Van Der Horst Area: Health Outcomes Reviews

In response to community health concerns about chemicals released from the former Van der Horst electroplating facilities in Olean, Cattaraugus County, the New York State Department of Health conducted investigations of hospitalizations and cancer incidence among residents living near the facilities. The facilities operated from the 1940s until 1987 and during this time released chromium, arsenic and other chemicals to air and people may have had inhalation exposures to these chemicals. Chemicals released to air also deposited onto nearby surface soils and people who worked or played in soil (e.g., gardeners and children) may also have had exposures to the chemicals. Actions to clean up residential soils were taken and most of these activities were completed by 1997.