Back in April 2009, Erin Brockovich helped kick-start a lawsuit claiming sludge from Prime Tanning Corp. of St. Joseph was responsible for causing brain tumors in Cameron, Missouri.
Two reports released today refuted that claim.
KMBC Channel 9 reported
that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' report said that tannery sludge used as fertilizer applied to fields in four counties -- Andrew, Buchanan, Clinton and DeKalb -- wasn't harmful:
"Results from samples collected at these locations documentthat sludge applications have resulted in elevated concentrations of
both total and hexavalent chromium in farm fields, yards and wells
relative to background levels. However, the concentrations measured do
not exceed the site-specific health-based screening levels developed for
the site. Based on the data collected, past land application of tannery
sludge does not appear to have resulted in a health threat."
The results will be discussed at a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the
St. Joseph City Hall.
A second report, released by the Missouri Department of Health and
Senior Services, also found no clustering of brain
tumor cases or death due to brain tumors in the Cameron area, KMBC
reported. That report found:
No clustering of brain tumor cases or deaths related tobrain tumors is evident in the Cameron area compared with the state of
Missouri.
There is no statistically significant increase in the deaths due to
malignant or benign brain tumors in these communities compared with the
state of Missouri.
Primary brain tumor rates in the Cameron area, as well as in the entire
state, are lower than brain tumor rates nationwide.
Since 1996, more than 70 people in Cameron have been
diagnosed with brain tumors
The lawsuit filed with Brockovich's help claimed Prime
Tanning was responsible for not warning farmers and the public that the sludge being applied to fields contained high levels of
hexavalent, not reporting test results showing high levels of hexavalent
chromium in the sludge to the state, not adequately testing the sludge for hexavalent
chromium, and telling the DNR that the sludge applied to the fields was free of hexavalent
chromium when it wasn't.
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