toxic chemicals were found in the church’s rectory and church building. The contamination is believed to be related to the historic pollution of the canal by toxic substances like coal tar seeping into the soil and waterways underground. This poses a significant risk to residents and workers in the area, who may have been exposed to harmful vapors for years without knowledge of the dangers.
The findings by the DEC confirm that pollution from the canal has spread beyond the east side of the canal to the commercial district on the west side, a popular area for families and young children. This has raised concerns among residents and advocacy groups about the extent of the contamination and the potential health risks posed by the toxic vapors. The DEC’s testing system has been criticized for only checking a few parts of each building rather than the entire site, leading to potentially incomplete assessments of the contamination levels.
Environmental organizations and activists have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the DEC’s reporting of its findings, noting that many people could have been exposed to harmful vapors for years without being informed. The contamination of sites like the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church underscores the need for a comprehensive cleanup and remediation effort to protect the health and safety of the community. The church is planning to inform its parishioners of the ongoing cleanup efforts during upcoming masses, while the DEC has stated it will share its findings with property owners and tenants once all data is collected and validated.
The historic pollution of the Gowanus Canal by toxic substances like coal tar has led to widespread contamination of the soil and waterways in the surrounding area, posing a serious threat to public health. The DEC’s investigation is ongoing, with additional sites likely to be tested for unsafe air levels in the coming months. The lack of transparency in the reporting of the findings has raised concerns among residents and environmentalists, who are calling for a more thorough and comprehensive cleanup effort to address the long-term health risks posed by the toxic vapors.
