Toxics

approximately 2/3 of brown bullhead fish
have cancerous tumors or lesions because of toxics

Toxics in the river is one of the main reasons that it is not safe to swim in or eat fish from the Anacostia River.  A toxic is a chemical or mixture that is harmful to another organism.  A legacy toxic site is identified by AWS as a high risk toxic site that has been contaiminating the environment for a long period of time. 

There are 6 legacy toxic sites along the Anacostia River:

• Kenilworth Park
• Washington Gas
• Washington Navy Yard
• Southeast Federal Center
• Pepco's Benning Road Facility
• Poplar Point at Anacostia Park

Read about our Current Campains to find out more information about each site and what action is being taken.  Our History of Legacy Toxic Sites gives past information about legal action against these sites.

Below please find resources and information to further explain where we stand on this issue.

Partners

• Anacostia Watershed Society
• Anacostia Riverkeeper
• Groundwork Anacostia River DC
• DC Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program
• DC Environmental Health Collaborative
• DC Environmental Network
• Anacostia Watershed Citizen's Advisory Committee

Resources

• Anacostia Park Environmental Cleanup Projects
• Background Information Prepared by Toxics Team
• White Paper on PCB and PAH Contaminated Sediment in the Anacostia River
• US EPA Toxic Sites Summary (February 25, 2010)
• US EPA Region 3 letter (August 16, 2010)

Blog Posts

• 2/6/11 District Announces Consent Decree at Pepco Benning Road
• 12/13/10 Cleaning Up Legacy Toxic Sites Along the Anacostia River
• 9/3/10 Press Conference to Call Attention to Anacostia River Toxics