Mid Hudson Times Mar. 01 2017 | Page 4

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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , March 1 , 2017

Maloney pushes for PFOS study

Continued from page 1

370 participants at SUNY Orange ’ s Kaplan Hall last Wednesday , about a week after people received test results in the mail .

“ The level in Newburgh is 20 ,” said Brad Hutton , deputy commissioner of the DOH Office of Public Health .

Hutton compared the Newburgh group ’ s average level of 20 micrograms per liter of PFOS - the chemical responsible for the contamination of the city ’ s water supply at Washington Lake – to a level of 5.2 micrograms per liter in the general U . S . population in 2013 and 2014 .

However , he noted another test group drinking public water in Decatur , Alabama , in 2010 , tested with twice the amount of PFOS as did the Newburgh group ; and an occupational group who worked at the 3M plant in Decatur tested with nearly ten times as much in 2000 .

Hutton stressed that City of Newburgh water has been completely free of PFOS since the city switched to using Catskill Aqueduct water last May .

“ These compounds have half-lives , which is the time period you can expect it to decrease by one half ,” Hutton said . “ The half-life for this compound is five to seven years … we certainly expect that your level will drop over time .”

PFOS is one of a group of six perfluorinated chemicals that were measured through the state ’ s biomonitoring program , which began blood tests in November .

Audience member Robert Morton asked how his results may be tied to certain health conditions he was experiencing . “ No one can tell you if your health conditions can be related to these exposures ,” said Hutton .

Limited research

PFCs have been used in products such as non-stick cookware , including Teflon , carpeting , clothing and fire foam , the chief source of contamination in the city ’ s watershed . Information is just beginning to emerge on

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New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker joins Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney to call on the federal government to head a study on the long-term health effects of PFOS exposure .

health effects associated with exposure to PFCs , also referred to as Perfluoroalkyl Substances ( PFAS ).

Scientists do know that PFCs are slow to break down and so widespread in the environment that most everyone has some in their blood . “ Some studies in humans have shown that certain PFAS may affect the developing fetus and child , including possible changes in growth , learning and behavior ,” the CDC states .

“ In addition , they may decrease fertility and interfere with the body ’ s natural hormones , increase cholesterol , affect the immune system and even increase cancer risk .”

DOH Toxicologist Tom Johnson said there is some “ suggestive evidence ” that PFOA and PFOS may be carcinogens , but “ the amount of evidence needed to say PFOA or PFOS causes cancer ” is simply not there .

In time , Newburgh itself will provide important information needed for research on the impact of PFCs on human health , said Elizabeth Lewis-Michl , DOH director of environmental health assessments for the Center for Environmental Health . “ As we go along , participants will provide those details ,” she said .

“ We ’ re not going to happy talk this ,” said Maloney on Monday . “ As I stand here today , I don ’ t have any reason to believe anyone in the City of Newburgh will experience any ( negative ) health effects ,” he said , but more research is needed to know for certain .

The source site of the drinking water pollution has been identified as the Air National Guard Base at Stewart International Airport , where PFOS-containing fire foam has been used since the 1970s .

To schedule a PFC blood test , call the Dept . of Health at 1-800-801-8092 .

In Brief Nija Johnson pleads guilty

Double-murder suspect Nija Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and five counts of second-degree attempted murder in Orange County Court last month .

Johnson , 17 , is expected to be sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison at his sentencing in April .

The Orange County District Attorney ’ s Office states Johnson confessed he intended to kill someone he had been in a fight with when he shot into a crowd of people at a Halloween party in the City of Newburgh on Oct . 30 . Seven people were shot . Tabitha Cruz , 20 , and Omani Free , 18 , a senior at Newburgh Free Academy , died from their injuries . Another one of the victims was paralyzed .

“ Johnson admitted that the only reason he ceased firing the gun , which was still loaded , was because he had been forcibly disarmed by another person attending the party ,” a county DA ’ s Office states . “ The pistol which Johnson used , a . 40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine designed to hold 20 rounds , was recovered behind 119 Broadway .”

Under the terms of a plea agreement , the district attorney will recommend a combined sentence of 40 years to life .

The shooting occurred at 12:43 a . m . at a crowded party at 119 Broadway . Witnesses said the lights went out moments before the shooting . Johnson was arrested on Nov . 4 by police in Richmond , Virginia , where he fled following the shooting .

- Shantal Riley

Blue Angels to headline 2017 Stewart Air Show

Orange County Executive Steven M . Neuhaus announced on Tuesday that the U . S . Navy Blue Angels jet demonstration squadron will headline the 2017 New York Air Show on July 1-2 at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor .

The show was originally scheduled for September 9-10 , but has been moved to July to accommodate the Blue Angels ’ schedule .

“ The Blue Angels are world renowned and we are ecstatic that they are going to perform ,” Neuhaus said . “ Orange County and its partners , Stewart Airport , the Port Authority and B . Lilley Productions , look forward to another terrific air show this summer . The event has been a tremendous success the past two years and has proven to be a wonderful showcase for Orange County and Stewart Airport .”

The Blue Angels are based at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida and spend January through March at Naval Air Facility El Centro , California for their winter training in preparation for the show season .