Root Causes
There are many factors that play in the role of creating brown fields. “Many brown fields occur due to the development of cities, the growth and changes of industry, major changes in transportation, historical changes in the economy, depression, the growth and changes of the environmental movement.” They can also be created by natural caused disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes. No matter how they are caused the potential risks that they bring to residents in the areas are dangerous for a variety of reasons. Usually, brownfield sites can’t have a level of contamination that would place them on either the National Priority List or a State priority list, in some cases. Brownfield usually don’t cause immediate or serious health effects to individuals living or working around them, although they may pose hazards for employees conducting work on the site.
As a result, brownfield sites are generally not highly contaminated, however the types and levels of contaminants present can vary considerably among them. When contaminants are present, they may be located in surface soil, buildings or containers (drums, underground tanks), subsurface soil, and groundwater aquifers. The types of contaminants present will depend on the industry or commercial facility that previously occupied the site. According to the 1999 Environmental Protection Agency, “Brown fields Case Studies Summary Report, environmental contaminants found at studied sites included petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, construction debris (lead paint or asbestos containing materials), treated wood (creosote, cadmium/chromium/arsenic), industrial chemicals, and diesel fuel.
As a result, brownfield sites are generally not highly contaminated, however the types and levels of contaminants present can vary considerably among them. When contaminants are present, they may be located in surface soil, buildings or containers (drums, underground tanks), subsurface soil, and groundwater aquifers. The types of contaminants present will depend on the industry or commercial facility that previously occupied the site. According to the 1999 Environmental Protection Agency, “Brown fields Case Studies Summary Report, environmental contaminants found at studied sites included petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, construction debris (lead paint or asbestos containing materials), treated wood (creosote, cadmium/chromium/arsenic), industrial chemicals, and diesel fuel.