What's in a Brownfields Redevelopment?

Contaminants at Brownfields Sites

Common brownfields properties may require cleanup and remediation activities that address contaminants often assocated with the sites’ former uses.

Manufacturing/industrial facilities

• Glass manufacturing: Lead, arsenic
  
• Herbicide/pesticide manufacturing and use: Dioxins, arsenic, copper, voltatile organic compounds (VOCs), solvents
  
• Munitions manufacturing: Lead, copper, antimony, unexploded ordinance
  
• Paint manufacturing: Metals, VOCs, chloroform, ethylbenzene, solvents
  
• Plastics manufacturing: Polymers, phthalates, cadmium, solvents, resins, chemical additives, VOCs Gas stations
  
• Petroleum hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, fuel, oil Railroad sites
  
• Petroleum hydrocarbons, VOCs, solvents, oil, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes Landfills
  
• Metals, VOCs, PCBs, ammonia, methane, household cleaners, pesticides, hydrogen sulfides Mills
  
• Textile/leather: Toluene, benzene
  
• Wood/paper: Chlorinated organic compounds, dioxin, furans, chloroform, resin acids

Source: Road Map to Understanding Innovative Technology Options for Brownfields Investigation and Cleanup, 2nd Ed, EPA