A WNYC analysis estimates that 89% of New Jersey residents live within a mile of at least one "contaminated site" as designated by the state. And even though most of them are in some stage of being "cleaned up," the process could take years.

Sarah Gonzalez, the northern New Jersey enterprise reporter for WNYC and NJPR, discusses how some sites are near schools and businesses, and why most are in the poorest communities in the state.

This is just the first part of a series about New Jersey's toxic sites. Stay tuned for future stories on things like how New Jersey is one storm away from a toxic message, underground storage tanks on homeowners’ properties, and more.