Development projects at Sparrows Point have been discussed for some time, but the area around Bear Creek isn't considered safe.

The Maryland Department of the Environment and the EPA said the area could be a risk after more than a century of work at the old steel mill.

The report focused on Bear Creek because the steel mill was used to dispose most its wastewater there. It should be safe to swim in the water, but you probably don't want to eat any fish or crabs caught there because of an increased risk of cancer.

The MDE and EPA also suggested staying away from seafood caught in the Patapsco River or the Inner Harbor.

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