welsbach & general gas mantle (camden radiation)

5 AREAS IN CAMDEN AND GLOUCESTER CITY

The Welsbach/General Gas Mantle Contamination Site (Site), located along the Delaware River waterfront, is comprised of two former incandescent gas mantle manufacturing facilities, as well as nearly 1,000 residential, commercial/industrial, and recreational properties in the cities of Camden and Gloucester City, New Jersey. The Welsbach Company manufactured gas mantles at its facility in Gloucester City from the 1890s through the 1940s, while the General Gas Mantle Facility (GGM) operated in Camden from 1912 to 1941. Both companies used the radioactive element thorium in the manufacturing process since thorium caused the mantles to glow more brightly when heated. Welsbach extracted the thorium from monazite ore while GGM only used refined thorium in its processes. During the years these facilities were in operation, their process material was used as fill throughout the surrounding area. In addition, four nearby residential areas exhibit elevated levels of gamma radiation. Site Responsibility: The site is being addressed through federal and state actions.

Hazardous Ranking Score

41 / 100

A score of 28.5 or higher qualifies a site for the Superfund National Priority List.

Regional Contact

Region 2
Phone: (877) 251-4575

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Timeline

Discovery
Site Inspection
Preliminary Assessment
Final Listing On NPL
Removal

Contaminants & Health Effects

      Carcinogen
      Endocrine Disrupter
      Neurotoxic
      Sensitiser
      Reproductive Toxin
      Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
      VOC
      Mutagen

        Census

        White
        African American
        Asian
        American Indian and Alaska Native
        Native Hawaiian
        Other

        11,223

        People living
        within a 1 mile radius

        $63,279

        Average Income

        3,862

        Occupied homes

        Potentially Responsible Parties

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