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The demo of a sludge tank in Greenpoint last month kicked up a large amount of potentially hazardous dust, according to nearby residents. Two families in the area had the dust independently tested and found 40 parts per million of arsenic, lead, chromium, zinc and other chemicals, according to stories in DNAinfo and Greenpointers. That amount is not considered toxic to adults but could pose problems to children. The site is located next to the Greenpoint playground. Residents, activists and local politicians have asked the city’s Department of Environmental Protection to test the area. The photo above was taken by a family of its just-washed car after the demolition.

The contractor hired to carry out the demolition was Skanksa, according to Greenpointers. (Skanksa is the Swedish firm embroiled in litigation with Forest City Ratner over modular construction.) Skanska supposedly used a subcontractor on the Sludge Tank demo, NASDI, “which was recently hit with over $40,000 in fines resulting from improper asbestos removal in a South Boston housing project,” according to Greenpointers. “An investigation in Boston determined NASDI allowed both its workers and local residents to be exposed to toxic levels of asbestos.”

The sludge tank was located at the intersection of Dupont and Commercial Street on the Greenpoint waterfront. It is across the street from Greenpoint Playground at 243 Franklin Street. Greenpoint Landing is being constructed nearby, with the first buildings to be located at 21 Commercial Street and 33 Eagle Street. The sludge tank was moved to Newtown Creek Waste Treatment Facility, according to Greenpointers.

Construction Dust May Pose Health Hazard at Greenpoint Playground: Experts [DNA]
Neighbors Test Dust From Sludge Tank Demo and Find Contaminants [Greenpointers]
Photo via DNAinfo


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