HAMILTON HEIGHTS — Despite slightly elevated levels of formaldehyde, the air quality around Riverbank State Park poses no health risk to neighbors, according to city and state officials.
Recent tests of the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant showed a reading of 32 micrograms per cubic meter, which is above the city's mark of 30 but still well below federal standards, according to the city's Department of Environmental Protection.
“Though formaldehyde is associated with cancer, a person would need to continually be exposed to extremely high levels over and entire lifetime in order to develop and increased risk of cancer,” City Councilman Mark Levine wrote in a letter to his constituents Thursday evening.
In California the limit is 55 microgrms per cubic meters while the federal standard is 800, according to the city's DEP.
In a joint statement, Levine and State Sen. Adriano Espaillat called for future tests and find ways of reducing the levels of formaldehyde.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely, verifying that follow-up tests are conducted in a timely and transparent manner, and that steps are taken to lower formaldehyde levels,” read the statement.
