COHOES, N.Y. â New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos recently announced the findings of the agencyâs comprehensive soil and water sampling initiative of communities surrounding the Norlite facility in the Spindle City.
DEC conducted the science-driven sampling initiative to help determine if contaminants are present in communities surrounding the Norlite facility as a result of its past combustion of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) that contains Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and 23 metals, including mercury.
The study found no clearly discernible pattern of aerial deposition that could be traced to Norliteâs operations. Sampling identified low-level detections of PFAS compounds in all soil samples collected, upwind, downwind, and at background locations, consistent with emerging research on the prevalence of these contaminants in urban, suburban, and rural environments.