The Hudson River Natural Resource Damage Assessment should provide the people of New York the resources to restore the Hudson to its condition before GEs PCB contamination by: Scenic Hudson preserves land and farms and creates parks that connect people with the inspirational power of the Hudson River, while fighting threats to the river and natural resources that are the foundation of the valleys prosperity. GE's contamination of the river left an enduring toxic legacy extending 200 miles from the foothills of the Adirondacks to New York Harbor, creating one of . Of that group, Latino anglers reported the highest rate of fish consumption (64%), followed by African Americans (41%). Become a member for a year today by making a donation of any amount! THE HUDSON: A RIVER AT RISK. Lewis Pugh plans on swimming the length of the Hudson River, from the Adirondacks to New York City.CreditGabriella Demczuk for The New York Times. These chemicals were a byproduct of GE's industrial operations at Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, New York. nytimes.com. HUDSON VALLEY - Today, Scenic Hudson released a breakthrough report from leading natural resource damages (NRD) experts estimating the potential magnitude of damages for harm to Hudson River natural resources caused by General Electric's toxic Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination at $11.4 billion. Its bad enough that those who must consume the rivers fish, despite health advisories, to have adequate food to eat suffer from these dire health threats. For much of its history, heavy industry along the Hudson contaminated the river with toxic residue. As part of its decommissioning plan, Holtec has proposed dumping up to one million gallons of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson as early as this August. Hochul, stop @holtecintl from dumping Tritium in the Hudson. PCB's: A Toxic Legacy - Hudson River Stories Lewis Pugh intends to swim the 315-mile Hudson River wearing nothing more than a Speedo, cap and goggles. Highly Toxic Cancer-Causing Product Found in Hudson River, Report Bobby Welber Published: April 14, 2022 Getty Images Officials believe it's going to cost over $11 billion to clean up the Hudson River after cancer-causing manmade chemicals were found in the river. Reports can be submitted online at or emailed to [emailprotected]. Three days before that, Food & Water Watch rallied with allies in Albany, demanding Governor Hochuls support. The Hudson River flows from bucolic farms and forest to our nations great New York City. All rights reserved, special National Geographic News series on global water issues, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Both the state and the city health departments advise that bathers swim at regulated beaches, which are monitored for dangerous bacteria and other contaminants, with officials posting regular updates. The company should step up to compensate for its decades of pollution and lay the groundwork for clean drinking water supplies, healthy habitats, safe public access to the river for all and revitalized ecotourism.. 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Bottom-feeding fish in the Hudson River have developed a gene that renders them immune to the toxic effects of PCBs, according to new evolution research. Bottom-feeding fish in the Hudson River have developed a gene that renders them immune to the toxic effects of PCBs, researchers say. Cloey Callahan is a lifelong Hudson Valley resident who was born and raised in Brewster and covered news for the Hudson Valley team. Holtec, however, wants to put their shareholders over local residents and treat the Hudson as dumping grounds for their toxic waste. A significant new studythe first of its kindshows that the nutrients found in walnuts, seeds, and certain types of seafood can reduce inflammation and improve declining lung function. The Hudson River is the defining natural feature of a major region of New York State, familiar to millions who drive across its bridges, admire its grandeur from parks and historic sites, or ride the Hudson River Line railroad. Sign up for our free weekly Outdoors newsletter. On Monday, Mr. Lipscomb will head back up the river after spending the night at the marina in Jamaica Bay with his Labrador, Batu. Governor Hochul must support and sign this legislation and direct her state agencies to prevent any dumping from happening. Because the river often runs shallow in its upper stretches, Mr. Pugh will sometimes run on paths alongside it, where he is warned he could encounter all manner of terrestrial threats, including mosquitoes, disease-ridden ticks and venomous snakes. Population mobility data from the U.S. Census Bureau for the five counties surrounding the Upper Hudson River and fishing duration data from the 1991 New York Angler survey were used to determine the length of time an angler fishes in the Upper Hudson River (i.e., exposure duration). The first "PCB-like" chemical was discovered in 1865, and was found to be a byproduct of coal tar. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I have a Monster drink because I want to wake up, but I dont want to deal with coffee. How Safe is the Hudson? | Popular Science A polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) is an organic chlorine compound. Once they lay eggs, theres always one adult that stays with the eggs. The problem with that is youre not seeing the shoreline. Thecomplete cleanup and restoration of the river resources would speed up and expand these benefits as well as long-cherished waterfront traditions such as fish bakes and festivals for people and communities all along the river.. Why Is the Hudson River So Gross? Years of Pollution and Toxic Usually, stopping the spread of invasive species involves policing boaters, anglers and others enjoying the outdoors, who may inadvertently allow the spread of an invasive species like the round goby. All of the legacy contamination has to be cleaned up. The invader was monitored by scientists, but never halted by government intervention, which Riverkeeper has encouraged. General Electric must restore the resources of the Hudson River and protect public health of all people.. The Hudson River is a 315-mile (507 km) river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York, United States. I used to be able to spend the night at the New York Water Taxi docks in the Erie Basin. Round gobies are described as voracious feeders who outcompete native species for food and spawning habitat. In April, Holtec announced plans to start unloading the waste into the Hudson in May, moving up its timeline by several months. Right now, the State Legislature is considering measures to ban the dumping of radioactive materials into state waters. It is easier to swim to the media than to get the media to come to you, he said. The International African American Museum centers the stories of the enslaved. Theres no point for an environmental patrol boat to get out in the deep channel and then just open the throttle up. Nancie Battaglia for The New York Times But most important, he says, is the Hudson's steady revival from decades of pollution. Holtec International is in charge of decommissioning the nuclear Indian Point Energy Center. Lewis Pugh, a British endurance swimmer, sees the river as the prime example of how a toxic waterway can be revived. Which one of these spiders is a black widow? The Hudson River separates New York City from New Jersey, and travels north for 315 miles, deep into upstate New York. The Hudson River is one of New Yorks natural wonders; a treasure that should be protected and preserved. The New York Times on Twitter The Hudson has been further targeted by polluters, from oil barges to a new fracked gas plant. The DEC captured four round goby fish in the Hudson in 2021 during a routine fish sampling in the upper estuary south of the Troy Dam. The amount of pollution released by this storm is staggering. Ossining, NY October 30, 2012 Riverkeeper mourns the loss of life from Superstorm Sandy, and we will assist as we can by land and water with cleanup efforts. Hayley Carlock hcarlock@scenichudson.org; 845 891 3148, Report from Leading Experts Documents that High Levels of PCB Contamination Continue to Damage 200-mile Stretch of the Hudson River, Contamination Disproportionately Harms Low-Income and Immigrant Communities That Subsist on Hudson River Fish. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency deems 200 miles of the Hudson a toxic Superfund site because of contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. and food webs contaminated by toxic chemicals. During its 315-mile journey from the Adirondacks to New York City, the Hudson River ranges from meek creek to mighty byway, flows past ghost towns, bombed-out factories and the state capital, and vacillates between stretches of pristine beauty and fetid intrusions of chemicals, bacteria and other toxic backwash. Its even worse that anyone who breathes the waters polluted vapors also is at great risk. Well go back to the boat, and Ill feed him his dinner. The goal of dredging would be the reduction of PCB concentrations in Hudson River fish to levels that would be safe for consumption and accelerate the reduction of risk to other natural resources. It poses significant threats to human health, as well as to aquatic life in the Hudson River. From osprey nests to toxic cleanups, John Lipscomb monitors it all from aboard his 36-foot wooden boat. Lewis Pugh plans on swimming the length of the Hudson River, from the Adirondacks to New York City. During the past forty years, thanks to a committed group of environmentalists and their agencies, the river has become markedly cleaner, a far . Efforts are currently underway to prevent the round goby from entering Lake Champlain through the New York canal system. Its much more challenging if youre at the North Pole.. Part of that, Mr. Pugh explains, is the Hudsons unique endpoint in New York City, home to both rafts of reporters and the United Nations, where he serves as a so-called Patron of the Oceans, lobbying for clean seas. Rich Burroni, Holtec's site. Theres no block on its spread, said Dan Shapley of Riverkeeper. The flood levels in New York City and parts of the Hudson Valley from Sandys storm surge had not been seen in generations, and may be historic. The impact of Sandy's storm surge is enormous, causing widespread pollution of the Hudson River and New York Harbor by a variety of toxic chemicals, including petroleum and fluids from cars and boats; contaminants from flooded subways, roads, parking lots and tunnels; and contaminants washed from shoreline industrial sites, as well as commercial and residential buildings. "A lot of people look at the river and . Hochul to Support Immediate Gas Ban In New Buildings Via State Budget. The people of the Hudson River Valley and visitors from across the nation have suffered for seven decades from pollution of the river and surrounding habitat by GEs PCBs, and the damage will continue for decades more. In a classic case of natural selection, the fish with the mutated genes survived. Mr. Pugh, a former maritime lawyer, has previously swum in such unforgiving places as the North Pole and the Antarctic. But Mr. Pugh claims an additional challenge, saying he will swim unassisted, something his team defines as only using the aforementioned Speedo, goggles and cap no gloves, flippers or mechanized assistance and will be continually on the move, making progress downstream every day. 2023 Food & Water Watch | Cookie Policy | Healthy Events Policy | Privacy Policy. At that point, Ill take Blondie here off to take a leak. Youre talking about all this occurring in 20 to 50 generations maybe.. Last June, researchers were shocked to discover some startling evidence of the rivers belated recovery. The longer we delay PCB clean up, the more we are harming our low-income Black Indigenous and People of Color communities, said Aaron Mair, Director of the Forever Adirondacks Campaign. Don't judge a river by its color. The Popolopen creek feeds into the Hudson river at Bear Mountain, 50 miles north of New York City. Citizens who observe pollution are encouraged to document it, if they can do so safely, by taking photos and noting the location, time and conditions. We need to start respecting them.. As a result of this pollution, the public has lost the use of these natural resources, for example, due to restrictions and advisories for catching and eating fish and navigational losses due to contamination of the Champlain Canal. PCBs are considered probable human carcinogens and are linked to other adverse health effects such as low birth weight, thyroid disease, and learning, memory, and immune system disorders. When hes not on the water, he lives in Tarrytown, N.Y., in his childhood home. Ill rustle up whatever kind of ridiculous food I brought for myself. (If bitten, the medical guide warns, Dont try to catch the snake.) Steep terrain, mud and swampy marshes beckon. Its a Superfund site, and even if the last drop of oil is cleaned up, the last heavy metal is cleaned up, the bottom sediments are dredged and replaced with clean sediment, the city still uses it as a sewer, so were a long way from fixing Newtown Creek. The Hudson river school of landscape painting also sprang up, with artists work warning of the desecration of wilderness. How We'll Stop Radioactive Waste Dumping in the Hudson River Why do they keep dying? We have the opportunity to stop this outrageous and dangerous proposal. Hudson Valley storm wipes out Bear Mountain State Park, damages zoo Shes a simple work boat, a floating pickup truck, really. Although water quality in New York Harbor and throughout the Hudson River Estuary has improved significantly over the last few decades, many parts of the waterfront and its beaches are still unsafe for recreation after it rains. It shows how a river can be misused and then cared for and turn around its fate, Mr. Pugh said in an interview from his home in Plymouth, England. Why Is The Hudson River So Dirty? (9 Reasons Why) - VeryInformed The recovery of the Hudson has gathered momentum since local environmental activism helped inspire intervention by the courts and then the federal government to tackle the pollution. BED IN A BOX Well get to the Moonbeam Gateway Marina in Jamaica Bay around 6. Scenic Hudson calls for Hudson River damage assessment - Times Union His goal, he said, is that all rivers be drinkable, fishable and swimmable, noting that their waters end up in the sea. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has issued advisories for the Upper, Mid and Lower portions of the Hudson River which prohibit consumption of fish and recommend strict . @GovKathyHochul Stop Holtec!!!! This toxic and radioactive isotope can lead to higher rates of cancer if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Such hopeful sentiments, of course, dont belie the actual dangers epidemiological and otherwise that Mr. Pugh expects to encounter along the way: According to a medical guide prepared for the swim, he will be confronted by possible infection from everything from human sewage and rat infestation to poisoning from chemicals like mercury left over from the Hudsons industrial past. Unassisted, however, does not mean unaccompanied: Mr. Pughs team for the watery ramble will include a half-dozen or so support staff, including a cook, a physiotherapist and a safety kayaker who will paddle alongside Mr. Pugh when the water is deep enough to steadily swim. I check the boat out, meaning oil, water, lights and maps. In this post, we'll highlight the reasons behind the Hudson's dirtiness. We all got together to thank Ulster County legislators for rising to the occasion and passing a resolution in support of S5181. I remember the river as polluted with sewage, butcher waste, industrial chemicals and heavy metals, recalls Frances Dunwell, an author and coordinator of the Hudson river program at New Yorks department of environmental conservation (DEC), in a new exhibition on the river in New York City. Ill feed Batu at home, otherwise hell boycott. Sunday routine readers can follow Riverkeeper on Instagram @riverkeeper and Batu @riverkeeperdog. In the mid-20th century, General Electric manufacturing plants unloaded more than a million pounds of toxic, carcinogenic PCBs into the river. This would not only be good news to the many families who fish for sustenance, but to regional businesses. 19 Jul 2023 23:35:05. Entitled "Troubled Waters: Toxic Chemicals in the Hudson River," the 210page study asserts that hundreds of chemical compounds have been dumped into the Hudson by industry, of which 15 to 20 . Wild fruit is abundant this summer. They also monitor the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek, two highly polluted bodies of water in Brooklyn undergoing federal cleanups. A FLOATING PICKUP When I get to the boat, Im loading the dog food, my food, my computer. Hudson River Fish Evolve Toxic PCB Immunity Bottom-feeding fish in the Hudson River have developed a gene that renders them immune to the toxic effects of PCBs, according to new. Lewis Pugh intends to swim the 315-mile Hudson River wearing nothing more than a Speedo, cap and goggles. 11.4 billion dollars may cover the huge amount of past and ongoing damage to the Hudson Rivers world-class natural resources, but that does not account for the increases in cancer, the reduction of IQ, and the many other diseases that have occurred and are still occurring in people who live near the Hudson. PCBs bind poorly to the mutated receptors, apparently blunting the chemicals' effects. Report Reveals Hudson River and Wildlife Have Suffered Decades of Eliminating threats to drinking water and additional costs to filter PCBs from supplies; Healing the rivers environment with substantive natural resource improvements. Poachers have taken notice. The intent of the forum was to provide mid-Hudson communities with an update on the PCB dredging project and restoration planning by the Natural Resource Trustees. Below is a chart that compares the impact of PCBs in the Hudson River and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. In addition, EPA recognizes neurological and developmental effects as additional toxic effects of PCBs. The company has not disclosed whats in the water and even had a recent federal violation in the treatment system at Indian Point. I used to get some fancy cheese, olives and bread, and I would eat like Napoleon, but its changed hands. It poses significant threats to human health, as well as to aquatic life in the Hudson River. As the patrol boat captain for Riverkeeper, an environmental nonprofit, Mr. Lipscomb travels about 5,750 miles every year. Highly Toxic Cancer-Causing Product Found in Hudson River, Report GRAB AND GO If Im leaving at 9, Im getting up at 6. The radioactive waste could remain on-site at Indian Point to naturally and safely break down. Stretches of the river were essentially dead, with the fish deprived of oxygen in the water. Due to communications problems caused by the storm, citizens should not expect immediate responses. When it became a Superfund site: 2002. Hudson River PCBs | Region 2 | US EPA Cheetahs have come back to India. Following an . Pollution of the Hudson River - Wikipedia