PFOA in nine more wells
The latest round of results from tests performed by Rensselaer County officials on town wells identified another nine with high levels of contamination by a cancer-causing chemical.
The county on Monday released the results of testing on samples from 40 private wells in the town taken between March 28 and April 11 as part of an ongoing effort to identify and monitor the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid in public and private water sources. Of those 40 wells, 19 were found to have nondetectable levels of PFOA, while another 12 measured below the advisory level set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency of 100 parts per trillion.
The latest results bring to 173 the number of samples taken from private wells at 144 homes, with duplicate samples taken at homes where filtration systems were installed subsequent to initial testing. Of the total samples, county officials say 65 had nondetectable levels of PFOA contamination, while another 61 samples measured below the EPA advisory level and 47 exceeding that benchmark. The county said it is still awaiting the results of testing on an additional 73 samples. PFOA is a synthetic substance used in the manufacture of nonstick cookware, dental floss, electrical insulation, fabrics and other products. Chronic exposure has been linked to testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Studies suggest other possible health consequences, including a connection to pancreatic cancer.
The county also released the results of new testing performed on two wells that had previously tested positive for the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate, a chemical similar to PFOA that was primarily used in the production of firefighting foam. Both new results indicated nondetectable levels of PFOS, with results still pending for two other wells identified with similar contamination. The Taconic Plastics plant in Petersburgh has been identified as the likely source of PFOA contamination in the town, and the company has been providing free bottled water to residents, as well as paying for the installation of filtration systems at homes where PFOA levels topped the EPA standard. That bottled water is available at Town Hall from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, although the town ran out of water on Saturday and referred residents to the Tops supermarket in Hoosick Falls until it could restock its supply in time for Wednesday’s distribution. Due to concerns regarding contamination in public and private water sources, the county, in conjunction with the state departments of Health and Environmental Conservation, initiated a groundwater study and began sampling water supplies initially within a half-mile and then a mile of the Taconic Plastics plant on Coon Brook Road. Additionally all municipal, ground-fed water supplies and the Troy water system were tested. The lab testing was performed by Pace Analytical, an EPA-certified lab, through Bender Labs, with results provided to homeowners and municipalities tested. The county is continuing testing and will release additional results as they become available. For more information on the groundwater study, call the Rensselaer County Health Department at 270-2655.