The Sydney Tar Ponds

The Sydney Tar Ponds

Jolene MacKinnon

Location

The Sydney Tar

Ponds are a toxic waste

site located in Sydney,

Nova Scotia.

History

The Sydney Tar Ponds are the result of solid waste deposits from the furnaces of a steel plant and associated coke ovens. There appears to have been no waste disposal or handling policy at the plant that operated from 1901 until 1988 resulting in air and water pollution. The solid and semisolid waste still persists today and has caused health problems for the citizens surrounding the site.

The Solid Sediment Today

During coke production coal is heated and eventually coke separates from tar and other unwanted materials, that in this case, were released into a nearby creek and collected in the Muggah Creek estuary. Today this has lead to there being over 700 000 tonnes of toxic waste covering an area of more than 77 acres.

Toxins and Health Effects

Toxins found in Tar Ponds Sediment:

BTEX(Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene)

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Particles containing heavy metals such as arsenic and lead

Health Effects Experienced By Residents:Higher incidences of cancerHigher incidences of cancer mortalityHigher incidence of congenital abnormalitiesHeadachesNose bleedsBreathing Problems

Health Effects of ToxinsBTEX:

Benzene:-acute: Dizziness, increased heart rate,

confusion, tremors-long term exposure: anemia, increased

infections from decreased immune responseToluene:

-drunk-like behavior-kidney effects

Ethylbenzene:-possible human carcinogen-ear damage-kidney damage

Xylene:-dizziness-confusion-change in balance-possible changes to the liver and

kidneys

Benzene

Toluene Ethyl Benzene

Xylene

Health Effects of Toxins

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons:

-difficulty reproducing in animals, including increased birth defects and lower birth weights

-decreased ability to fight disease

-possible carcinogen

Health Effects of Toxins

Polychlorinated Biphenyls:

-skin conditions-liver damage-associated with cancer of

the liver and biliary tract in humans

-liver, stomach and thyroid damage in animals

-anemia and behavioral changes in animals

Health Effects of Toxins

Lead:

-lower IQs in children

-increased blood pressure

-fertility problems

-nerve disorders

-irritability

-muscle and joint pain

-memory and concentration problems

Arsenic:

-carcinogen

-decreased red blood cell production

-thickening and discoloration of skin

-numbness in hands and feet

-abnormal heart rate

-blood vessel damage

Clean Up EffortsAttempts have been made to clean up the tar ponds over the years, but they were all costly and ineffective and therefore quickly halted. Now both the federal and provincial government have agreed on a clean up program that is currently underway. The governments are splitting the costs of the projected $400 million cleanup project. The process chosen includes stabilization to make the compounds less toxic, less soluble and less mobile followed by solidification by mixing the sludge with cement and other hardening agents. The stabilization and solidification process began in October 2009. As part of the clean up process cut off walls and a surface cap will also be installed to prevent further contamination and once the sludge is stabilized and solidified it will also be capped. The ground water at the site will be treated as well.

Clean Up Efforts

Problems with clean up:

-will the methods chosen even work?

-is the project large enough?

-studies have shown that 3 surrounding communities have significantly increased levels of lead, arsenic and PAHs, but only a portion of one is being considered for remediation.

Works Cited:

Furimsky, Edward. "Sydney Tar Ponds: Some Problems in Quantifying." Environmental Management. 30.6 (2002): 872-879. Print.

Government of Canada. Arsenic in Drinking Water. Ottawa: , 2001. Web. 8 Nov 2009. <http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/alt_formats/pacrb-dgapcr/pdf/iyh-vsv/environ/arsenic-eng.pdf>.

Lambert, Timothy W. , and Stephanie Lane. "Lead, Arsenic, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil and House Dust." Environmental Health Perspectives. 112.1 (2004): 36-41. Print.

Leckie, John. "Ten years to clean up Sydney Tar Ponds ." Journal of Commerce 28 May 2007: n. pag. Web. 8 Nov 2009. <http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id22473>.

"Project." Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, Web. 8 Nov 2009. <http://www.tarpondscleanup.ca/index.php?sid=1>.

"Tracking the tar ponds." CBC News Online 06 May 2004: n. pag. Web. 8 Nov 2009. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/tarponds/>.

United States. Lead and Your Health. Triangle Park: , 2005. Web. 8 Nov 2009. <http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/lead-fs.pdf>.

United States. Polychlorinated Biphenyls. , 2001. Web. 8 Nov 2009. <http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts17.pdf>.

United States. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. , 1996. Web. 8 Nov 2009. <http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts69.pdf>.

United States. Xylene. , 2007. Web. 8 Nov 2009. <http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts71.pdf>.