Petroleum hydroxide
Encyclopedia
Petroleum hydroxide was a chemical used by the New York City Transit Authority
to remove graffiti
from subway trains. Nicknamed "Orange Crush
" by graffiti artists, after the soft drink and as a reference to the defoliant Agent Orange
, the substance was soon discovered to be highly toxic.
train yard, in an attempt to discourage graffiti artists. Costing the city $400,000 annually, trains were sprayed with petroleum hydroxide, after which the graffiti was buffed off. However, the buffing process often failed to completely remove graffiti, leaving a dull stain which many saw as much uglier than the original artwork.
Those in contact with the chemical experienced nausea and breathing difficulties, leading to the closing of a nearby public school. The chemical also corroded the trains, and contaminated the city's water supply, through unsafe dumping. In 1985, transit workers were awarded $6.3 million for "health problems stemming from exposure to fumes from cleaning solvents."
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
to remove graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
from subway trains. Nicknamed "Orange Crush
Orange Crush
Crush is a carbonated soft drink brand, originally marketed as an orange soda, which was invented by California beverage and extract chemist Neil C. Ward. Most flavors of Crush are caffeine-free.-History:...
" by graffiti artists, after the soft drink and as a reference to the defoliant Agent Orange
Agent Orange
Agent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth...
, the substance was soon discovered to be highly toxic.
History
In 1977, the Transit Authority built a graffiti removal station in its Coney IslandConey Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
train yard, in an attempt to discourage graffiti artists. Costing the city $400,000 annually, trains were sprayed with petroleum hydroxide, after which the graffiti was buffed off. However, the buffing process often failed to completely remove graffiti, leaving a dull stain which many saw as much uglier than the original artwork.
Those in contact with the chemical experienced nausea and breathing difficulties, leading to the closing of a nearby public school. The chemical also corroded the trains, and contaminated the city's water supply, through unsafe dumping. In 1985, transit workers were awarded $6.3 million for "health problems stemming from exposure to fumes from cleaning solvents."
External links
- "Urban Expression", a paper on the history of NYC graffiti.
- "Evolution of Rap Music in the US".