The Gowanus Canal: From PCBs to STDs
Green Brooklyn links to an excellent Scienceline article that details the Gowanus Canal’s history of toxic pollution and gives an overview of current plans to clean up the waterway. Scientists are debating whether it makes more sense to dredge the canal or cap its toxic sediments, and they’re also examining how to go about remediating…
Green Brooklyn links to an excellent Scienceline article that details the Gowanus Canal’s history of toxic pollution and gives an overview of current plans to clean up the waterway. Scientists are debating whether it makes more sense to dredge the canal or cap its toxic sediments, and they’re also examining how to go about remediating the land around the Gowanus. One of the story’s revelations, however, is that researchers have found more than just run-of-the-mill scary stuff like lead, sulfur, cyanide, asbestos, PCBs, mercury and volatile organic compounds in the canal:
Nilofaur Haque, a biologist at the New York City College of Technology, has her students analyze water samples and observe the oily substance that coats the water’s surface each afternoon. One group of students found gonohorrea in a water drop, said Haque.
As Green Brooklyn notes, Can’t wait for the ‘luxury condos.’
Tainted Lavender [Scienceline]
Sick Oysters In Gonohorrea — I Mean Gowanus — Canal [Green Brooklyn]
The San Antonio Riverwalk is nice and charming but it is also drained annually and cleaned. I am not sure that could be done with the Gowanus.
I too have been having serious doubts that Whole Foods will ever open in Gowanus. And though I love the store and it would be relatively convenient, I have no intentions of shopping there unless I feel like the site has been throughly cleaned. And I somehow doubt that is going to happen.
The Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas is example of what can be done. Once a similar industrial canal, now a prime spot. Too many hotels, but it is a convention spot. Still a good example though. Maybe something lower in scale and more for local residents than NYC tourists, but it can be done.
http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/