The results of a new round of testing of a tributary of the Brockport Creek, its sediments and surrounding soils have been released by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to the DEC, past activities at the 3M/Dynacolor and General Electric/Black and Decker sites in the Village of Brockport have led to contamination of soil and groundwater at the sites and in areas where the hazardous wastes have migrated.

The new tests included sediment samplings from above the ground and in the sewer system and from soil samples in areas where the creek floods. The samples were analyzed for cyanide, SVOCs, PCBs, and metals.

The samples with the highest PCB concentrations were collected one foot below the ground surface along the tributary where it resurfaces on the south side of East Avenue. North of East Avenue, the PCB levels decline and the DEC reported that no significant contamination makes its way into the Brockport Creek. The tributary joins Brockport Creek just south of Lynwood Drive in the Town of Clarkson.

Most samples showed elevated levels of cyanide, SVOCs, PCBs, silver, zinc and nickel. However, the DEC determined that soils outside of flood-prone areas adjacent to the tributary have not been contaminated. That includes the public playground on Barry/Lyman Streets.

In its release of the newest data, the DEC stressed that "no matter how dangerous a substance, without exposure it cannot harm you." The three methods of exposure to a substance are swallowing it, breathing it in or touching it with bare skin. According to the DEC, it is very unlikely that any of the substances would become airborne – meaning there is little chance that residents are breathing in the contamination. The most likely method of contamination would be touching water in the tributary, its sediments or the soil immediately adjacent to the tributary.

The DEC recommends: not growing vegetables in areas flooded by the tributary; wearing rubber boots and gloves while in the tributary (and rinsing them well with clean water); washing hands after visiting contaminated areas; and maintaining grass cover over soil in areas prone to flooding.

The New York State Department of Health is conducting a cancer incidence survey to determine if levels of some cancers are higher than expected among Brockport residents living near the former G.E. and 3M sites. The Department of Health intends to release that information as soon as possible, but has not given a time frame for completion of the cancer incidence survey.

Before the DEC can hold any of the manufacturers responsible for the clean-up of the tributary, it must prove that the contamination came from the industrial sites. Another round of testing was done on February 26 with the results expected by the beginning of April.

For more information about the site call the DEC’s citizen participation specialist Linda Vera at 226-5324. For health-related questions, call Mark Van Deusen at the Department of Health, 1-800-458-1158, ext. 27530.