Exclusion Zone: Park in Brooklyn is closed to the public due to radioactive contamination

Authorities have closed the southern part of Dead Horse Bay in Brooklyn after the discovery of radioactive materials in the park and at a former landfill. The latter has become popular with treasure hunters. The edition writes about it AMNY.

“The National Parks Service (NPS - Ed.) Is working to investigate the Bay of Dead Horses to determine the extent of pollution,” said spokeswoman Daphne Yun. "For the safety of visitors, the NPS will close this part of Dead Horses Bay to the public."

The area, located in southern Brooklyn west of Floyd Bennett Field, served as a city dump until 1930. The bay once housed several horse-breeding factories and incinerators. Glue was made from horse skins and sinews, and their bones were thrown into the water.

Today the bay's coastline is littered with broken glass, antique china and horse bones. It has become popular with treasure hunters trying to find something worthwhile in the trash, such as discarded gems.

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However, in 2019, a radioactive substance was discovered on the territory of the bay, so it is unsafe to be here today. In particular, in a 72-hectare landfill, excess gamma radiation was found in 31 places. Also found and disposed of were two deck markers - discs used on warships to provide light at night. The markers containing radium-226 broke and the radioactive component leaked, contaminating the ground and possibly the southern coastal zone.

To keep treasure hunters and other visitors safe, it was decided to close the 33 hectares of the park located at the southern end of the bay. “Visitors to Dead Horses Bay use the park for passive recreation, such as hiking, and unauthorized excavations in the soil or on the beach to find old bottles and other items,” the statement said.

Authorities say the risk of radiation exposure depends on how much time visitors to the park spent here and how close they were to contaminated soil or objects. The greatest potential risk from radiological contamination is associated with direct contact with contaminated soil or objects, for example during excavations.

High levels of radiation can cause cataracts, anemia, and cancer. However, the representative of the National Park did not specify the level of radiation at this facility.

The preliminary studies are part of a long-term effort to clean up the bay's debris. Cleaning up and closing a park can take years.