Overview Given an elevated cancer rate documented by the Indiana Cancer Registry and an elevated rate of ALS in the county, Blackford County Concerned Citizens (BCCC) is investigating whether environmental exposures from the county’s industrial history could be contributing to the risk of cancer or neurologic disease. We are doing research into possible harmful exposures, seeking solutions where we find them, and providing public information on reducing risks. This application is about our exposure investigations that began in the fall of 2014. The Blackford County Health Department and Indiana State Department of Health laboratories are helping BCCC test private drinking water wells near contaminated sites. Environmental consulting firm, EnviroForensics, is helping BCCC test soil at sites where there used to be glass factories to find out whether they left behind arsenic and lead. We will then work with the affected well and property owners to reduce any harmful exposures. Linda Briles, Environmental Health Specialist with the Blackford County Health Department, collecting a well sample for BCCC’s well testing project. An example of one of the soil sampling maps. This one shows the Montpelier baseball fields, formerly the site of National Window and Bent Glass Company. A meeting of the Blackford County Concerned Citizens at the Blackford County Historical Society. The Historical Society provided maps and research materials on the county’s industrial history and the locations of glass factories and oil and gas wells. Video Summary of Taking Action Summary of Taking Action Assessment: BCCC began in 2009 with discussions among community members who felt the county had too many cases of cancer and ALS. We were concerned that contaminants left by the county’s industries might be contributing to disease rates. Once we had formed the organization, we gathered data on the county’s disease rates and industrial contamination. Data on cancer came from the Indiana Cancer Registry. We gathered data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among county residents via a health survey. We gathered data on dumping sites and industrial emissions from public records held by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The county Historical Society provided data on historical industry locations. In 2014 we raised money through private donations and a grant from the Blackford County Community Foundation that allowed us to hire an environmental health project director. The project director helped us prioritize ways to assess potential environmental exposures. Planning: Blackford County Concerned Citizens is entirely run by community volunteers some of whom serve as BCCC’s board of directors. Planning these projects happened in meetings of BCCC’s volunteers and through board direction to the project director. Mission: to improve the quality of life of Blackford County’s residents by reducing the incidence of diseases, primarily through citizen action to investigate the diseases that are prevalent and by advocating to have these diseases investigated. Objective: reduced incidence of cancer and neurologic disease in the future Strategies: seek out environmental contaminants that could increase the risk of cancer or neurologic disease; seek solutions to decrease those exposures; and provide community education about reducing the risk of cancer and neurologic disease. Taking Action: Well testing project: 40% of Blackford County relies on private wells for drinking water. Industrial dump sites and abandoned oil and gas wells in the county could introduce contaminants into groundwater. BCCC compiled a list of 25 potential contaminants and, with the Blackford County Health Department’s help, arranged for free well testing from the Indiana State Department of Health laboratories. BCCC volunteers recruited 14 private well owners through one-on-one conversations. Soil testing project: Arsenic and lead were used in glass manufacturing in the county from 1880-1925. Arsenic is a carcinogen and both arsenic and lead are neurotoxins. BCCC investigated whether the industry left behind arsenic and lead contaminated soil via soil sampling and testing donated by EnviroForensics, an environmental consulting firm. BCCC volunteers talked to property owners to get permission for sampling soil where there used to be glass factories. Evaluation: Well results: The wells all met US standards for safe drinking water. Three of the wells were close to the US standard for arsenic, so BCCC is working with well owners to find reliable methods to lower the arsenic. All results were discussed with well owners one-on-one. Soil results: Lead was found at levels exceeding the EPA’s standard in one sample at the Montpelier baseball fields, formerly the site of National Window and Bent Glass. Arsenic was found in several samples at the Hartford City baseball fields, formerly American Window Glass. BCCC is working with both cities on measures to reduce harmful exposures at the baseball fields. The well and soil results will guide future projects. The results were discussed at a public forum April 25, attended by more than 60 community members who gave feedback in person and on evaluation forms that have not been tabulated, yet. Sustaining the Work: In the spring of 2015 BCCC received a grant from the Blackford County Community Foundation and fundraised to continue to do research, seek solutions and provide community education to reduce the risk of cancer and neurologic disease. We plan to continue to investigate the safety of the county’s groundwater by learning about groundwater flow which will help indicate which wells are most at risk for our next round of well testing. We are also beginning work on potential exposure risks from other sites with contaminated soil. As we have with the well and soil tests so far, we will continue to seek solutions for any harmful exposures we identify and to provide information to the community on how to reduce risks. Our work will also be guided by input from the April 25 public forum where asked what the community would like BCCC to work on. Impact/Results Impact/Results So far, 14 private wells near industrial dump sites or abandoned gas wells are safe for 25 different potential contaminants, providing relief to those well owners. Three wells had arsenic just under the US standard, so BCCC is working with well owners to find reliable methods to lower the arsenic. In our next round of well testing, we are working with geologists to study groundwater flow in the area to help predict where contaminants would be most likely to impact wells. The soil tests found localized lead and arsenic left behind by the glass industry on properties that are now baseball fields, a definite risk for exposure. We are working to find the extent of contamination and working with the property owners on measures to reduce harmful exposures for the children playing baseball there. We are raising community awareness of these issues through social media and a public forum. Log in to post comments
