To investigate the extent of sediment contamination in New Jersey coastal areas, Clean Ocean Action assessed sediment quality using available databases.  These databases were results from federal agency monitoring programs such as NOAA's National Status and Trends and EPA's EMAP/REMAP.

Clean Ocean Action found that indeed there are sites of concern for sediment contamination in New Jersey's coastal waters.    For example, significant toxicity is found at sites along the coastline and is not just limited to urban, northern areas.

Also, there are elevated levels of PCBs along the entire New Jersey coastline (see map below).

The most alarming result, however, is that the coastline of New Jersey is severely under-represented in monitoring programs.  There is no state monitoring program, and federal programs do not extensively survey the NJ coastline.  This is especially concerning for the contamination in New Jersey's numerous estuaries and bays that will go undetected and likely cause harmful effects to wildlife and the food chain.