Are all brownfield sites contaminated?
No, not all brownfields are contaminated with hazardous substances. Some sites may simply be an eyesore due to rundown buildings or accumulated trash. However, many sites are contaminated to some degree as a result of past uses. For example, a dry cleaning business may have disposed of chemical solvents down the drain, contaminating the groundwater. Or, older buildings may have been constructed with asbestos containing materials like pipe insulation which is a serious health hazard when disturbed during demolition or renovation. An abandoned metalworking shop may have left behind processing wastes or metal degreasing solvents. Underground storage tanks at old gas stations may have leaked petroleum products into the soil and groundwater.
