Due to the past use of industrial chemicals at a number of locations across New York and the tri-state area, the soil around some homes and businesses may be contaminated. A recent case in New York highlights this issue after polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in the soil of a number of homes in Salina.

So far, at least 19 homes have been found with PCB contaminated soil in their backyards that run along Ley Creek. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Lower Ley Creek area is located in an industrialized area of the town. Since the late 19th century, several industries have been operating near Ley Creek and its branches. As part of these operations, industrial wastes containing PCB oils and other hazardous substances were discharged into the creek. In the 1970s, Ley Creek was dredged and redirected through the Town of Salina Landfill by Onondaga County in an effort to control flooding. Dredged materials were spread along the shoreline of the creek and also disposed of at the landfill.

PCBs belong to a broad family of man-made organic chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons. PCBs were domestically manufactured from 1929 until their ban in 1979 and were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications. Although no longer commercially produced in the United States, PCBs may still be present in products and materials produced before the 1979 PCB ban and in contaminated environments as was recently discovered in Salina.

“Not only can PCBs be found in contaminated soil in and near many former industrial sites, older properties may contain PCBs in everything from fluorescent light ballasts and caulking to transformers and capacitors,” said Michael Berrevoets, President, VOETS, LLC. “At VOETS, we offer comprehensive PCB testing services for both indoor and outdoor environments. If PCBs are found, our experts can oversee mitigation efforts and perform post clearance testing to ensure workers, families, and the public at no longer at risk of exposure.”