TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Scientists have released a report stating that three geographic areas around the former Tonawanda Coke site contain "higher levels of selected pollutants than in the direct surrounding region."
The group of researchers presented their findings to the public on Wednesday evening.
According to the researchers, the three affected areas include:
- An area in the Town of Tonawanda surrounding the Tonawanda Coke Corp. plant, and focused on the area to the east of the plant
- An area in the City of Tonawanda northeast of the Tonawanda Coke Corp. plant
- An area in Grand Island west of the Tonawanda Coke Corp. plant
In the report, the chemicals found include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), cyanide, or heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic.
You can find more information on the study here.
A federal judge ordered the former plant to fund the Tonawanda Coke Soil Study after being convicted of violating the Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
