Mercury
Possibly the most dangerous and prevalent contaminant in the lake-bottom sediments is mercury. In its elemental form, mercury is a shiny silver metal that is liquid at room temperature (as can be observed in older thermometers). When mercury combines with air, it evaporates and can be inhaled. When mercury combines with various bacteria in water, it methylates and bioaccumulates.
Bioaccumulation is the increase in concentration of a substance along the foodchain. Methylmercury accumulates as you move up the food chain.
Chlorinated Benzene
The plan also specifically addresses chlorinated benzenes. Chlorinated benzenes are a class of chemicals, most of which are known or suspected carcinogens. They are considered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be “highly toxic or highly mobile that generally cannot be reliably contained, or would represent a serious risk to human health or the environment should exposure occur.” In Onondaga Lake the chlorinated benzenes are in the form of an oily liquid that is denser than water and settled in the sediments. The chlorinated benzenes are located in the southwest corner of the lake near the former factory site on Willis Ave. where they originated.
BTEX compounds (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene) are used in a variety of industrial processes and are found throughout Onondaga Lake sediments but are most heavily concentrated in the in-lake waste deposit (a large toxic waste dump in the lake formed by the direct dumping of wastes). They were produced by Honeywell and disposed of in their waste streams.
Benzene
Benzene is a recognized carcinogen, developmental toxicant and reproductive toxicant. Benzene is a suspected cardiovascular or blood toxicant, endocrine toxicant, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, immunotoxin, neurotoxin, respiratory toxicant, and skin or sense organ toxicant. Eating or drinking foods containing high levels of benzene (such as Onondaga Lake fish) can cause vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death.
Toluene
Toluene is a recognized developmental toxicant. It is a suspected cardiovascular or blood toxicant, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, immunotoxin, kidney toxicant, neurotoxin, reproductive toxicant, respiratory toxicant, and skin or sense organ toxicant.
Ethylbenzene
Ethylbenzene is a recognized carcinogen. It is a suspected cardiovascular or blood toxicant, developmental toxicant, endocrine toxicant, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, kidney toxicant, neurotoxin, reproductive toxicant, respiratory toxicant, and skin or sense organ toxicant.
Xylene
Xylene bioaccumulates in fish, shellfish, plants, and other animals living in xylene-contaminated water. It is a suspected cardiovascular or blood toxicant, developmental toxicant, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, immunotoxin, kidney toxicant, neurotoxin, reproductive toxicant, respiratory toxicant, and skin or sense organ toxicant.