Ohio River Park is a Superfund Site located in Neville Island, Pennsylvania. Between the 1920s-1970s, the Site was used for municipal waste, pesticide manufacturing, coke sludge disposal, cement manufacturing disposal, and pesticide waste. In 1977, Neville Land Company donated the Site to Allegheny County who started developing the Site as a community park. In 1979, Allegheny County found various hazardous contaminants on the Site. On August 30, 1990, the Site was determined to be a Superfund Site due to VOCs, SVOCs, inorganics, and pesticides being present in the surface soil, subsurface soil, surface water, river sediment, and groundwater. Soil remediation began in February 1998 and ended in September 1999. Today, Ohio River Park has the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center and Coraopolis Bridge on top of it. Additionally, benzene continues to be monitored because it is still present in the Site's groundwater.
History
In the 1920s to 1970, Ohio River Park was owned by Pittsburgh Coke & Chemical Company (a.k.a. Calgon Carbon). In the 1930s to mid-1950s, Ohio River Park was a landfill for municipal wastes. In 1952 to 1965, Ohio River Park was used to dispose of coke sludge, cement manufacturing waste, and pesticides. In 1970, the property was transferred to a subsidiary company named Neville Land Company who donated Ohio River Park to Allegheny County in 1977. In 1977, Allegheny County started developing the area as a community park. However, in 1979, Allegheny County found benzene and other hazardous contaminants in the groundwater and soil. Allegheny County returned the land back to Neville Land Company in 1979. On August 30, 1990, the Site was added to the National Priorities List and was determined to be a Superfund Site. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) soil remediation began in February 1998 and ended in September 1999. In 2003, Robert Morris University bought the Site's land from Neville Land Company for 2.7 million. Today, the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center sits on top of Ohio River Park. This area includes a track and field area, mini golf course, golf range dome, ice rink, and boathouse. The Site is still being monitored today and will receive its next five year report in 2023.
Site contamination
Contaminants
There were numerous chemicals found on the Site. The contamination came from municipal waste, pesticide manufacturing, disposed coke sludge, disposed cement manufacturing products, and pesticide waste. In 1989, the most concerning chemicals were benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), naphthalene, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diethyl phthalate, Silvex (commonly known as Fenoprop), and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene are commonly known as BTEX. BTEX is found in petroleum and coal processes. Chlorophenols are common in pesticide and industrial waste. 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T were herbicides used to make Agent Orange in the Vietnam War. Additionally, cyanide, arsenic, beryllium, chromium, cadmium, lead, iron, copper, mercury, selenium, nickel, thallium, and zinc were at concerning concentrations.
After a baseline risk assessment was submitted in January 1995, the following contaminants were of concern for human health: benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, dibenz(a,h)antharacene, 4-methylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, dieldrin, alpha-benzene hexachloride, gamma-chlordane, manganese, beryllium, arsenic, and mercury. These contaminants are the final contaminants of concern for the Site.
Benzene metabolism and health effects
The last contaminant of concern (COC) on the site is Benzene. Benzene is a multipotential carcinogen and produces non-carcinogenic effects such as white blood cell decrease. In 1979, the maximum benzene concentration in air was 410 μg/L. For pregnant women, concentrations of less than 1 μg/L of benzene have been proven to cause low birth weights. In 1989, maximum benzene groundwater concentrations were 67,000 μg/L. Mice have been found to have a decrease in white blood cell count after being exposed to 166 μg/L for 4 weeks.