WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Toxicology experts from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services are the latest to put their stamp of approval on the second phase of the Thomas Street project after a lengthy presentation and question and answer session at Thursday’s Capital Improvements and Street Maintenance Committee meeting.
“We’re talking like parts per trillion, and that’s with a T. A lot of things or contaminates are parts per million, some are even parts per billion, but we’re talking parts per trillion. This is extremely low levels,” said Public Works director Eric Lindman.
“I want to make it clear that it’s not just the city, it’s not just the DNR, there are multiple agencies that have looked at this and feel that the risk is not there to the public. The challenge is there has been [combating] some misinformation out there [that leaked] once those tests came back,” he added. Lindman went on to say that the city will continue to relay that information as best they can through various channels so everyone involved can feel comfortable with the plan of action for dealing with the problem.
During the presentation Thursday the toxicologists emphasized that the real danger with the dioxins in the soil comes from having them ingested directly. Meaning most everyday contact poses no real danger. However, if someone were to garden without gloves and accidentally get dirt in their mouth they would be exposed. Another example would be kids splashing mud at each other. Even then the exposure would have to be almost deliberate, meaning several days a week over an extended period of time.
“You specifically have to be in contact with these soils every day, constantly for years for there to be any sort of potential impact,” said Lindman. But that doesn’t mean that the city will take the concerns lightly. “We will be taking every precaution that we can through dust management. A lot of these soils will be removed from the site and the DNR will let us know if we have to landfill them or if we can just take them somewhere, test them, and then make a determination from there.”
Following the presentation, Alderperson Mary Thao did recommend that the council do more research on the long-term effect of exposure to the dioxins, specifically in the 30-60 year range. Lindman agrees that would be valuable information.
In addition to the soil on the Thomas Street, the committee heard thoughts on increased dioxin levels near a drainage culvert in Riverside Park. Lindman says his people plan on having discussions about what to do there as well including potentially blocking off the area around the pipe or mitigating the soil.
Lindman says if all goes as planned work on the street should begin in the spring of 2019.
