What is effect of underground storage leakage?

Answer 1

Underground leakage from storage tanks can cause a major threat to our health. Gas stations have underground tanks that hold toxic waste such as gasoline that contain benzene and toluene. These chemicals can cause cancer and affect growing children if they leak into our drinking water. There are underground cleanups but these chemicals quickly through the soil going into the ground water. One gallon of petroleum can contaminate one million gallons of water. One pin prick sized leakage in a tank can leak 400 gallons of fuel in a year and more than one million people drink ground water where delayed clean ups threaten the water quality. There is no safe level of exposure to these toxins that don't cause harm. USTs (underground storage tanks) are one of the most serious threats to our country's water supply. Most tanks were made out of weak steel that rust after 10 years. The most common places that have USTs are gas stations, dry cleaners, service stations, airport and truck refueling stations, and homes. The tanks can also give off gases in homes, contaminate recreational water bodies, and can decrease property values. The leakage of flammable products can cause fires and possible explosions.