Mid Hudson Times Mar. 22 2017 | Page 4

4

know about the health effects of PFOS . The chemical has been “ associated ” in some studies with elevated cholesterol levels , testicular and kidney cancer , thyroid problems and ulcerative colitis , Lewis-Michl explained .

However , due to a lack of research , PFOS blood levels do not predict current or future health effects , she said . “ We ’ re asking people to talk to their providers ,” she said . “ They don ’ t have a clue what we ’ re talking about ,” said Beatrice Harris , commenting on a discussion with at least one doctor .

The state has offered PFOS information to physicians and health care providers in the area , Lewis-Michl said . “ We don ’ t expect them to become instant experts ,” she said , but test results should be shared in order to be included in patient medical histories .

A group of 370 people received blood test results last month , showing the Newburgh test group had four times the amount of PFOS in their blood than the national average in 2013 and 2014 .

The state is preparing to mail out more than 300 additional test results from the first round of sampling in the state ’ s biomonitoring program in the coming weeks , said Lewis-Michl .

Four new labs are now offering PFOS blood tests , including St . Luke ’ s Cornwall Hospital , Quest Diagnostics , LabCorp and BioReference Laboratories in Newburgh . All the labs have walk-in hours .

People must first call the DOH to request a blood test . Test orders will then be sent out in the mail , Lewis-Michl said . Test results can take up to three months to arrive .

City Manager Michael Ciaravino provided an overview of work performed in the cleanup so far . “ When we first learned of this problem , I made a decision ... to switch from Washington Lake over to Brown ’ s Pond ,” he said , and eventually to the Catskill Aqueduct .

“ The good message ... is that the water is clean and free of PFOS contamination due to our response actions ,” said Martin Brand , deputy commissioner for remediation and materials for the state Department of Environmental Conservation .

A granular-activated carbon filtration system has been set up at Washington Lake and a similar filtration

Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , March 22 , 2017

Second round of test results expected soon

Continued from page 1

New Windsor resident Michelle Vina-Baltsas said she wasn ’ t sure if she would schedule a blood test .

system is also being installed at the city ’ s water filtration plant , he said . “ We are on track to have that up and going in October , 2018 ,” said Brand , just in time for a temporary shutdown of the Catskill Aqueduct .

The DEC declared the Air National Guard Base a Superfund site in August last year , after it was found to be “ a significant contributor of the ( contamination ) at Lake Washington ,” according to Brand .

“ We will continue to engage the Department of Defense to step forward and step up their efforts to investigate the contamination sources at the Air National Guard Base ,” he said .

“ We can ’ t expect to get money from the federal government with this administration and its war on science ,” countered city resident Jonathan Jacobson , suggesting a permanent hook up to the Catskill Aqueduct .

“ We ’ re not waiting for them ,” Brand said . “ We ’ re doing work ... we ’ re investigating .” Though compensation has not yet been offered to the state , the DOD has committed to conducting an investigation this spring , he added .

Private wells in the towns of Newburgh and New Windsor are currently being tested . Several will be hooked up to municipal water supplies , Brand said . “ We are also working on a source-water assessment program for Lake Washington , Brand noted , as body of water that is “ vulnerable to various impacts in an industrial setting .”

Riverkeeper ’ s Water Quality Program Director Dan Shapley said he had just come from a visit with state leaders in Albany on Monday . “ State leaders are taking seriously what happened here ,” he said . “

He urged residents to contact their state and federal leaders to make themselves heard on the water crisis . “ I urge you … to come together and speak with one voice on this topic ,” he said . “ It can really make a difference .”

In Brief

Stewart ANG to conduct emergency response drill

Wednesday morning , March 22 , 2017 the 105th Airlift Wing will conduct an emergency response exercise on base .

The exercise will involve surrounding town and county responders . Members of the general public will likely hear the giant voice address system on base , and see emergency vehicles and activity on the airfield around Stewart Airport , but should not be alarmed .

Man charged with torching his own business

A New Windsor man is charged with felony arson for allegedly setting fire to his business at 440 South Plank Road in the Town of Newburgh .

Khaled Baroud , 61 , was arraigned in town court on Monday on a charge that he allegedly set fire to his business , USA Waffle on March 13 , 2016 . Authorities said he owned the business , but not the commercial structure in which it was located .

Baroud was held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $ 25,000 bail .

7th police forum scheduled

A 7th forum on strengthening police and community relations is scheduled for Wednesday , March 29 , 6 - 8:30 p . m . at the Newburgh Free Library , 124 Grand Street .

The forun , co-sponsored by the library and police deartment will cover a range of topics including a recovery outreach intervention center , domestic violence high-risk reduction project team and the Newburgh Adelphi University Collaboration .

Mount panel to feature family business owners

Mount Saint Mary College invites the public to the “ Future Unknown : The American Family Business ” panel on Thursday , March 30 at 6 p . m .

The free event will be held on campus in the

Dominican Center , 330 Powell Ave ., Newburgh . The panel will feature : - Mike Arnoff , president , Arnoff Moving and

Storage - Paul Daubman , Sr ., partner , Daubmans

Corporate Interiors - John Yelle , visiting professor of accounting at

Mount Saint Mary College - Alan Zuckerman , managing partner , Verticon

Construction Services

The event is presented by Mount Saint Mary College ’ s School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Nick Preddice of the Affinity Group .