1. CAPT Embedded Task
Brownfield Sites

2. Your Task Formulate a question/problem statement
about a Brownfield site that can be answered
through a scientific experiment/investigation.
Design a scientific experiment/investigation
that answers your question/problem statement. 2

3. What is a Brownfield Site?
Piece of land that was once used for industrial purposes and is now typically abandoned because of suspected contamination.

4. 1 2 3 4 T. Brown Cage Free Science 2013
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________ Class #:____________ How a “Brownfield” Site Happens 1 2 3 4
T. Brown Cage Free Science 2013

5. T. Brown Cage Free Science 2013

6. T. Brown Cage Free Science 2013

7. T. Brown Cage Free Science 2013

8. Here are some terms… Wastes- A substance that has no intended use.
Toxic- A substance that is unhealthy.
Hazardous- means dangerous, especially in terms of health.
Carcinogen- Causes Cancer
Incineration- Burning things often breaks down chemicals into different chemicals for disposal, but creates air pollution.
T. Brown Cage Free Science 2013

9. What are examples of some kinds of businesses have become Brownfield Sites?
Dry Cleaners
Factories of all kinds.
Car Washes
Gas Stations / Engine Repair Garages
Autobody Repair Shops
Metal / Machine Shops
Farms that used a lot of pesticides and herbicides.
T. Brown Cage Free Science 2013

10. Areas where large chemical accidents have occurred.
What are examples of some kinds of locations that have become Superfund Sites?
Toxic Waste Dumps
Mining Areas
Military Dumps
Large Business Sites
Areas where large chemical accidents have occurred.
T. Brown Cage Free Science 2013

11. Science Park/Winchester Factory

12. What is a contaminant?
A contaminant is a toxic chemical that can harm humans and/or the environment.
Contaminants can pollute water, air, and/or soil.
Arsenic
Mercury
Benzene

13. Contaminants of Major Concern
Asbestos – Cause respiratory problems
Benzene – Causes cancer
Lead and Copper - Neurotoxic
Mercury – May cause physical and mental disorders. Greatly affects fish populations.

14. Where do contaminants come from?
Possible source of contamination
Heavy metals:
arsenic, cadmium chromium, lead, mercury
metal finishing/plating shops, manufacturing and foundries, coal burning power plants
Gasoline/constituents of gasoline:
gasoline, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene
gasoline stations, tank farms, pipelines
Petroleum Products
Leaking undergound storage tanks
Solvents:
tetrachloroethlyene, trichloroethylene,
III-trichloroethane
dry cleaners, machine shops,
metal finishing/plating shops

15. Why Redevelop Brownfield Sites?
Discounted real estate cost
Valuable location
Reduce pressure on undeveloped land
Preserve historical or architecturally significant buildings
Eliminate health and safety hazards
Improve community

16. Detecting Soil and Groundwater Contamination
Usually a portable drilling rig is brought to the site
A well is installed. Soil is sampled as the well is drilled.
Groundwater is sampled and analyzed for the suspected pollutants.

17. How to make a Brownfield site usable again…
Get rid of contaminants (ex. Excavation techniques)
Stop the contaminants from spreading

19. Your Task Formulate a question/problem statement
about a Brownfield site that can be answered
through a scientific experiment/investigation.
Design a scientific experiment/investigation
that answers your question/problem statement. 19