Independent testing expert Scott Smith suggests that Superstorm Sandy may have created a flood pathway responsible for elevated toxic materials beneath homes near the former Aeromarine landfill in Keyport, New Jersey, amid hundreds of reported cancer cases in the area, according to reporting by News 12 New Jersey.
Keyport Environmental Testing and Landfill Concerns
Independent investigator Scott Smith characterizes the former Aeromarine landfill as an unlined toxic waste pit lacking a physical barrier between stored chemicals and surrounding soil, according to News 12 New Jersey. Smith’s testing inside residential basements near the site revealed significantly higher levels of heavy metals, including lead and arsenic, in subterranean soil compared to samples taken outside the properties. According to News 12 New Jersey, resident Chris Brown reported finding a tumor the size of a grapefruit on a cat living in the area, while local resident Sal Liguori emphasized the community’s desire for transparency and cleanup.
Superstorm Sandy Flooding Pathways
According to Scott Smith, cited by News 12 New Jersey, Superstorm Sandy contributed to contamination exposure by driving floodwaters through the area. Smith stated that water regularly rises through people’s basements during heavy rains, establishing a direct hydrological route for contaminants from the unlined landfill into residential substructures. These findings remain preliminary, and additional environmental testing is required to verify the full extent of the exposure.
State and Federal Response Options
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has previously maintained that no established pathway exists for human contamination originating from the toxic chemicals at the Aeromarine landfill, though the agency has not yet released its own testing results, according to News 12 New Jersey. The DEP scheduled a community meeting at Keyport High School to address ongoing public concerns. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been raised as a potential intervention strategy, offering a more thorough approach than local redevelopment, albeit at a slower and costlier pace, as reported by News 12 New Jersey.
