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Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6
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<br /> MPCA Presents Well Update (Continued from page 1)
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<br />Hydrologist Michael Ginsbach from the MPCA explained
<br />the science behind how 1,4-dioxane was found at
<br />Cortec, as well as the significant testing that was done at
<br />sites surrounding this facility. No other traces of the
<br />offending chemical have been found nearby as of yet. He
<br />also explained how the chemical might travel through the
<br />layers of sand, dirt, gravel and other materials below
<br />ground, slowly making its way to some wells in the area.
<br />Ginsbach and Tim Grape, Supervisor of the Superfund
<br />Unit at MPCA, also made it clear that more testing in the
<br />area would be required and that sites in Gem Lake would
<br />be monitored this summer, as well as wells that are near
<br />the contamination. “We cannot yet make a definitive link
<br />between Cortec and Gem Lake, we are also not ready to
<br />say this is the only source of the contamination”,
<br />according to Grape.
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<br />During the presentation, the MPCA and the MDH
<br />answered numerous questions about the contamination,
<br />possible health impacts, possible mitigation strategies
<br />and what is expected to happen this year with another
<br />round of well test monitoring.
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<br />Citizens of Gem Lake expressed concerns about why the
<br />investigation and monitoring process takes so long and
<br />when definitive answers might be available. There were
<br />also many concerns about the health risks involved and
<br />how long those with a contaminated well might have to
<br />rely on bottled water. To these types of questions, Emily
<br />Hansen, Environmental Health Assessor for the MDH
<br />provided a good deal of information. The Minnesota
<br />Health Risk Limit (HRL) of 1 part per billion is very
<br />protective of human health, so the MDH does not expect
<br />health effects from drinking water that contains 1,4-
<br />dioxane just above the HRL, like has been found in Gem
<br />Lake wells. However, because 1,4-dioxane is considered
<br />a likely carcinogen, MDH recommends drinking
<br />alternative water if well water is above the HRL.
<br />Currently no studies on humans have linked the chemical
<br />to cancer. There are, however, animal studies that have
<br />shown that ingestion of high concentrations of the
<br />chemical can cause cancer in animals.
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<br />Citizens asked if there was a way to attribute future
<br />cancers to the 1,4-dioxane in well water. Hansen said
<br />that there isn’t a lot of information about 1,4-dioxane and
<br />cancer but that there could be a slight increased risk of
<br />cancer from drinking the water over a lifetime. The risk is
<br />theoretical and one would not be able to connect the 1,4-
<br />dioxane to any one cancer in the community. According
<br />to Hansen, “cancer is very common - 4 out of 10 people
<br />who live in Minnesota are likely to get cancer in their
<br />lifetimes. Information known about risk factors and
<br />causes vary with different types of cancer.”
<br />
<br />The concern is for the ingestion of the water. Other
<br />household water uses like showering, doing laundry,
<br />washing dishes, and brushing teeth is considered safe.
<br />
<br />Ginsbach also added that Iowa and Wisconsin have
<br />much higher limits on the acceptable amount of 1,4-
<br />dioxane that is considered safe to drink, and that North
<br />and South Dakota have no standards at all when it
<br />comes to this chemical. Gem Lake’s 23 affected wells
<br />are showing readings of 1 to 3 parts per billion, which is
<br />considered very small. However, the amounts are over
<br />the limits in Minnesota and have to be investigated,
<br />tracked and dealt with.
<br />
<br />He stated that additional well testing will take place in
<br />the next few months and that more answers and
<br />information should be available at that time. The City of
<br />Gem Lake has invited the MPCA to make its next
<br />presentation and update report at the August City
<br />Council meeting.
<br />
<br />The solution to the well contamination problem has to
<br />be arrived at by the City of Gem Lake in consultation
<br />with its citizens. Possible strategies would be to put in a
<br />full or partial municipal water system in which water is
<br />brought from a nearby city, the digging of new private
<br />wells, advanced filtration systems installed at private
<br />residences, or a combination of these ideas.
<br />
<br />The original problem was discovered in Fall of 2021,
<br />when testing was being conducted in the area as a
<br />result of pollution at the Water Gremlin facility in White
<br />Bear Township. When the MPCA mandated well testing
<br />was conducted in the surrounding area, the 1,4-dioxane
<br />showed up in wells located 1-1.5 miles away in Gem
<br />Lake. The MPCA is requiring Water Gremlin to
<br />investigate the extent and magnitude of the 1,4-dioxane
<br />release from their facility and based on their
<br />investigation to date, it appears that the source of
<br />elevated levels of 1,4-dioxane in Gem Lake may be
<br />associated with another source.
<br />
<br />What is 1,4-dioxane? The main use of this chemical was
<br />as a stabilizer for the chlorinated solvent 1,1,1-
<br />trichloroethane, which is often used for many industrial
<br />purposes. 1,4-dioxane can also be an unintended
<br />contaminate in the production of certain products,
<br />including some cleaners, detergents, adhesives, inks,
<br />automotive fluids, etc. Groundwater contaminated with
<br />1,4-dioxane is largely caused by the historical use and
<br />disposal of chlorinated solvents.
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