CERP Brownfields Background: Health

Serving the East Saint Louis and Saint Louis Communities!

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Brownfields - Background: Health

Thousands of abandoned and contaminated sites are located in densely populated urban areas close to where children, teenagers, and homeless people play and congregate. These sites may be contaminated with lead, asbestos, leaking fuel, or many other possible health hazards. The sites are also areas for large-scale commercial and illegal dumping of contaminated materials. Many properties have not been monitored for years and no one knows what contaminants, if any, may be underground, in the water supply, or if contaminants have migrated off the site.

The National Association Of County and City Health Officials points out that even redevelopment requires close monitoring for health concerns. The NACCHO states that the community must ensure that the contamination is cleaned to appropriate health and environmental standards and does not threaten public health. There must also be assurances that the laws will not be weakened due to the cost of the clean-up and that the future use of the property does not include activity that will lead to new health problems. Community residents should be involved in all stages of brownfield decision-making to ensure that public health issues are not overlooked. According to the National Association of County and City Health Officials, there are few sustained efforts on a national or local basis to examine the health consequences of redevelopment The NACCHO states that full collaboration in brownfield revitalization by affected community residents is essential. Monitoring, surveillance, and diagnosis by local health agencies should also be a part of the ongoing process.