Industrial Ecology, Pollution Prevention, and the New York/New Jersey Harbor (The Harbor Project)

	• Executive Summary • Goals • Purpose • Outreach • Sponsors  • Publications and related materials  • Resources  • Collaborations

The New York Academy of Sciences is undertaking a multi-year study to identify and quantify the flows of specific contaminants into the NY/NJ Harbor from its air and watershed. The project uses the methodology of industrial ecology and emphasizes outreach and communication in order to encourage implementation of pollution prevention strategies for these contaminants.

A Systems Approach to a Messy Pollution Problem
Academy's Harbor Project Advances an Emerging Field
Small-quantity, toxic-substance generators can have large cumulative environmental impacts.

Recent Publications by the Academy and the Harbor Consortium

Safe Harbor Report
Released January 2008
This report describes the methodology applied by the Harbor Project in the course of identifying primary sources of pollution to the New York/New Jersey Harbor and corresponding pollution prevention options. A summary of the major findings and accomplishments is also provided.
Read the report online. 595 KB PDF

Suspended Solids Report
Released February 2008
Major sources of suspended solids to the NY/NJ Harbor are identified.
Read the report online. 2 MB PDF

PAHs Report
Released September 2007
Major sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the New York/New Jersey Harbor are identified
Request the report. (PDF 2.7MB) updated 11/1/07
Please specify document and include your name, affiliation, e-mail.

Additional Resource:
• Life Cycle Analysis: An Economic Input Output and process based LCA comparison between unsealed concrete and sealed asphalt parking lots’ upstream environmental impacts

Dioxin Report
Released September 2006
Major sources of dioxins in the New York/New Jersey Harbor are identified.
Request the report. (PDF 4.3MB) updated 11/1/06
Request the supplement. (PDF 833 KB) updated 11/1/06
Please specify document and include your name, affiliation, e-mail.

PCB Report
Released February 2005
Major sources of PCBs in the New York/New Jersey Harbor are identified as well as the pathways of PCBs from sources to disposal. The report also discusses strategies for PCB best management practices and pollution prevention of inadvertently produced PCBs.
Request the report. Please specify document and include your name, affiliation, e-mail. (PDF 1 M)

Additional Resources:
• List of Organic Chemicals Potentially Containing PCBs (pdf 71KB)
• Numerous resources on PCBs are available at the Delaware River Basin Commission’s webpage

Cadmium Report
Released December 2003
This report discusses the major sources of cadmium in the New York/New Jersey Harbor watershed region. It also identifies the pathways of cadmium from sources to disposal and discusses strategies to increase recycling rates for the major Cd-containing products.
Request the report. Please specify document and include your name, affiliation, e-mail. (PDF 516KB)

Mercury Report
Released June 2002
The report discusses major sources of mercury and methylmercury to the Harbor. It identifies pathways of mercury into the Harbor, discusses environmentally sound and economically feasible strategies to avoid this pollution, and identifies the key players in implementing these strategies.
Request the report. Please specify document and include your name, affiliation, e-mail. (PDF 916KB)

Survey of Public Opinion
The Academy undertook a survey of public opinion to gauge level of the public's concern about environmental issues in the NY-NJ Harbor Watershed. These results helped to shape the pollution prevention and outreach strategies for the Harbor project.
Download results of the survey (PDF 282KB)

Support document for Harbor Consortium
In selection of the Fifth Contaminant: PAHs, Suspended Solids, PBDEs, Endocrine Active Substances, and Lead: Contaminants of Concern to the New York/New Jersey Harbor by Nada Assaf-Anid
Request the report. Please specify document and include your name, affiliation, e-mail. (PDF 191KB)

Related Articles

The fate of heavy metals in landfills: A Review
Prepared by Michael Aucott, Ph.D.
The Harbor Project commissioned research to review our current knowledge on the fate of heavy metals in landfills, both in the short- and the long-term. This document summarizes the research findings by Dr. Aucott.
posted 6/9/2006 | 786 KB (PDF)

Harbor Consortium scientists report on mercury levels in canned tuna
Read the summary

Harbor Consortium sends letter to head of EPA, President Bush, and the United Nations Environmental Programme about pending changes to the FDA fish consumption advisories for mercury
Read the letter

Chair of New Jersey Mercury Task Force (and current member of Harbor Consortium) sends letter to Michael Leavitt, head of EPA regarding proposed regulations for air emissions from power plants and the proposed revised FDA/EPA fish consumption advisory.
Read the letter