Hazardous lead container spotted at Harlem subway station

HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) – A container purportedly containing hazardous waste and lead was spotted at the 137th Street No. 1 train station in Harlem this week – but the MTA says it’s just a safety measure for ongoing construction at the station.

Slapped on the large blue container is a sign that reads, “Danger; Lead Work Area; May damage fertility or the unborn child; causes damage to the central nervous system. Do not eat, drink or smoke in this area.”

Another sign on the box reads, “Hazardous waste storage area… 90 day time limit.”

The station, which sits near New York City College, is one of dozens across the city slated for accessibility upgrades like elevators, according to the MTA’s website.

And the box is used to contain “construction waste including residue from painted surfaces” as part of the elevator installation, an MTA spokesperson told PIX11 News on Tuesday. It’s a required practice to protect workers and keep customers safe.

The lead paint is placed inside sealed drums that can only sit inside the larger container for 90 days, according to an MTA spokesperson.

The container was installed in October 2023 and will be removed in May 2025 when the project is complete, according to the MTA.

A key source of lead poisoning in adults is construction site exposure for workers, according to the city’s LeadFreeNYC initiative. And lead-based paint – particularly when it’s peeling or creating dust – is the most significant lead hazard to young New Yorkers, according to a 2023 report from the city’s LeadFreeNYC initiative.

As such, property owners across New York City are obligated to follow safety regulations at the risk of pricey violations from the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

Next phase of Second Avenue Subway begins work into East Harlem

“Keeping New Yorkers and their families safe is the most important work we do as a city, and that work includes protecting our children from the dangers of lead exposure and lead poisoning,” said Mayor Eric Adams in the report.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered local news for years. She has been with PIX11 since 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter.

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