EWA finds carcinogens in Raritan River
Group alleges chemical facility is discharging chemicals into river

JEFFGRANIT staff According to the Edison Wetlands Association, the waters of the Raritan River, into which the Edison Boat Basin ramp juts, recently tested high in carcinogens such as benzene.

An area environmental group has alleged that a significant amount of the carcinogens benzene and 4-chloroaniline have been discharged into Raritan River near the Edison Township Boat Basin.

The Edison Wetlands Association, a nonprofit environmental watch dog group, held a press conference Thursday afternoon stating that lab tests conducted on an oily material found in the area of the former Akzo Chemical site have shown extremely high levels of the two carcinogens, which the group allege are cancer-causing agents.

The facility, which produces polyolefins, a component found in plastics, was recently purchased by Basell Polyolefins, an international producer of this product.

Mark Mendelson, a representative from Basell, said that while benzene is not used in the manufacturing, Basell would cooperate fully with state, local and federal agencies in regard to environmental compliance.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above: The Edison Wetlands Association announced that high levels of benzene have been found in the water near the Edison Boat Basin. Top right: Boaters use the Edison Boat Basin to launch into the Raritan River. At right: A look at the ramp near the Boat Basin.

The EWA alleges that the substance tested, which also includes high levels of metals, cyanides and petroleum hydrocarbons are found in quantities higher than those allowed by law.

In the case of benzene, the tests found more than 100 times the limit of the carcinogen in the water only 100 yards from where Edison residents fish and boat.

Robert Spiegel, the executive director of the EWA, said that while working on an adjacent site recently, members of the EWA smelled what Spiegel described as "a horrific smell" near the Edison Boat Basin.

After testing what Spiegel said he knew right away was a chemical of some sort in the water, he was distressed by what was found.

"The data that we got back was very alarming," Spiegel said, noting that the tests, conducted by Chapin Engineering, the EWA's firm, also found high levels of 4-chloroaniline, a class six poison.

"It's a real serious poison," Spiegel said. "These are some of the nastiest chemicals you could have. This stuff will hurt you. It would be bad enough that this is draining into the river, but it's draining into the river right next to the boat basis where people are fishing and crabbing. It's a disaster."

According to the EWA's preliminary report, the levels of benzene found in the river near the facility and the boat basin were 69 parts per billion, compared with the allotted amount of .15 parts per billion for surface water. In the case of the chloroaniline, EWA found 58 parts per billion for a chemical that does not have any surface water standard.

According to the state Department of Health and Senior Service, exposure to chloroaniline can severely irritate the skin and eyes, causing blisters. High levels of exposure can inhibit the carrying of in the blood causing headaches, fatigue, dizziness and a blue color to skin and lips. Very high levels can cause breathlessness, collapse and death.

Over time, exposure to chloroaniline is a cancer hazard and may damage the liver or kidneys.

Spiegel said that the Edison Wetlands Association will spend the next few weeks getting "a fuller picture of the natural resource damages that are taking place," by conducting a larger suite of tests and eventually consider legal action against those responsible for the discharge.

"We're going to file a lawsuit against Akzo, or any of the responsible parties we can name, the current company, the past company," Spiegel said. "Anyone that is a responsible party in this we're going to look to name. This is an incredible situation, it's significantly damaging the environment. It's potentially damaging to the health of the people who are fishing and crabbing, especially the children down there."

Spiegel was critical of the state Department of Environmental Protection's role in this situation alleging that the DEP had signed off on a cleanup project some years ago that he feels was not properly done.

He also feels the DEP's response this time has not been enough to assuage the severity of the situation.

"We asked DEP to go out there and DEP has done nothing so far to stop this chemical discharge into the river," Spiegel said.

BY TOM CAIAZZA

Staff Writer