Former Clearview Landfill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The area around the Clearview Landfill in Philadelphia was selected in the 1950s for a large urban renewal project. Construction was halted in the 1970s with only 30% of the planned houses having been built. The residents who bought these homes were unaware of the site's former use and many became sick in the following decades.  

The Lower Darby Creek Area Superfund Site currently encompasses this area, which is located in the Clearview and Eastwick neighborhoods of Philadelphia. More can be read on my blog.

Welsbach and General Gas Mantle Superfund Site, Gloucester City, New Jersey

Gas mantles are fabric bags that glow when exposed to flame. They were widely used in gas lighting during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

The Welsbach Company and the General Gas Mantle Company were two manufacturers of gas mantles. Both used thorium, a radioactive element, in their products; manufacturing waste included thorium and radium, another radioactive element. This waste was sold to builders and used as fill for the construction of homes, businesses,and parks throughout Gloucester City and Camden, New Jersey. 

An EPA sponsored aerial survey in 1981 identified multiple sites with elevated levels of radiation throughout the area including a pool club, athletic fields and homes. The Welsbach/GGM Superfund Site was established. More can be read on my blog.

Ambler Asbestos Piles Superfund Site, Ambler, Pennsylvania

From the late 1800's until 1989, asbestos was used in products ranging from roofing tiles to brake pads. Many companies manufactured asbestos products in Ambler, PA during this period. 

Manufacturing waste was gathered into large outdoor piles and lagoons. By 1962 the waste piles reached 20 to 30 feet in height. Local children used them as a playground, building forts and sledding down them on cardboard in the summertime.

The Ambler Asbestos Piles Superfund Site was established in 1986 and contains many of these waste piles. The EPA determined that removing the 1.5 million cubic yards of asbestos contained within them was unrealistic. The hills were covered with a vegetative cap, forming steep hills covered in grass and trees and surrounded by fencing. More can be read on my blog where I talk about this site and it's neighbor, the BoRit Asbestos Superfund Site.

BoRit Asbestos Superfund Site, Ambler, Pennsylvania

From the late 1800's until 1989, asbestos was used in products ranging from roofing tiles to brake pads. Many companies manufactured asbestos products in Ambler, PA during this period. 

Manufacturing waste was gathered into large outdoor piles and lagoons. The BoRit Asbestos Superfund Site was established in 2006 as a result of developers attempting to build condos on one of these waste sites.

The site contained a 25 foot waste pile, a waste reservoir, and a former park and playground. The waste pile received a vegetative cap and the reservoir has become the Wissahickon Waterfowl Preserve, a popular place for birdwatchers. More can be read on my blog where I talk about this site and it's neighbor, the Ambler Asbestos Piles.

John T. Lewis Lead Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The John T. Lewis Lead Works was established in the early 1800's in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. This was an industrial neighborhood comprised of factories and dense blocks of row homes built to house their workers.

Producing lead power, paint, pipes, and other lead related chemicals and products, lead smoke billowed daily from its nine tall smokestacks. Accidents and fires released even more waste.

The eight acre plant closed in 1996 and redeveloped into a suburban style shopping center. The final owner of the site was required to address pollution on the factory grounds itself before redevelopment, but high lead levels persist there to this day. Additionally, the owner was not required to address lead pollution in the surrounding residential community.

Political inaction and corporate maneuvering have limited wider clean-up efforts, and health issues related to lead remain an on-going problem for local residents. Much more can be read on my blog.