Part of Community Center Park closed due to contamination test results

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Town of Chapel Hill has closed one section of Community Center Park because elevated levels of lead, cadmium, and petroleum compounds were discovered in the soil. The northeast corner of the property, near the Estes Drive entrance, is blocked off with temporary materials and signage. According to a Chapel Hill press release on Friday, the town is working on a plan to install more permanent fencing and signage quickly.

This discovery came during a town consultant’s environmental site assessment, which is part of the initial planning for an inclusive playground at the park. According to Alex Carrasquillo, Media Relations Manager for the Town of Chapel Hill, the consultant is Mid-Atlantic Associates, Inc.

What do elevated levels of lead mean?

According to the EPA, “Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to its damaging effects.” Babies and young children can also be more highly exposed to lead because they often put their hands and objects that can have lead from dust or soil on them into their mouths.

What do elevated levels of cadmium mean?

According to NCSU, cadmium is usually found at very low levels in soils, but hotspots from man-made sources may also exist. “Exposure to moderate levels of cadmium in soils or produce poses no immediate health risk, but limiting exposure (especially for children) is still a good idea.”

What do elevated levels of petroleum compounds mean?

According to the Soil Science Society of America, Humans can also be exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons by inhaling the fumes from contaminated soil or ingesting contaminated soil, which can be a primary pathway in children. Despite some individual petroleum hydrocarbons being carcinogenic at low levels, many are readily broken down into less harmful products in the body. “Nonetheless, continued exposure, even at low levels, creates a risk for health problems for children and adults alike.”

The area that is roped off is across the street from the playground and ends at the apartments. Photo by Michelle Cassell.

Fortunately, the contamination area is not in the playground area, according to Town Manager Chris Blue.

While the consultant expects to share a full draft assessment in the coming weeks, late Wednesday afternoon, they alerted town staff to early results showing the elevated levels in the northeast corner. After conversations with the consultant, the town closed the area

Blue said, “The safety of our community members and staff members is our top priority. We’re eager to review the draft assessment and work with experts to determine next steps that continue to put everyone’s safety above all else.”

The environmental site assessment included investigating the property’s history before it became a public park. Through aerial photographs and oral histories, the consultant discovered there had been three fuel tanks on site and some trash heaps at one time . Although the fuel tanks were removed decades ago and the trash heaps buried, the town asked for further testing. The consultant took soil and groundwater samples last month, which led to the discovery of elevated contaminant levels in soil in the area where the trash heaps were located. No elevated concentrations of these contaminants were identified in the playground area, according to the town’s press release.

“The safety of our community members and staff members is our top priority,” Town Manager Chris Blue said in Friday’s release. “We’re eager to review the draft assessment and work with experts to determine next steps that continue to put everyone’s safety above all else.

“We know our community cares deeply about not only health and safety, but also our environment, as do we,” he added, “and we look forward to sharing more information from experts as it becomes available to us.”

Michelle Cassell is a seasoned reporter who has covered everything from crime to hurricanes and local politics to human interest over the course of 35 years. As managing editor, she hopes to encourage writers of a wide range of backgrounds and interests in TLR’s coverage of Southern Orange County news.
This reporter can be reached at Info@TheLocalReporter.press