The results of preliminary tests on the soil at a construction site near Keflavík airport show that toxic PCB is present in tar that was unearthed there but not in the soil itself. The site was used as a waste dump by the US Navy.
A large amount of rusted and corroded metal was unearthed and tar seeped out of the ground when construction in preparation for a new commercial zone started at the site in May. The waste came from the US Navy from the time it ran an air base at Keflavík airport for decades until 2006.
Read more: Photos: Toxic dump from US Navy halts road works near Keflavik Airport
When the soil was first tested in June, a small amount of the toxic chemical PCB was detected but no other chemicals or heavy metals.
Continued testing to map out the contamination
Now the National Broadcasting Service RÚV, reports that no PCB was found in the soil in the first round of testing at the site, though it was found in the tar. A trace amount of heavy metals was found in the soil.
The local health inspector intends to continue testing to determine how extensive the soil contamination is.
The results of preliminary tests on the soil at a construction site near Keflavík airport show that toxic PCB is present in tar that was unearthed there but not in the soil itself. The site was used as a waste dump by the US Navy.
A large amount of rusted and corroded metal was unearthed and tar seeped out of the ground when construction in preparation for a new commercial zone started at the site in May. The waste came from the US Navy from the time it ran an air base at Keflavík airport for decades until 2006.
Read more: Photos: Toxic dump from US Navy halts road works near Keflavik Airport
When the soil was first tested in June, a small amount of the toxic chemical PCB was detected but no other chemicals or heavy metals.
Continued testing to map out the contamination
Now the National Broadcasting Service RÚV, reports that no PCB was found in the soil in the first round of testing at the site, though it was found in the tar. A trace amount of heavy metals was found in the soil.
The local health inspector intends to continue testing to determine how extensive the soil contamination is.
