Brian Barton
The town of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, was polluted by the New Jersey Zinc Company, which was once the largest zinc producer in the US. The company operated two zinc smelters in Palmerton from 1898 until 1980/1981, releasing huge amounts of contaminants into the air, including zinc, copper, lead, nickel, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic. This led to the destruction of vegetation and forest ecosystems in the surrounding areas, particularly along the Kittatinny Ridge and Blue Mountain. The pollution also affected the health of the town's residents and nearby wildlife. Cleanup efforts have been ongoing since 1987, and Palmerton is now a growing town again, moving beyond its tainted history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Palmerton, PA |
| Pollutants | Zinc, Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Copper, Nickel, Chromium |
| Source | New Jersey Zinc Company |
| Time Period | 1898-1980s |
| Impact | Vegetation destruction, Forest ecosystem destruction, Air pollution, Water contamination |
| Cleanup | Added to Superfund National Priorities List in 1983, ongoing cleanup since 1987 |
| Current Status | Improving, but concerns remain about soil contamination |
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What You'll Learn
Zinc smelting by New Jersey Zinc Company
The New Jersey Zinc Company was for many years the largest producer of zinc and zinc products in the United States. The company was formed in 1848 when two companies were created to exploit the iron and zinc deposits at Franklin and Sterling Hill in Sussex County, New Jersey. The company opened two zinc-smelting plants in the town of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, in 1898.
The zinc smelting process involves converting zinc concentrates (ores that contain zinc) into pure zinc. This process was historically more difficult than the smelting of other metals, such as iron, because zinc has a low boiling point. At typical smelting temperatures, zinc becomes a gas that escapes from a furnace with the flue gas and is lost unless specific measures are taken to prevent it.
The New Jersey Zinc Company introduced the continuous vertical retort process in 1929. This process used a retort with silicon carbide walls, around 9 meters high with a cross-section of 2 by 0.3 meters. The walls of the retort were heated to 1300 °C, and briquettes consisting of sintered zinc ore, coke, coal, and recycled material were fed into the top of the retort. The zinc vapour and carbon dioxide pass to a vacuum condenser, where zinc is recovered by bubbling through a molten zinc bath. The carbon dioxide is regenerated with carbon, and the carbon monoxide is recycled back to the retort furnace.
Due to the geography of the Palmerton site (between two mountain ridges) and a lack of pollution control technology, pollution from the zinc smelters destroyed vegetation on 3,000 acres surrounding the town. The town was left with an enormous smelting residue pile called the "Cinder Bank," which is what remains of the 33 million tons of slag (rocky waste) left by the New Jersey Zinc Company as a byproduct of their mining operations. The Palmerton site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List on September 8, 1983, and cleanup efforts have been ongoing since 1987.
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Air pollution by American Zinc Recycling
The American Zinc Recycling (AZR) facility in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, has been responsible for air pollution in the town. AZR is the corporate successor of the Horsehead Corporation, which emerged from bankruptcy in September 2016. The Palmerton site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List on September 8, 1983, and has been undergoing cleanup since 1987.
The AZR facility in Palmerton has operated for over 100 years, reclaiming zinc from electric arc furnace dust, a hazardous waste. The facility also generates waste kiln rubble, which includes hazardous lead and cadmium. The New Jersey Zinc Company, which operated in Palmerton for over 80 years, left a toxic legacy in the town, including an enormous smelting residue pile called the "Cinder Bank."
In February 2021, AZR settled a federal-state lawsuit citing violations of air, water, and hazardous waste environmental laws. The settlement is expected to result in substantial reductions in pollution from the AZR facility, including an estimated 47 million pounds of electric arc furnace dust over three years. AZR also agreed to carry out $4.3 million in measures to comply with federal and state environmental laws and pay a $3.3 million penalty.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to reduce air pollution in Chicago caused by American Zinc Recycling's facility in the city. The company recycles metal-bearing wastes from steel production to reclaim zinc and other metals. EPA inspections of the facility found violations of particulate matter limits, with emissions of particulate matter and fugitive dust.
American Zinc Recycling has agreed to improve its operations to address air pollution concerns and reduce emissions, improving air quality for Chicago residents. The EPA's National Compliance Initiative aims to bring cleaner air to communities across the country by enforcing environmental laws and reducing excess emissions of harmful pollutants.
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Contaminated waterways
The town of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, was polluted by the New Jersey Zinc Company, which was once the largest zinc producer in the US. The company operated two zinc smelters in Palmerton from 1898 until 1980/1981, when the main plant was shut down due to a poor zinc market and new environmental regulations.
The zinc smelters emitted huge amounts of contaminants into the air, including zinc, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and copper. This led to the destruction of vegetation and forest ecosystems in the surrounding areas, particularly along the neighbouring Kittatinny Ridge and Blue Mountain. The high concentrations of zinc in the soil inhibited root elongation, killing tree seedlings and preventing the forest from regenerating. The exposed soil then eroded down the steep slopes.
The contamination also affected waterways in the region. Zinc-smelting operations along Aquashicola Creek, a tributary of the Lehigh River, led to the deforestation of around 2,000 acres of Blue Mountain. The Lehigh River was used extensively for transporting the region's coal. The Cinder Bank, a smelting residue pile left by the New Jersey Zinc Company, contains 32-33 million tons of waste contaminated with heavy metals, including zinc, lead, and cadmium. This waste has polluted the surrounding waterways, including Aquashicola Creek and the Lehigh River.
Cleanup efforts in Palmerton have been ongoing since 1987, overseen by U.S. EPA Region 3. The site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1983, recognising it as one of the nation's most challenging contaminated properties. The cleanup has included activities such as grading, revegetation, cleaning of residences, surface water cleanup, and water treatment. In 2013, over $20 million in cash and property were paid to compensate for the natural resource damages to the waterways and surrounding areas.
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Soil contamination
The two zinc smelters emitted large amounts of contaminants, including zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic, and copper. These emissions resulted in the destruction of vegetation and forest ecosystems in the surrounding areas, particularly along the Kittatinny Ridge and Blue Mountain. The high concentrations of zinc in the soil inhibited root elongation in tree seedlings, leading to a lack of young trees in the forest. This made the forest more susceptible to natural stresses such as fires, and the exposed soil eroded down the slopes. The lichen and moss communities were also negatively impacted by the high zinc levels.
In addition to the environmental damage, the soil contamination had potential health implications for the residents of Palmerton. In 1979, a local veterinarian reported the death of foals on farms near the smelter, raising concerns about the contamination of forage and soils with toxic levels of zinc and other metals. Soil samples from these farms showed significantly elevated levels of zinc and cadmium compared to normal background levels.
The Palmerton site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1983, and cleanup efforts have been ongoing since 1987. These efforts have included activities such as grading, revegetation, cleaning of residences, surface water cleanup, and water treatment. The restoration of natural areas and habitats along Aquashicola Creek and its tributaries is also part of the larger restorative effort.
While improvement has been observed over the years, concerns remain about the possible persistence of soil contamination with elevated levels of smelter-derived metals. The current concentration of metals in the soil is a result of both the initial high concentrations from the 20th century and subsequent processes such as leaching, erosion, and biological uptake and dispersal.
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Impact on wildlife
The town of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, was polluted by the New Jersey Zinc Company, which was once the largest zinc producer in the US. The company operated two zinc smelters in Palmerton from 1898 until 1980/1981, releasing huge amounts of contaminants into the air, including zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, nickel, and arsenic.
The pollution from the zinc smelters had a devastating impact on the wildlife in and around Palmerton. The release of heavy metals into the air led to the destruction of forest ecosystems along the neighbouring Kittatinny Ridge and Blue Mountain. The high concentrations of zinc in the soil inhibited root elongation, killing tree seedlings and preventing the regeneration of the forest. This, in turn, led to soil erosion down the steep slopes of the mountains.
The lichen and moss communities along Blue Mountain were also severely affected, with depauperate communities for at least 20 kilometres along the mountain. The contamination also impacted the wildlife that depended on these ecosystems. One resident recalled that "wildlife [was] non-existent" and that the landscape was barren. Another visitor to Palmerton noted that they hadn't seen any mammals on Stony Ridge or Kittatinny Ridge.
The pollution also affected wildlife beyond the immediate area of Palmerton. In 1979, a local veterinarian contacted researchers about the death of foals on farms near the smelter. It was found that soils, forages, and feces on these farms had greatly increased levels of zinc and cadmium, providing potentially toxic levels of these metals in the diets of the foals.
The pollution from the zinc smelters in Palmerton had far-reaching and long-lasting effects on the wildlife in the region, including plants, animals, and birds. The area has been undergoing restoration efforts, and there are now some positive signs for certain species. The shrubby habitat growing on the ridge, for example, is suitable for the endangered American Kestrel. Additionally, Fireline Road, outside of Palmerton, is home to over 50 species of birds.
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Frequently asked questions
The primary cause of pollution in Palmerton, PA, was the New Jersey Zinc Company, which operated two zinc smelters in the town from 1898 until 1980/1981.
The zinc smelters emitted huge amounts of contaminants, including zinc, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and copper.
The pollution from the zinc smelters destroyed vegetation on 3,000 acres surrounding Palmerton, particularly on the Kittatinny Ridge at Lehigh Gap and Blue Mountain. It also led to the death of foals on local farms and the near-absence of wildlife in the area.
