"Resident: High benzene levels in pond at fire site"

By Amanda Cregan, Intelligencer, August 4, 2010:

Worried that their well water might have been tainted by toxins following a Plumstead industrial building fire, residents went before township officials seeking answers Tuesday night.

Instead, Plumstead supervisors were the ones getting information.

. . . [A resident] of Stump Road, and his attorney came armed with a report Tuesday from the state's Department of Environmental Protection that revealed high benzene levels were discovered in the pond at the warehouse site, located on the 5000 block of Stump Road.

Samples were taken from the pond by the DEP on Friday.
Benzene was measured at 138.8 parts per billion, said . . . [the resident's] attorney Thomas Donnelly. An average level is about 5 parts per billion, he estimated.

A component of solvents and degreasers, benzene can cause leukemia and other blood cancers and blood disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is colorless, has a sweet odor and is highly flammable.

It can be inhaled, ingested and absorbed through the skin.

At least four Plumstead homes have tainted water in their private wells and neighbors are scared about what might be lurking in their own well water.

"We've been out of our house since that (fire) happened. Mainly because of the smoke," . . . [the resident] told the Plumstead supervisors and about 30 worried residents. "What we're concerned about now, like everybody else, is with the water."

Bottled water is already being provided to residents along Ann Drive by the warehouse property owner.

But DEP officials and representatives from the Bucks County Department of Health were at the scene again on Tuesday collecting samples from more neighboring homes, said . . . [the resident] and Donnelly.

Several residents have asked DEP to test their own private wells for chemicals, and the agency is working to map out how far a potential contamination might have spread, they said.

"They said their (DEP) labs would be working around the clock on this project," said . . . [the resident].

"We're hoping that within the next couple of days we'll have the testing done and we'll have some kind of preliminary analysis," said . . . [the resident], whose property backs up to the industrial building site.

Township officials are working to put together a public meeting to update residents on the water issue that would include DEP staff, Rep. Marguerite Quinn and Sen. Chuck McIlhinney.

A date has not yet been set [now it has], but the township plans to post the meeting date, time and place, along with any pertinent information regarding the water issue, on its website at www.plumstead.org.

"As far as the township, it's not under our control," said Supervisor Stacey Mulholland, regarding the water testing. "DEP is running the show."

She encouraged residents to regularly test their private well water regardless of a crisis situation.

"Let's not wait for an emergency or a front page story; wells should be tested regularly."

As the days tick by since the June 29 fire that drew hundreds of firefighters and required 3 million gallons of water to fight over the course of a week, some residents fear their families are potentially in danger.

"The biggest concern is to make sure the water is safe - to make sure it's safe for them to be able to there, to shower in the water, drink the water, to do the dishes," said Donnelly.

Benzene is dangerous

Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours:

Vomiting

Irritation of the stomach

Dizziness

Sleepiness

Convulsions

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Death (at very high levels)

Source: Centers for Disease Control

On the Web:

www.plumstead.org