ScienceCAPT Embedded Task Review

Brownfield Sites

Your Task

2

1. Formulate a question/problem statement

about a Brownfield site that can be answered

through a scientific experiment/investigation.

2. Design a scientific experiment/investigation

that answers your question/problem statement.

Piece of land that was once used for industrial

purposes and is now typically abandoned

because of suspected contamination.

What is a Brownfield Site?

• Name one Brownfield site in Connecticut?

• What has this property been used for that led to it being identified as a Brownfield (contaminated) site?

What is a contaminant? A contaminant is a toxic chemical that can harm

humans and/or the environment. Contaminants can pollute water, air, and/or soil.

Mercury BenzeneArsenic

Contaminants of Major Concern

Asbestos – Cause respiratory problems Benzene – Causes cancer Lead and Copper - Neurotoxic Mercury – May cause physical and mental

disorders. Greatly affects fish populations.

Where do contaminants come from?

Contaminants Possible source of contamination

Heavy metals:

arsenic, cadmium chromium, lead, mercury

metal finishing/plating shops,

manufacturing and foundries, coal burning

power plants

Gasoline/constituents of gasoline:

gasoline, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene,

xylene

gasoline stations, tank farms, pipelines

Petroleum Products Leaking undergound storage tanks

Solvents:

tetrachloroethlyene, trichloroethylene,

III-trichloroethane

dry cleaners, machine shops,

metal finishing/plating shops

Why Redevelop Brownfield Sites?

Discounted real estate cost Valuable location Reduce pressure on undeveloped land Preserve historical or architecturally significant

buildings Eliminate health and safety hazards Improve community

Detecting Soil and Groundwater Contamination

Usually a portable drilling rig is brought to the site

A well is installed. Soil is sampled as the well is drilled.

Groundwater is sampled and analyzed for the suspected pollutants.

How to make a Brownfield site usable again…

Get rid of contaminants (ex. Excavation techniques)

Stop the contaminants from spreading

Your Task

10

1. Formulate a question/problem statement

about a Brownfield site that can be answered

through a scientific experiment/investigation.

2. Design a scientific experiment/investigation

that answers your question/problem statement.