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Living Near Hazardous Waste Sites
About one in four American children lives within 4 miles of a hazardous waste site, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). ATSDR, charged with handling public health issues related to Superfund sites, warns that children who live near hazardous waste sites often have greater exposures, greater potential for health problems, and less ability to avoid hazards. These differences demand special emphasis in communities near hazardous waste sites.
ATSDR has created a special home page to highlight its Child
Health Initiative 
and
related activities. Of special interest is ATSDR's Report of the
Child Health Workgroup (presented April 28, 1997 to the Board of Scientific
Counselors) entitled Healthy
Children--Toxic Environments; Acting on the Unique Vulnerability of Children
Who Dwell Near Hazardous Waste Sites
.
The US EPA in 1996, listed approximately 15,000 uncontrolled hazardous waste sites in the United States. These include Federal, State and local sites. Of these, 1,371 were proposed or listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) on the basis of a hazard ranking system. The majority of uncontrolled waste sites are waste storage/treatment facilities (including landfills) or former industrial manufacturing sites. Many of these sites have been abandoned.
The chemical contaminants released into environmental media (air, soil or groundwater) from uncontrolled waste sites may include heavy metals, organics, solvents and other chemicals. The potential adverse human health impact of hazardous waste sites is a considerable source of concern to the general public as well as government agencies and health professionals. EPA, through the Superfund Program, is addressing and remediating NPL sites as well as conducting emergency removal actions.
Related EPA Publications
EPA publishes thousands of booklets, pamphlets and posters on a wide range of subjects. The National Center for Environmental Publications and Information (NCEPI) maintains a keyword searchable database that allows you to search for publications of interest. It also allows you to order documents over the Internet. Delivery takes 3-4 weeks.
Additional Information
New Jersey DEP Hazardous Waste Sites Information
1-800-253-5647
New York State DEC Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials
518-457-6934
