Dirty Water: The Newburgh Water Crisis

Author

Shantal RileyFollow

Graduation Date

Fall 12-13-2019

Grading Professor

Emily Laber Warren

Subject Concentration

Health & Science

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Abstract

Dirty

Dirty Water: the Newburgh water crisis

Summary

This project covers the ongoing water crisis in the City of Newburgh, New York. It tells the story of the contamination of the city’s drinking water by chemicals known as PFAS – short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Valued for their resistance to water and oil, the chemicals are found in carpets, furniture, clothes, non-stick cookware, food packaging and a range of industrial products. They’re nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment. They’re also found in fire foam, which was used at Stewart Air National Guard Base. Located about a mile away from the city, the air base was identified as the source of the contamination and declared a state Superfund site in 2016.

Unregulated at the federal level, PFAS have been linked to thyroid disease, liver problems, immune system dysfunction and cancer, among other illnesses.

The project includes photos, two audio documentary episodes and a video explainer on PFAS. It also features a written story about the water crisis and the City of Newburgh residents who were affected by it.

Here is a link to the project: shantalriley.com

: the Newburgh water crisis

Summary

This project covers the ongoing water crisis in the City of Newburgh, New York. It tells the story of the contamination of the city’s drinking water by chemicals known as PFAS – short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Valued for their resistance to water and oil, the chemicals are found in carpets, furniture, clothes, non-stick cookware, food packaging and a range of industrial products. They’re nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment. They’re also found in fire foam, which was used at Stewart Air National Guard Base. Located about a mile away from the city, the air base was identified as the source of the contamination and declared a state Superfund site in 2016.

Unregulated at the federal level, PFAS have been linked to thyroid disease, liver problems, immune system dysfunction and cancer, among other illnesses.

The project includes photos, two audio documentary episodes and a video explainer on PFAS. It also features a written story about the water crisis and the City of Newburgh residents who were affected by it.

Here is a link to the project: shantalriley.com

Recommended Citation

Riley, Shantal, "Dirty Water: The Newburgh Water Crisis" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/648