EPA added the American Cyanamid site in Bridgewater Township, New
Jersey to the Superfund National Priorities List on September 8, 1983
because hazardous chemicals were found in the soil and ground water.
The 575-acre superfund site has a history of industrial pollution
dating back to 1915. For nearly 100 years, prior owners used the
location for manufacturing chemicals and disposed of chemical sludge
and other wastes on the property. The soil, ground water and waste
disposal areas, called impoundments, are contaminated with volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), semi-VOCs, metals, and other harmful
chemicals. Some of these harmful chemicals are known to cause cancer in
humans and animals or have other adverse effects on human health. The
extent and nature of potential health effects depend on many factors,
including the level and length of exposure.
The site is located adjacent to the Raritan River and lies above
the Brunswick Aquifer, New Jersey’s second largest source for drinking
water. Area residents are serviced by a public water supply that
provides a safe source of drinking water. In 1998, EPA deleted 140
acres of the site from the Superfund list and the property was
redeveloped for commercial use (retail stores, a professional baseball
stadium, and a commuter/stadium parking lot). All manufacturing ceased
on the site in 1999 and the majority of the buildings were demolished
by 2000. In 2009, Pfizer Inc. assumed responsibility for the American
Cyanamid site as part of its purchase of the Wyeth Holding Corporation,
a prior owner.
