The Cheshire Town Post

~ by fischbein - February 16, 2008 ~

We are in the process of updating the Cancer in Cheshire website and wanted to alert folks to a new Google map showing the location of 17 EPA-ID’d hazardous waste sites in Cheshire. Over time we’ll be adding additional details to the map.

As some may know, these hazardous waste sites have been leaking toxins (including solvents) underneath the town for decades. These toxins have migrated underground up to several miles from their sites of origin. While they once quietly poisoned residents and workers through Cheshire’s public water supply, they remain a threat to private water supplies and to Cheshire’s air. Since there is a good chance people are breathing these toxins in Cheshire today, they may still be contributing to Cheshire’s health problems and diseases — including cancer (and the increased risk of developing it).

We’re in the process of collecting updates on the status of each site that remains a concern. Our goal is to ensure these lost toxins are tracked, mapped, and cleaned-up so we can be certain they will no longer pose a risk to Cheshire’s residents and workers.

We’ll keep you posted as we learn more. In the meantime, you can learn more at the Cancer in Cheshire website and at the TCE Blog.

UPDATE: For evidence and examples of toxic migration, see this map which identifies additional locations in town where TCE, PCE, and other toxins are known to have migrated. According to the 1985 Chesprocott Health Department study [PDF, 3 MB] where this toxic migration was revealed, “An extensive plume of contamination was discovered during the study reaching from Blacks Road to Creamery Road Centering along Highland Ave.” Can you imagine how far these toxins have migrated in the past 25 years? And where?