Though I certainly do not like to be an alarmist, the poster above, announcing the monthly clean-up of the Gowanus Canal Conservency certainly makes me uneasy. In light the EPA's proposal to place the Gowanus Canal on the list of Superfund sites, it would seem that digging in the dirt of its shores may not be the best idea.
The Gowanus Canal overflows on a regular basis in the area, saturating its banks with its heavily polluted waters. The photos on the poster show children happily sticking their hands into the dirt. Is this a good idea?
Don't misunderstand me. Volunteering to clean up the area is a noble endevor. I myself volunteer regularly in Carroll Park. But the Gowanus area is totally different.
I am not sure I would take the chance.
What do you think, dear Reader?
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7 comments:
I think if people are digging in the banks, they should wear gloves but once they've added some topsoil and some mulch, it would be fine for the kids to put their hands in contact with those materials. Landscaping the edges is a nice way to bring the community together to learn more about the Canal but it certainly doesn't replace cleaning up the toxic sediments that are periodically deposited along those same banks. Flowers aren't going to fool anyone, the Canal must be thoroughly remediated!
I think you are right Ms. Pardon me!
it is too dangerous to dig there and I wouldn't let my kids do it.
I love flowers,but am sorry to say this is a bad idea.
I'd be most afraid of tumbling into the canal itself.
The Gowanus Conservancy is trying to make light of the serious Gowanus toxicity by suggesting that ordinary citizens on a sunny day can clean it up. By putting children in the picture, it looks like child's play - when in reality, it can only be cleaned by PROFESSIONALS wearing HAZMAT SUITS! If anyone had ANY doubts before that the Gowanus "Conservancy" is not in touch with the science in Gowanus - the seriously and dangerously polluted land and water, then this PR attempt to make the Gowanus safe and friendly outs them! Remember that former head of the "Conservancy", Bob Zuckerman, was a huge supporter of Toll Bros. And Toll Bros. has said that the canal isn't really THAT dirty (this AFTER the EPA said how toxic it was)!
Margaret is right, the Conservancy does make light of the extremely unhealthy conditions by the banks of the canal.
I would certainly not put my children directly in harms way like this. Haven't these people heard about the EPA's findings. This is nuts!!!!
In addition to the Gowanus Gardens, children should stop planting in all rear yards in our neighborhood! Test your soil and you'll find traces of lead and other contaminants.
Keep our City kids away from any exposure to nature! Concrete and asphalt is far safer.
I agree...
In an area that was widely known as industial, you shoud first have your soil checked, especially if you have children under the age of 16.
Meanwhile, I also agree that GowCon is making too light of a serious situation.
There's ALWAYS a best of both worlds: Regional Wildflower Seeds and a Hoe. Make a trench, throw some seeds, cover the trench, water. In this was there's no hands in the dirt, and your face is still a couple of feet above the soil.
Note: Plant flowers NOT fruit or seed baring plants (like Sunflowers or Strawberries) so there will be minmal digestion by birds, rodents or kids!
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