EPA Superfund site
HISTORIC POTTERIES
Human exposure is NOT currently under control
Data limitations: Proximity to a Superfund site boundary does not mean your property is contaminated. EPA site boundaries show the area designated for cleanup, not the full extent of contamination. Groundwater plumes can extend beyond site boundaries. This tool shows publicly available EPA federal data. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by EPA, and is not a substitute for a professional environmental assessment.
About this site's exposure pathways
As of May 2026, the Historic Potteries Superfund site in Trenton, N.J., is considered “Current Human Exposure Not Under Control” (HENC) due to lead contaminated soil on residential properties. Residents—especially children—are reasonably anticipated to be exposed through direct contact with yard soil and incidental ingestion. Currently, the planned activities to address this pathway include:
- Completing EPA removal actions in the East Trenton neighborhood to provide temporary soil covers and/or raised garden beds for high-risk properties. Soil covers are being provided to properties where pregnant women or children under age 7 reside. Raised garden beds are being provided to properties where active gardening is occurring.
- Completing a Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) in OU1 (East Trenton Residential Soils) to define the nature and extent of contamination in the East Trenton neighborhood and prepare a Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) to evaluate remaining risks and inform long term remedies.
- Conducting an RI/FS in OU2 (Residential Soils Outside of East Trenton) to define the nature and extent of contamination in other areas of Trenton and the surrounding municipalities where potteries had operated.
- Preparing a Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) to evaluate remaining risks and inform long term remedies.
You can reduce exposure by keeping children off bare soil, covering bare areas with clean mulch or sod, removing shoes at the door, and wet mopping and damp dusting indoors.
EPA currently anticipates that human exposure will be under control by September 2046, once residential soil removal is complete and verification sampling confirms achievement of cleanup goals; for assistance, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Joel Waddell via the site webpage or at (212) 637-3590 or [email protected].