GOWANUS – NEW TESTING AT P.S. 372 on Carroll Street in Gowanus discovered that cancer-causing chemicals remain in the basement of an annex building, despite a year-long mitigation project by the state, reports Gothamist.
In a recent message to parents, the state departments of Health and Environmental Conservation said that fumes have been successfully stopped from spreading into the rest of the annex, but that more contaminants than expected have been found in the basement, including benzene. Officials now think the chemicals are coming from an “unknown above-ground source,” and not a buried petroleum tank or nearby construction, as previously believed.
A filtration system installed in the annex basement nearly two years ago to suck out contaminated air is working as intended, officials said, but the new discovery gives rise to concerns about potential seepage into the building above through the walls. The state says it’s working on plans for further mitigation efforts.
Parents raised concerns over transparency and health risks, saying that not enough information has been provided and criticizing the decision to send the email out during a holiday weekend; teachers at the school will be participating in a health survey later in the year.
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