Eugene neighborhood tested for cancer-causing agents
EUGENE - Another round of tests for a Eugene neighborhood believed to be polluted by an old train-yard.
From 2004 to 2006, air samples were taken from homes in the Trainsong area. The results showed crawl-spaces filled with high amounts of cancer-causing agents from tainted groundwater.
Precautionary measures were taken for those homeowners. Now comes the task of determining if those measures worked.
"I didn't know there was a problem until last year," said Trainsong resident, Glenda Carroll.
Carroll lived in the Trainsong neighborhood with her husband for almost twenty years. She says he died last last January from kidney failure.
"They say kidney failure is one of the things that this causes. I can not tell you how many cats I've had that have died of kidney failure in this house," said Carroll.
Carroll lives in one of ten homes being tested for the presence of the chemicals TCE and PCE.
"At low levels, they're classified by the EPA as probable carcinogens," said Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Cleanup Specialist Seth Sadofsky.
Officials believe contamination started across the street from Carroll, during maintenance work on Union Pacific Railway trains.
"What we're worried about right now is what's in the soil, and what's in the groundwater underneath and coming into the buildings," said Sadofsky.
Union Pacific agreed to install vapor barriers.
"Those vapor barriers and ventilation systems are designed to cut-off that vapor intrusion," said Greg Aitken, Oregon DEQ.
But did they work?
Technicians sent air samples to a lab to see if the chemicals are still present. Until results are in, all Glenda Carroll can do is wait.
"I would hope that the rail-yard would buy us all out. Because they caused this, and they should make it right," said Carroll.
Results from the tests won't be complete for another three weeks.
From 2004 to 2006, air samples were taken from homes in the Trainsong area. The results showed crawl-spaces filled with high amounts of cancer-causing agents from tainted groundwater.
Precautionary measures were taken for those homeowners. Now comes the task of determining if those measures worked.
"I didn't know there was a problem until last year," said Trainsong resident, Glenda Carroll.
Carroll lived in the Trainsong neighborhood with her husband for almost twenty years. She says he died last last January from kidney failure.
"They say kidney failure is one of the things that this causes. I can not tell you how many cats I've had that have died of kidney failure in this house," said Carroll.
Carroll lives in one of ten homes being tested for the presence of the chemicals TCE and PCE.
"At low levels, they're classified by the EPA as probable carcinogens," said Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Cleanup Specialist Seth Sadofsky.
Officials believe contamination started across the street from Carroll, during maintenance work on Union Pacific Railway trains.
"What we're worried about right now is what's in the soil, and what's in the groundwater underneath and coming into the buildings," said Sadofsky.
Union Pacific agreed to install vapor barriers.
"Those vapor barriers and ventilation systems are designed to cut-off that vapor intrusion," said Greg Aitken, Oregon DEQ.
But did they work?
Technicians sent air samples to a lab to see if the chemicals are still present. Until results are in, all Glenda Carroll can do is wait.
"I would hope that the rail-yard would buy us all out. Because they caused this, and they should make it right," said Carroll.
Results from the tests won't be complete for another three weeks.
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