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DANBY, VT — Vermont government agencies are not taking complaints of chloramine-related health problems seriously, charges a February 25 press release issued jointly by People Concerned About Chloramine (PCAC) and Vermonters for a Clean Environment (VCE).
The press release bases its charges on government documents uncovered through Freedom Of Information Act requests.
The excerpts from the documents and the press release are available on the VCE Web site.
“What we have found is evidence of a coordinated attempt to use state agencies to ignore the health impacts people are suffering and instead be the mouthpiece for the CWD (Champlain Water District),” Ellen Powell, coordinator of PCAC, is quoted as saying in the release. “The records show few if any discussions about how to get to the bottom of the hundreds of complaints that have come in, but instead discussions about how to ‘win’ the fight to defend chloramine. We’re not trying to ‘win’ anything, just help people be able to drink the water in their own homes.”
Annette Smith, executive director of the VCE, said in the release, “There was no evidence that any of the health concerns raised are being taken seriously. For the past two years we have been seeking a partner in the government to get to the bottom of the health issues. Today we’ve made a formal request for a meeting with the governor to share our concerns, review these documents, and ask for his direct intervention to ensure that the health issues get addressed.”
Vermont health department officials sent WaterTech Online™ a statement in response to the press release. The statement said:
“For nearly two years, Vermont Department of Health toxicology and medical epidemiology experts have invested hundreds of hours in researching and trying to understand the nature of people’s concerns about the use of monochloramine as a secondary drinking water disinfectant.
“To do so, we have searched for and reviewed all available research to date. We have consulted with federal agencies and national experts about emerging studies that might provide relevant information. We have met with Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Champlain Water District officials, and people who have voiced their opposition. We have surveyed area health care providers to try to determine if there is a hidden prevalence of health effects. We called in experts from CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and EPA [US Environmental Protection Agency] to visit Vermont and listen to the concerns of all parties in a series of meetings, home visits and telephone surveys. ... To date, we have found no credible evidence to show that the use of monochloramine to disinfect drinking water is a threat to public health — but we continue to be vigilant.”
VDOH also suggested that persons with monochloramine concerns should contact either the 2-1-1 hotline or their Web site’s “Monochloramine” section.
To read the excerpts, click here.
To read the Vermont Department of Health’s Monochloramine section, click here.
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