Description

Currently this site is a residential property that occupies the same space as an automotive repair service station. This house has recently been up for sale but is not listed among the other properties in Trenton on online real estate websites. Although this lot in particular has remained a residential lot since the early 1900’s, its neighboring lot has varied in automotive services. Most recently it has been an automotive repair shop called SOS Auto Repair.


On October 7th, 2008, the state ordered an immediate removal of an underground storage tank, which apparently did not pass the standards set forth by the EPA. The tank was leaking “corrosive materials” into the ground resulting in a soil contamination of that immediate area. This underground tank has had to be remediated numerous times since 2002 because of leakages and other damages to it. Although a cleanup was ordered in 2008 to fix this soil contaminated, there appears to be no physical documentation to prove this was done. It also appears that the owners of this property have failed to complete its Right to Know surveys for the public knowledge since 2006 but no legal repercussions have been instituted. According to the NJ DEP Data-miner website, “USR- Underground Storage Tank (UST) Remediation: This Activity Class Code is for Case Oversight activities that pertain to the closure of from state or federally regulated underground storage tank systems. The regulatory authority for the USR cleanup oversight is under the Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances Regulations, N.J.A.C. 7:14B.” This warning has been issued and retracted for more than 10 years.

Most automotive repair shops utilize various types of paints, solvents, fillers, and motor oils, which can have hazardous effects if exposure to them is prolonged. Hexavalent chromium is a chemical found in spray paints that has been a known carcinogen as well as the culprit of various respiratory and ocular infections. Another example is while the mixture of Fluorocarbon, Trichloroethylene, and Sulfuric acid can be used as a disinfectant and a carburetor cleaner, it is highly corrosive and has been known to cause mass tissue damage for the workers who handle it. Let’s not forget the physical hazards of handling highly flammable materials such as Ethanol, Acetone, Isopropyl alcohol, and Kerosene; these chemicals only have to be present in small amounts in the air in order to spark an explosion. According to a study by Cornell University ILR School “The inhalation of methylene chloride vapor: the body attempts to detoxify (breakdown)
methylene chloride, but only succeeds in convening it to carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide ties up the hemoglobin in the blood, preventing it from carrying oxygen; when this happens, the he an must work harder to make up for the oxygen deficiency. An individual with an existing heart condition may not be able to tolerate this added stress on the heart and could have a heart attack.”

As of now this property remains to be a vacant house with a “For Sale” sign plastered across the door, however it isn’t listed on online real estate sites. SOS Auto Body shop continues to serve customers.

I spent only a few minutes there and the lingering fumes nearly gave me an asthma attack. I also noticed most of the gentlemen working there had a persistent cough that sounded very mucous riddled. All of the workers appeared to have chemical burns and scarring on their hands.





SOURCES:

Brown, Nellie J.. Health hazards manual for autobody shop workers. Buffalo, N.Y.: Cornell University Workplace Health and Safety Program, 1990. Print.



"CCAR." CCAR. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2013. < http://ccar-greenlink.org/index2.php >.



"The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey." The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2013. < http://www.nj.gov >.



"US Environmental Protection Agency." US Environmental Protection Agency. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2013. < http://www.epa.gov/ >.