Cranston company testing for toxic pollutants along Pawtuxet River

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) – A Cranston company is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to test for toxic pollutants along the Pawtuxet River.

City Representative Joseph McNamara announced Wednesday that BASF, an international chemical company, has submitted a plan to determine if sediment in the river contains volatile compounds.

Officials said sediment emitting noxious odors was left on neighborhood properties after the Pawtuxet River flooded in January.

A similar situation occurred in 2010, prompting the Rhode Island Department of Health to recommend residents wear N95 masks while removing the substance.

According to authorities, the land BASF owns along the river formerly housed the Ciba-Geigy Chemical Company from 1954 to 1986.

The land is now the subject of an EPA corrective action plan under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, per officials.

The planned project will test sediment in the Warwick/Cranston area.

“This is a big win for the residents and businesses in the vicinity of that stretch of the river,” McNamara said. “As flooding of the river becomes more frequent, those who live downstream of the affected areas are dealing with sediment that contains unknown pollutants.”

BASF has launched a website to keep residents downstream from the site informed.

Officials said the page includes the sediment plan and plans for remediation.