Public finally told of carcinogenic toxin in Algona groundwater
ALGONA, Wash. -- Residents in the tiny community of Algona are demanding answers after discovering, more than a year after the fact, that a dangerous toxin from a neighboring Boeing plant had seeped into the groundwater.
The toxin is trichloroethylene, or TCE. The solvent is used in degreasing and cleaning airplane parts. Long periods of exposure to TCE can cause cancer, and test results showed it had seeped into the groundwater.
"We don't know the full extent of this plume of groundwater contamination, and the investigation is taking us into parts of Algona, which are residential areas," said Larry Altose of the state Department of Ecology.
Former Pacific Mayor Rich Hildreth said there are test wells all over the area. But the wells are unmarked, and no one except for Boeing and the state Department of Ecology knew what they were.
In 2011, Hildreth and the mayors of Algona and Auburn were told the wells were being tested to see whether a toxin used by Boeing in the 60s, 70s and 80s had gotten off the Auburn site. They were also told a public notice would be issued in March 2012.
"Here it is a year later, and we have not heard," said Hildreth. "We're just now hearing reports."
Without clear answers, the residents are on edge as they await additional test results.
"All I heard is that it was toxins that Boeing had released in the early 80s, and it just kind of has been growing and been seeping," said Algona resident Sara Byers. "So that's pretty scary."
The residents' main concern is over drinking water contamination, but ecology officials say there is nothing to worry about.
"This plume does not affect, is no where near public drinking water systems in the area. In fact, it is moving in a direction away from the wells," said Altose.
Ecology officals say the toxin is not in the surface water, either; it lies far underground.
What is unknown is whether toxic vapors could rise to the surface someday.
Testing at the YMCA next to Boeing and surrounding buildings so far has found nothing alarming. Additional test wells in and around the neighborhoods of Algona will be drilled in the upcoming weeks.
Both Boeing and state ecology officials agree they should have raised concerns sooner.
"We directed our focus so narrowly on the technical aspects of the work that we frankly neglected to fulfill our responsibility to inform the public," said Altose.
The town's residents, seeking answers, called an emergency meeting with Boeing and state ecology officials on Tuesday night. The residents want to know whether the toxins that lie deep below the surface will somehow reach them.
The meeting was scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. at the Filipino Hall in Algona.
The toxin is trichloroethylene, or TCE. The solvent is used in degreasing and cleaning airplane parts. Long periods of exposure to TCE can cause cancer, and test results showed it had seeped into the groundwater.
"We don't know the full extent of this plume of groundwater contamination, and the investigation is taking us into parts of Algona, which are residential areas," said Larry Altose of the state Department of Ecology.
Former Pacific Mayor Rich Hildreth said there are test wells all over the area. But the wells are unmarked, and no one except for Boeing and the state Department of Ecology knew what they were.
In 2011, Hildreth and the mayors of Algona and Auburn were told the wells were being tested to see whether a toxin used by Boeing in the 60s, 70s and 80s had gotten off the Auburn site. They were also told a public notice would be issued in March 2012.
"Here it is a year later, and we have not heard," said Hildreth. "We're just now hearing reports."
Without clear answers, the residents are on edge as they await additional test results.
"All I heard is that it was toxins that Boeing had released in the early 80s, and it just kind of has been growing and been seeping," said Algona resident Sara Byers. "So that's pretty scary."
The residents' main concern is over drinking water contamination, but ecology officials say there is nothing to worry about.
"This plume does not affect, is no where near public drinking water systems in the area. In fact, it is moving in a direction away from the wells," said Altose.
Ecology officals say the toxin is not in the surface water, either; it lies far underground.
What is unknown is whether toxic vapors could rise to the surface someday.
Testing at the YMCA next to Boeing and surrounding buildings so far has found nothing alarming. Additional test wells in and around the neighborhoods of Algona will be drilled in the upcoming weeks.
Both Boeing and state ecology officials agree they should have raised concerns sooner.
"We directed our focus so narrowly on the technical aspects of the work that we frankly neglected to fulfill our responsibility to inform the public," said Altose.
The town's residents, seeking answers, called an emergency meeting with Boeing and state ecology officials on Tuesday night. The residents want to know whether the toxins that lie deep below the surface will somehow reach them.
The meeting was scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. at the Filipino Hall in Algona.
"Frankly, neglected to fulfill our responsibility to inform the public..." Larry Altose, Dept. of Ecology. Boy, Larry, nothing like a good, honest confession.
Was at the meeting last night-talk about damage control-Boeing and the Dept. of Ecology knew for the last decade of the contamination, but were more worried about covering their butts and getting all their ducks in a row for the inevitable disclosure. Ten years! They gave the Safeway area their undivided attention, by-passing us lowly folk. Their response to a mom asking about her children playing in their own front yard: "Until we know more, you probably should not have them play there." This was a mom and family, who, if they had been informed, would not have bought that house two yrs. ago-this is just the tip of the iceberg-just one more, of many, stories, of corporate greed and cover up-only difference is, is that now it's in my back yard.
My family and I just moved into the Algona area last June. I would like answers to a lot of questions. First why werent we notified about the town meeting? will this effect the resale of my house? How are we going to be compensated if it does? I actually felt safe moving here with my family and now I am not so sure because of this issue which was being swept under the rug. Not happy neighbor any longer.
@Pitapocketsmom The info. was sent in the mail, in a big packet-the city would have informed us sooner, but they didn't know themselves-this was an emergency meeting, that's why the mayor put that big reader board up at the bend in the road.
I know that this may or may not be important. I lived in Algona in 2009 and got pregnant while I lived there. I resided there until I was in my 2nd trimester. My daughter that I was pregnant with in Algona has unknown issues wrong with her. She's 3 and it's still not diagnosed. She's got a bad speech delay and developmental problems. All my other children are healthy and no developmental problems. I did drink the water in Algona since I had thought it was safe. We resided near the Boeing plant near Algona downtown off 3rd Ave N. It's just my warning to people that this water might be worse than we think.
@Jackie RublyOf course it is important, it is about the life and health of you and your daughter! TCE can cause neurological damage and children in the womb are most susceptible since they do not have a well developed blood-brain barrier and they are getting a higher exposure relative to their body weight. I am not familiar with Algona, so I am not sure if it is on municipal water supply (not an issue) or if you used well water (contaminated groundwater therefore issue). Also, you may have been exposed if your house was above contaminated groundwater through vapor intrusioin. As Furd said, "No one can state with any degree of certainty that your daughter's health was not caused by this contamination but neither can anyone state that this WAS the source of your problem." However, I think it would be worth you investigating further.
Obviously this is the sort of thing that the free-market handles best.
@Travis Hartnett No, this is an example of free market economy failure.
I live on 8th Street in Algona. We bought our house in 2006 and spent the following two years putting our yard in. In May 2011 I was diagnosed with Leukemia AML and am still fighting it. Could this have anything to do with my cancer? What about the kids who live and play in our nieghbor hood? We were told last night that they shpuld just pla in the street.
@Scooterator04 We live on 7th. I had my first baby in Sept 2012 and in Dec she was diagnosed with infant ALL leukemia. Coincidentally, we were using tap water to mix with her formula. I know they say the drinking water is safe but I find this very unsettling. Will you be attending the meeting?
@Scooterator04 No one can state with any degree of certainty that your leukemia was not caused by this contamination but neither can anyone state that this WAS the source of your problem. Given the low concentration you would have experienced and the necessity of a fairly high and continued exposure I would say that it is unlikely that this contamination played any significant role in your disease.
There are so many inconsistencies here, it would scare the heck out of me if I lived in Algona.
"We don't know the full extent of this plume of groundwater contamination, and the investigation is taking us into parts of Algona, which are residential areas," said Larry Altose of the state Department of Ecology.
"The residents' main concern is over drinking water contamination, but ecology officials say there is nothing to worry about."
"This plume does not affect, is no where near public drinking water systems in the area. In fact, it is moving in a direction away from the wells," said Altose.Â
"Both Boeing and state ecology officials agree they should have raised concerns sooner. "
This is actually a lot more common problem than portrayed near airports and aircraft manufactuaring facilities since this was a common degreasing/ cleaning agent for aircraft. There really isn't that much concern unless the TCE is in groundwater below a house/ office and can enter by vapor intrusion or if residents nearby use groundwater as a drinking water source which will expose them through shower water. TCE is very volatile, which is why its found in groundwater and not surface water. Steady state environmental conditions make it too unstable but groundwater is more protected from the elements.
 However, if nearby residents are using the groundwater for well water, I would certainly use my open public records rights to research the contamination. You can go to Dept. of Ecology and fill out an OPPRA request that lets you see all documents they have on record relating to the cleanup and monitoring. It is your right as a citizen.
@bestcoast88Â Why did us residents have to wait for over a fricken decade, to find out about all of these secret tests they were conducting-that's my biggest beef.
If Boeing is found to have knowingly dumped hazardous chemicals then they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law and pay reparations to any victims. BUT, if the government had no rules against what Boeing was doing then or if they failed to catch any mistakes Boeing made after the new rules were set then it is not Boeing's fault and the government should pay all reparations. This is what the liberal mindsets wants in Washington state, a big government that employs people to go out and inspect and ensure all industry is following all their rules and regulations right? Or is it only until the government fails in their labor program by hiring unqualified people to begin with that the citizens of this state then venomously blame industry? And then when industry is blamed and people start talking about teaching them a lesson your political leaders come out to mitigate on behalf of industry so that industry is not hurt too bad that the unemployment rate will go up. Then the political leaders are seen as the savior of the people once again, they are reelected and the cycle repeats over and over again all the while the ground water gets worse, pollution goes up, traffic gets worse, property values go down and our kids can't find a job because the economy is so bad.Â
Headlines like these make national levels very quickly but what seems to fail to make national headlines even after more and more studies are found in support is the hazardous chemicals both woman and men and children use on a daily basis. It comes in the forms of makeup, perfume, deodorant, chemical peels, anti pimple medication, and many other types of products that people use every day. And then add all the food additives and flavorings that are known to cause problems that we ingest everyday. It is no wonder that our cancer rate is only increasing. We have become a compulsive group of people that can only follow what the TV and magazines tell us to do.
I've lost too many family members to cancer because of careless actions of irresponsible companies. Boeing, you better watch out if I lose another.
Thanks Boeing.
Yummy.
Once a fertile valley of farm land now it only grows pollution.
Like the state capitol
We called it tric in the AF. It was used all the time to clean stuff. It's kind of like benzene; evaporates really quick and the smell was unique. I was hardly exposed to it, but back then it wasn't even thought of as a hazard. Surprised there aren't 1000s of people croaking from this who used it a lot back then. Pointing out Boeing is narrow, BTW. And, no, I don't work for them.
A lot of companies were using that product as a degreaser, not just Boeing. I know someone who used that stuff for 20 years in the paper-product industry (passed away from cancer a few years ago). No one said anything to the workers for decades about the hazards of this stuff. They didn't use any protective gloves, just dipped their rags in the stuff and wiped down what they needed to. Doesn't matter though, if it isn't this stuff it's something else. There was a lot of environmental hand-wringing in the 60's & 70's too. Nothing's changed. Big industry uses us as lab rats. After 20 years, if we aren't dropping like flies and they can trace it to a specific product, they deem it ok. They're still putting stuff in our soda drinks that have been banned in every other country, what more proof do you need?
But it's now about the deep pockets and who will be responsible for cleanup or health care...
@takncarabizniz Taxpayers will most likely cover the bill. Instead of improving schools or fighting crime or helping the needy, our hard earned dollars will go to cleaning up the mess of a corporate giant.
@komonews Scary ..& wld it have gotten that far if it hadn't been big boy Boeing?
I also drained my antifreeze from my car on the street till the early 90's. Its what people did then.
@NoCoothJoe So cousin Eddie did you also dump your RV sewage down the storm drain too?
@NoCoothJoe Not all people.
Sounds like Erin Brockovich has another mission.
âEcology officials say there is nothing to worry about. In fact, it is moving in a direction away from the wells," said Altoseâ¦. it lies far undergroundâ
I recently learned from someone that works in hydrogeology, that they were able to put a harmless green dye into a water flow on Baker Mountain and 6 months later trace it to an Island in the San Juanâs, seeing green dye coming up in wells there. This demonstrates that aquifers are tied together in ways we donât really even know.
Sooo⦠what exactly is nothing to worry about??? Where might these chemicals show up later?
@SchönLicht what did they use a radio active isotope? because that dye would have been way to far diluted to have been detected later.
@SchönLicht I'm not surprised if folks have been ingesting this chemical for years already.
@SchönLicht Must have been some mighty powerful dye to be detectable after that much dilution.
@Furd @SchönLicht Indeed. Even fluorescein (a green dye very commonly used for storm and sanitary sewer tracing) isn't THAT potent.
Sounds like its time for a class action lawsuit against Boeing.
@Blindman There will never be a class action against Boeing as nothing really happened. Just a few people blowing into the wind.
Boeing is too big and to trace a single source is going to be hard to do. Even the Cities have dumped parts cleaner on the ground, Seattle, Tacoma,Algona,Olympia, Aberdeen, Raymond and others did this as it was standard practice. Even homeowner have done it numerous times. It made the best weed killer. Everyone did it.
@Cliff Trudeau @Blindman Ever see that movie with Julia Roberts? =)
@Cliff Trudeau @Blindman Yeah ... PG&E is a huge company too. But until there are documented cases of cancer or other illnesses tied to TCE in groundwater there are no damages to sue over.
@Cliff Trudeau @Blindman In other words......too big to fail? Like banks and government? I beg to differ.
@Cliff Trudeau ...facts have never stopped people and tort attorneys from filing suits!
niiiice - you go, Boeing!