County discusses TCE contamination
LEE ZION
Harrison County Times-Reporter
The Harrison County Board of Supervisors discussed TCE at its most recent meeting.
The meeting, held Thursday, discusssed TCE, or trichloroethylene, which has been found in wells in rural Harrison County. The chemical can change the rhythm of the heartbeat and can cause damage to the liver or kidneys. There is some evidence that TCE causes liver cancer and malignant lymphoma — a blood cancer.
County Commissioner Rebecca Wilkerson had asked for the item to be placed on the agenda, mostly as an infomational item.
David Sherer, administrator with Harrison County Home and Public Health, said the health board drafted a TCE statement at its May meeting. That statement was approved at its meeting July 8.
“I’ve been in contact with the Iowa Cancer Consortium, Dr. [Robert] Kruze, who’s the state of Iowa medical director, Dr. [Matthew] Donahue, the state epidemiologist and assistant state medical director, and the DNR [Department of Natural Resources],” Sherer said. “I’m waiting for a response from the state on how they can assist. But Dr. Donahue said he would be getting back to me soon with some ideas.”
These ideas include the health aspects, remediation and mitigation, which he said is being handled. The DNR and the Army Corps of engineers has referred the health issues to state and local authorities, he said.
Sherer added that the Board of Health is interested in participating with the Restoration Advisory Board, a group that will be composed of citizens looking into the contamination, along with Christy Jackson, the chair of the county Board of Health.
The TCE issue will remain on the Board of Health’s agenda at every meeting for forseeable future, Sherer said.
Also at the Thursday meeting, Wilkerson mentioned a meeting next month that will discuss TCE contamination in Harrison County water.
Lisa Madore, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said in a press release that the meeting is open to the public and will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 19, at the Rand Community Center in Missouri Valley.
Engineers will share updated information and details on the proposed Restoration Advisory Board.
Wilkerson did not know if people will be able to attend through Zoom, but she did say it was likely that area activists would record the event.
Marilyn Jo Mentzer, a private citizen speaking at the meeting, thanked the county for taking on the issue. She also said that Jackson herself got tested personally for TCE. She is a resource for information on the issue.
“It means a lot to the people that live out there that the county has acknowledged it, and they’re moving forward to helping with the health of the individuals that live out there. Because we do have a lot of sick people,” she said.
“I think there’s still a long road ahead,” answered Brian Rife, County Commission Chairman.
For information on TCE, call the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at 800-232-4636.
