WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Concerned residents along a section of Thomas Street that’s scheduled to be reconstructed in the near future are continuing their plea with the city for more soil testing.
The most recent cry came during public input at Tuesday’s regular city council meeting, in which residents took turns reading a response letter from a Florida toxicologist disputing DHS claims that the soil is safe.
Wausau Pilot and Review reports the letter came from Stephen Lester who works with the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice. He says the DHS study was lacking in several areas including the assessment for cancer risks. Lester called the report incomplete, adding he was “mystified” at how the DHS study could be done without taking cancer risks into account.
Back in May, DHS toxicology experts presented their findings on the dioxin levels to the council and concluded that while they do pose a danger, the only way to see any negative effects is by ingesting the soil deliberately over a period of years. Their findings indicated that everyday tasks such as gardening or yard work remain safe as long as precautions are taken such as using gloves and washing your hands after the activity. Additionally, any foods grown in the soil can be made safe by washing them immediately after picking them.
RELATED: DHS toxicologists report on Thomas Street soil
The residents reportedly requested time for the discussion as part of the regular agenda but that request was denied. That led them to use their 3 minutes of allotted input time to read the letter in pieces and distribute copies of it to the council.
The second phase of the Thomas Street project has been marked by controversy with residents at nearly every turn, from the dioxin issue in the soil to residents who were reluctant to give up their homes to the city. That led to a major redesign of the project which has allowed for fewer properties to be taken over with a more narrow footprint.
