By Doug La Rocque
On Friday evening July 29, Dr. Geoffrey (Cappy) Collins from the famed Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City sat down individually or by couples with about 30 Petersburgh residents to answer their questions and provide information about PFOA’s effects on the human body. [private]It was not a public forum, but an opportunity for individual discussions with the Doctor about health concerns. A similar session was held in Hoosick Falls on Saturday morning July 30.
Photo by Doug La Rocque
Some of the Petersburgh residents told The Eastwick Press they came away from the session feeling a little better about all of it, but others were very skeptical. Two people were willing to go on record about their conversations. Craig Levesque lives on Main St. and said he has been involved in scientific work most of his life. “I need to keep an open mind about it.” Levesque said he has not yet availed himself of any of the blood testing that has been offered, but he said he is going to speak to his own healthcare provider about it. He said he has been exposed to a large number of toxic chemicals over the years, and to date, has not experienced any negative health issues from his exposure to PFOA.
Daisy Manchester was present with her six-month old son Dillion. Her biggest concern was his exposure during her pregnancy and subsequent breast feeding. She says her blood level was tested at 62 parts per trillion.
According to Dr. Collins, the average individuals level is 2 ppt. Manchester’s well was found to have a level of 970 ppt, significantly above the threshold of 70 ppt set recently by the EPA. She said a carbon filter was installed on her well, and just recently retested. She has not received the results as yet.
Manchester questioned the information provided by Dr. Collins about breast feeding. She said she was “freaking out about it” when she first became aware of the PFOA contamination, and called her pediatrician and the NYS Department of Health, and said both advised her to stop breast feeding her son.
“He, Dr. Collins, said there is nothing that supports stopping breast feeding,” as opposed to its benefits despite the PFOA levels. “But if you look on line there are a lot of different studies that show it goes through your breast milk at elevated levels.” Manchester said she still has unanswered questions. She compared the session with the doctor to coming to the public informational meetings. “they just kind of talk the talk, and we are testing” but she feels they haven’t come forth with all the information the residents need to know. She was critical of the New York State agencies handling of the PFOA matter, and feels the only governmental body that really has been responsive is the Rensselaer County Health Department.
The law firm of Weitz and Luxenberg is signing up residents of both Petersburgh and Hoosick Falls for class-action lawsuits. Levesque said at this time he doesn’t feel inclined to become part of such an action, while Manchester said she and her husband are indeed considering it.
Dr. Collins is listed by Mt. Sinai Hospital as a member of its staff and a Fellow in Environmental Health.[/private]