Toxic Tuesdays

Radioactivity is a property of some chemical elements in which their atoms are unstable and decay over time. This decay releases a type of energy called radiation, which can damage and mutate the cells in our body. Some radioactive elements occur naturally in rocks and soil, and may be referred to as Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM). Human activity like mining or oil drilling can cause release of these radioactive elements and make it more likely that people may be exposed to them. When human activity causes radioactive material to become more concentrated or more accessible, that material is often referred to as Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM).

Once TENORM is generated from industrial activities, it can be handled as waste, but it has also historically been used as a construction material as a way of saving costs. For example, New York used TENORM from ore refining as backfill under roads, parking lots, and other construction projects. Wear and tear over time can cause this backfill to become exposed to the environment.

Exposure to TENORM can be dangerous because several radioactive elements that are commonly found in TENORM are known to cause cancer in humans. For example, it can contain thorium, which can cause blood, lung, liver, and pancreatic cancers. TENORM can also contain radium, which can cause blood, liver, bone, and breast cancers. Furthermore, radioactive decay of radium produces the element radon, another radioactive element which causes lung cancer. The accidental inhalation or ingestion of dust and dirt from exposed TENORM backfill can pose a serious health risk to those who live or work in nearby areas.

In Niagara County, New York, TENORM backfill installed under parking lots and buildings in the 1960s was investigated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA removed and restored one contaminated area from 2016-2020 and another contaminated area in 2023. However, radioactive contamination in the area persists. In 2026, over 100 local residents received letters saying that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the EPA conducted investigations from 2023-2025 and determined there may be harmful radiation on the residents’ properties. Data shared with residents shows radiation levels up to 100 times above typical background levels. At least one property had radon levels above EPA’s action level for radon. This data suggests that there is potential for harmful radiation exposure in the area, both outside and inside people’s homes.

The community group Save Our Backyards is demanding answers and solutions from the government to make sure Niagara County residents are safe from radiation. Based on the potential for devastating health effects from exposure to contaminated material in their yards and homes, the group is demanding more transparency about the government’s investigations, excavation of contaminated material, permanent relocation support for impacted residents, and lifetime medical monitoring of impacted residents. The Niagara County community deserves these solutions from the government to protect their health now and in the future.