Transcript CONNECTICUT BROWNFIELDS - Greenwich Public Schools

GHS Science
CAPT Embedded Task Review
Brownfield Sites
Your Task
1. Formulate a question/problem statement
about a Brownfield site that can be answered
through a scientific experiment/investigation.
2. Design a scientific experiment/investigation
that answers your question/problem statement.
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What is a Brownfield Site?
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Piece of land that was once used for industrial
purposes and is now typically abandoned
because of suspected contamination.
• Name one Brownfield site in Greenwich?
• What has this property been used for that led to it being
identified as a Brownfield (contaminated) site?
What is a contaminant?
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A contaminant is a toxic chemical that can harm
humans and/or the environment.
Contaminants can pollute water, air, and/or soil.
Arsenic
Mercury
Benzene
Contaminants of Major Concern
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Asbestos – Cause respiratory problems
Benzene – Causes cancer
Lead and Copper - Neurotoxic
Mercury – May cause physical and mental
disorders. Greatly affects fish
populations.
Where do contaminants come from?
Contaminants
Possible source of contamination
metal finishing/plating shops,
manufacturing and foundries, coal burning
arsenic, cadmium chromium, lead, mercury
power plants
Heavy metals:
Gasoline/constituents of gasoline:
gasoline, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene,
xylene
gasoline stations, tank farms, pipelines
Petroleum Products
Leaking undergound storage tanks
Solvents:
dry cleaners, machine shops,
tetrachloroethlyene, trichloroethylene,
metal finishing/plating shops
III-trichloroethane
Why Redevelop Brownfield Sites?
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Discounted real estate cost
Valuable location
Reduce pressure on undeveloped land
Preserve historical or architecturally significant
buildings
Eliminate health and safety hazards
Improve community
Detecting Soil and Groundwater Contamination
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Usually a portable drilling
rig is brought to the site
A well is installed. Soil is
sampled as the well is
drilled.
Groundwater is sampled and
analyzed for the suspected
pollutants.
How to make a Brownfield site
usable again…
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Get rid of contaminants (ex. Excavation
techniques)
Stop the contaminants from spreading
Your Task
1. Formulate a question/problem statement
about a Brownfield site that can be answered
through a scientific experiment/investigation.
2. Design a scientific experiment/investigation
that answers your question/problem statement.
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