What to Ask About Risk at Contaminated Sites

EPA leads some cleanups exclusively and partners with state and local governments on programs including Brownfields and corrective actions implemented under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This webpage is intended to provide the public with an understanding of how and when EPA notifies communities about potential risks associated with a contaminated site, and what types of questions to ask site cleanup team members at public meetings or during conversation about a site.

• Am I at risk if I live near a contaminated site?
• Will EPA tell me if I am at risk from a cleanup?
• Will EPA tell me what to do if I’m at risk?
• Many people in my community have cancer or health problems like asthma. Could this be caused by a contaminated site, such as a Superfund site?
• What is an underground storage tank system?
• General questions to ask cleanup teams

Am I at risk if I live near a contaminated site?

Not necessarily. If you live near a cleanup site, we understand you may be concerned. In many cases, people are not being exposed to contamination. If people are exposed to elevated levels of potentially risky contamination, EPA has the authority and expertise to respond and prevent additional exposures.

Will EPA tell me if I am at risk from a cleanup?

Yes. In the case of an environmental emergency, EPA, along with state and local responders, will take action to inform and protect people from hazards as soon as possible. 

In cases where there is not an emergency or immediate danger, EPA must follow a rigorous process to identify the types of waste involved and their potential to impact people’s health. EPA will communicate any potential health risks to the community as soon as possible. 

Will EPA tell me what to do if I’m at risk?

Yes. EPA works with state, tribal, and local partners, and staff from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry – ATSDR, to provide communities with information to avoid coming into contact with contamination. For example, if EPA finds out that residential yards are contaminated from a Superfund site, we will share the results of our samples with the homeowner, answer health questions, and provide steps to take to avoid the contamination until EPA can contain and/or remove the contamination. 

Many people in my community have cancer or health problems like asthma. Could this be caused by a contaminated site, such as a Superfund site?

It is very normal, and understandable, for people to conclude a cause and effect between a contaminated site, such as a Superfund site, and human-health. However, it is very difficult for scientists and health experts to link specific health conditions to contaminated sites because of the numerous factors that impact human health.

The Superfund program focuses on eliminating current and future exposure to contamination. While we don’t have the ability to know what people have been exposed to in the past, for example, other sources of pollution unrelated to the Superfund site, we are committed to reducing exposure for individuals and families who live near Superfund sites.

We recognize the uncertainty and anxiety people feel living near Superfund sites and EPA staff are trained to understand public concerns and explain the relative risk associated with being near Superfund sites. Our staff are dedicated to protecting your health and the health of our environment and we encourage anyone living near a Superfund site to call us, ask questions, and get the information you need to prevent exposure to contamination. The public can access a site mapper, site information webpages and contact information by visiting EPA's Cleanups In My Communities Mapper.

What is an underground storage tank system?

An underground storage tank system is a tank (or a combination of tanks) and connected underground piping having at least 10 percent of their combined volume underground. Learn more about underground storage tanks.

General questions to ask cleanup teams

• Can my kids play outside? 
• Are my pets and farm animals at risk? Is the milk from my cows still drinkable, etc.? 
• Can I eat fruits and vegetables from my garden?
• What are the different phases of a cleanup and at what point will I know if I am at risk?
• If the state is leading the cleanup, where can I get information?
• Why would EPA take over a cleanup if the state was previously leading the effort?
• Why do sampling results take so long to become public? 
• Where can I find the results of the sample testing from the cleanup?