Is it possible to grow an extra limb if you swim in the Hudson River, or will you turn green? A certain stigma surrounds the river between Hoboken and Manhattan; but is it actually that dangerous?
Over the course of approximately 30 years, beginning in 1947, the General Electric Company (GE) discharged more than one million pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the Hudson River from its industrial manufacturing plants in Hudson Falls and Fort Edward, New York. In the 1960s, the river was dubbed an “industrial sewer” by Greg Williams, who leads an environmental advocacy organization called the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Fortunately, GE began cleaning the river in 2009 and has been testing pollution levels in the Upper Hudson over the last several decades under the supervision of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Although the production of PCBs was banned in the US in 1979, the effects they have caused are still evident today. PCBs are considered harmful to humans and other animals because tests show that when exposed to large amounts, they can cause cancer, weaken the immune system, cause birth defects, and delay neurological development. They may also cause liver toxicity, elevated blood pressure, and changes in thyroid hormone levels in infants.
Not only do PCBs and other pollutants affect humans, but they also affect wildlife, including over 200 species of fish that inhabit the Hudson River. USA Today reported that the corpses of thousands of Atlantic menhaden fish were discovered in the river as of July 2020 because of a combination of pollutants and the rising heat of the water. The studies of various fish species show evidence of concentrations of PCBs and mercury in their tissues. Women of childbearing age and children under 15 years old are advised not to eat fish or crabs from the Hudson River because PCBs are more harmful to young children and unborn babies. However, it may be safe for those outside those groups to enjoy fish from the river in certain locations. The New York State Department of Health (DOH) encourages communities to use signs that warn visitors about these fish advisories.
It is not just fish bodies found regularly in the Hudson River. Human bodies are found as well. As reported by MV Organizing, around 59 bodies are discovered every year as a result of a variety of incidents. For example, in June 2021, a 9-year-old girl’s body was found after she drowned while swimming with her family. Historically, murderers also dispose of their victims’ bodies in the river. In 1841, the corpse of Mary Rogers, known as the “Beautiful Cigar Girl,” was found floating in the water near Hoboken, showing signs on her neck that she had been strangled before being disposed of in the river.
Fortunately, action has been taken to return the Hudson River to its former glory. The Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, made it illegal to discharge pollutants into navigable waters without a permit. In February 2002, the EPA instated a Record of Decision (ROD) for the river that called for the removal of pollutants from the bottom of the river. This included approximately 2.65 million cubic yards of PCB-contaminated sediment.
Due to such efforts, the Hudson River is now considered safe to swim in at certain locations, as it is the safest it has been in over 30 years. Swimming events in the river include the New York City Triathlon, the Hudson Crossing Triathlon, the Great Hudson River Swim, and the Liberty to Freedom Swim. Contrary to popular rumors, you will not grow an extra eye or become an unnatural color if you enjoy the Hudson River as long as you follow guidelines set in place by experts.
