Hempstead CleanUp
From Journalism80
This page is about cleaning up polluted sites in Hempstead and other nearby areas...
KeySpan is a natural gas corporation that provides the northeast region of the united states with energy.
Hempstead mayor, James Garner is making KeySpan responsible for cleaning up the polluted areas in the town of Hempstead.
The pollution has come from toxic MPG's (manufactured gas plants), owned by KeySpan, that has affected various places in Long Island, including: Hempstead, Sag Harbor, Glen Cove, Patchogue, Rockaway Park, and Bay Shore, which has the largest toxic plume on the Island.
The pollution is affecting the groundwater, which is consumed by Long Islanders on a daily basis.
Soil is also affected by the chemical pollution which can cause crops and plants to die.
The groundwater is tainted with chemicals called, BTEX and PAH's, coal tar is also another substance that is found in Long Island's groundwater.
CHEMICALS IN LONG ISLAND GROUNDWATER
BTEX is an acronym for Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes.
These chemicals are compounds found in petroleum which can be found in gasoline.
These chemicals can have effects on the central nervous system depression, skin irratation and sensory irritation and effects on the respiratory system.
Prolonged effects can cause damage to kidneys and liver; workers exposed to high levels of benzene were found to have leukemia.
PAHs is a acronym for Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PAHs contains over 100 different chemicals.
PAHs is the most widespread organic pollutant and some of the chemicals in PAHs are known to be carcinogenic.
COAL TAR is a black or brown subtance which contains naphthalene, a main ingredient in moth balls, and is a substance within PAHs.
OTHER TASKS FOR THE CLEANUP
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), is also trying to improve the appearence of Hempstead by cleaning up the brownfields in the area.
Brownfields are pieces of land that has been contaminated by pollution and can be saved or reused.
