Contamination fears at industrial site

An Invercargill industrial site believed to have been contaminated with toxic chemicals is being investigated by Environment Southland.

The Prestonville site was potentially contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from old transformers when it was a scrap yard in the 1980s, the Southland Times reported.

While an attempt to dispose of contaminated ground had been made in the past, some contamination had been detected in a disused drain.

Contaminant levels were not considered high but the council would investigate and the site would be included on its contaminated sites register.

Exposure to large amounts of PCBs can lead to skin conditions, such as acne and rashes, and potentially cause cancer.

- NZPA