Yesterday, the NYPD began its testing of perfluorocarbons in the subway system to study how “airborne toxins would flow through the city after a terrorist attack or an accidental spill of hazardous chemicals.” Formally known as the Subway-Surface Air Flow Exchange (S-SAFE), the $3.4 billion study by the Brookhaven National Lab and the NYPD was announced in April, but the data collection is taking place over three-consecutive days this month. Untapped Cities reader Sam Dolgin-Gardner came across some (update: they’re fake!) informational pamphlets yesterday morning, which have a rather disconcerting comic book look with the words “NYPD Subway Blowout.” It’s probably intended to have convey a lighter side to the experiment, but it almost comes off as parody. [Update: The pamphlets are indeed fake, the test is not.] According to the pamphlet, “Perfluorocarbons are colorless, odorless, and powerful man-made greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.” Less comforting: We still do not understand the health effects of Perfluorocarbon… Read More