A Century of Toxic Soup in New York’s Gowanus Canal

Stained as “one of the most polluted rivers in the U.S.,” the canal bed is piled 3-6 meters thick with industrial waste containing arsenic, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other highly toxic substances, putting neighboring residents at long-term risk of skin irritation and heavy metal poisoning.2023 tests show that nearby homes have exceeded the standard for trichloroethylene concentrations, and that sludge cleanup releases compounds such as naphthalene triggered headaches and nausea.