Earlier this year, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported that Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) scientists are working to reduce the daily flow of cancer-causing PCBs into the James River and keep the commonwealth's water clean and safe to drink.
Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are toxic chemicals once used and manufactured by industrial facilities in Virginia and around the world during much of the 20th century. Companies used PCBs in a variety of products, including lubricants, electronics, light fixtures, and insulation. During manufacturing and waste disposal, PCBs were frequently dumped into rivers and streams and disposed of in landfills and other areas.
Unfortunately, these practices ended up posing significant threats to human health and wildlife. From cancer and low birth weights to neurological health issues, PCBs wreaked havoc on people and the environment.
Because of these hazards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned PCBs in 1979, but their toxic legacy lives on in river sediments, leaks, and seepage from dumping grounds and former and current industrial facilities that have yet to be cleaned up.
Industrial facilities and pollution pathways
Industrial facilities, including those that used PCBs in the past, play an essential role in Virginia's economy by creating jobs, producing goods, and generating revenue. However, their activities can also pose significant risks to the environment, including the James River, and the threats of toxic pollution haven't disappeared just because some types of chemicals, including PCBs, are no longer in use.
The James River is a vital resource for the state, providing drinking water, recreational opportunities, and supporting diverse ecosystems. Unfortunately, industrial facilities in Virginia can release toxic chemicals into the river through various pathways, causing significant harm to the river's ecosystem and human health.
One of the most common ways that toxic chemicals make their way into the James River is through direct pollution. Some facilities have permits to discharge treated wastewater and stormwater into the river. While this water may be treated to remove pollutants, it can still contain toxic chemicals in concentrations that may harm aquatic life and human health. Industrial facilities may also have storage tanks, pipelines, or other equipment that can leak or spill toxic chemicals, contaminating the soil, groundwater, and surface water.
Additionally, stormwater runoff from industrial facilities can carry pollutants and toxic chemicals into the James River. This can occur when rainwater washes over contaminated surfaces, such as parking lots, roofs, or outdoor storage areas, and carries the pollutants into the river. Old, abandoned industrial sites can also pollute rivers and streams this way, and the hazardous substances that leak or seep from these locations can include legacy chemicals like PCBs.
Air pollution is another way toxic chemicals end up in the James River. Certain industrial activities, such as coal-fired electricity generation, can emit mercury and other pollutants into the air. These pollutants can then fall to the surface of the James River, carried there by rain or snow.
The impact of toxic chemicals on the James River can be severe. These releases can harm aquatic animals, including fish and other wildlife, and can also impact human health. Exposure to toxic chemicals in the water can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, and other health issues. Additionally, the release of toxic chemicals into the river can harm the local economy, as activities such as fishing and boating may be affected.
Toxic contamination of the James River and other waterways is also a justice and equity issue. The James River watershed and other areas of the commonwealth are home to several communities with high concentrations of marginalized populations that are overburdened by environmental hazards.
It is therefore essential for industrial facilities to follow environmental regulations and best management practices to minimize their impact on the James River. Regulatory agencies must monitor and enforce compliance with these regulations to ensure that the James River is protected.
Enforcement for environmental justice and health
Virginia has implemented various regulations and laws to limit the release of toxic chemicals from industrial facilities, and the commonwealth also has authority to implement the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act within its borders. However, enforcement and compliance with these regulations can be challenging, and many communities continue to be affected by toxic chemicals from industrial facilities, both current and inactive.
It is important to continue to support and prioritize the efforts of agencies like the Virginia DEQ because they play a crucial role in protecting natural resources and ensuring that everyone has access to clean and safe drinking water. Here are some reasons why:
Overall, supporting and prioritizing the efforts of agencies like DEQ is critical to
ensuring that we protect natural resources, maintain public health, and promote sustainable economic growth for future generations.
By working together, industrial facilities, regulatory agencies, and communities can help ensure that the James River remains a healthy and thriving ecosystem for generations to come.
For more information on solutions to toxic threats facing waterways and communities in Virginia and beyond, read our blog and follow us on social media.
Showing 2,817 results
Marcha Chaudry | May 1, 2023
Earlier this year, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported that Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) scientists are working to reduce the daily flow of cancer-causing PCBs into the James River and keep the commonwealth's water clean and safe to drink.
Allison Stevens | April 27, 2023
The Center for Progressive Reform is saddened to share the news that long-time Member Scholar William H. “Bill” Rodgers, Jr. passed away this month.
Minor Sinclair | April 26, 2023
Six years ago, Smithsonian Magazine was among those decrying the death of public intellectuals (“the egghead is dead”). Where are today’s Ralph Waldo Emersons or James Baldwins or Susan Sontags, they mourned. The article went on to offer a fascinating insight. History shows that “public intellectuals always emerged when the country was sharply divided: during the Civil War, the Vietnam War, the fights for civil rights and women’s rights.” In this moment of ever-deepening divide, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the Center for Progressive Reform welcomes five prominent academics to our network. The toll for the death of expertise may have been premature; long live public intellectuals!
Allison Stevens | April 25, 2023
Testifying before Congress, releasing new books, engaging with the news media — our Member Scholars packed virtually a year’s worth of advocacy on climate justice, clean air and water, and worker health and safety into the first three months of 2023.
Robert Verchick | April 25, 2023
Last summer, standing outside the Paradise Inn in Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park, I still needed a fleece to keep warm. In the shadow of the park’s snow-covered volcano, the meadows sparkled with wildflowers. I remembered a news article from a few years back about how Mount Rainier’s iconic flora were slowly retreating to higher elevations away from the inn. Park scientists attributed this to higher temperatures caused by climate change. There was some debate at the time about whether park staff should manually seed the meadows where lodge visitors gather or to let the buttercups and salmonberries crawl naturally uphill. I don’t know where they ended up on that.
Daniel Farber | April 24, 2023
Ever since the Supreme Court decided West Virginia v. EPA, conservatives and industry interests have claimed that just about every new regulation violates the major question doctrine. When the Biden administration ramped up fuel efficiency requirements through 2026, ideologues such as the Heritage Foundation and states like Texas were quick to wheel out this attack. No doubt the same attack will be made on the administration's ambitious proposed post-2026 standard. Maybe Judge Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, crusader against abortion pills and all things liberal, would buy that argument. But opponents won’t be able to handpick their judge this time, and the chances that this argument will win in the D.C. Circuit are slim to none.
Cinthia Moore | April 24, 2023
Nevada is considered one of the hottest states in America, and it consistently tops the list of places with the most heat-related deaths per year in the country. But what a lot of people don’t know is that it is also the second most polluted state, with wildfires, vehicles, factories, and the mining industry being the biggest sources. The deadly combination of scorching heat and poor air quality makes Nevada a hazardous place to work, especially for migrants who work under the heat of the sun. Even those working indoors are exposed to poor air quality with no climate controls every single day.
A.R. Siders | April 21, 2023
Dr. Syukoro Manabe, Nobel Prize winner in physics for his groundbreaking work on climate modeling, said that while climate modeling is difficult, “nothing is more difficult than what happens in politics and in society.” Social scientists, not surprisingly, cheered his words, having long argued that not only are social sciences not “soft” but also that numerous social disciplines — anthropology, sociology, economics, law, public policy, and more — are critical both to understand the consequences of climate change and to develop climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. For all that it centers on a cephalopod, The Octopus in the Parking Garage, Rob Verchick’s new book about climate resilience, is a book about why social science is and must be at the heart of climate action.
Allison Stevens | April 21, 2023
A list of environmental and climate-themed book recommendations by Center for Progressive Reform staff in honor of Earth Day.