Expert to test for toxic pollution at proposed Central School site
Published on December 8th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham Parents for Healthy Schools and the selectmen plan to work together to evaluate the safety of the proposed site of the new Central Elementary School behind the Middle School on Central Street.
"Although, the ultimate decision will be made by the board," Chairman Al Conti said.
Both groups agreed that an independent expert should look at past ground contamination studies and decide what more has to be done to ensure that the site is safe. Past analyses indicated acceptable levels of pollutants under State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) guidelines. But parents said the past studies did not test for everything because of incomplete information on the history of the site.
Both sides agreed that testing of the railroad right of way on the property is necessary. (Railroad beds are known often to contain high levels of contaminants.) Opinions diverged over how many borings should be taken to test for which different pollutants.
"We could bring in an expert who might say that everything's fine," Conti said.
Selectmen Kennedy questioned why the previous 11 studies clearing the site did not satisfy the parents group.
"All the studies were based on a history of the site provided by the Mann Chemical Company to Award (the first company to investigate the site)," said Cheryl Walsh, a member of Stoneham Parents for Healthy Schools.
Walsh said the historical information on which all the past studies relied was incomplete. There was no mention of the leather currier company which operated on the site in the late 1800s nor any mention of a large chemical fire in a coal elevator in 1910.
According to Bob Weisbrod, a biologist by trade and a member of the Stoneham Parents for Healthy Schools, the earlier analyses of the site neglected to test for heavy metals, such as lead, which were used in treating leather.
Recently Jeff Cataldo, owner of the former Mann Chemical property adjacent to the proposed Central School site, agreed to test for heavy metals on a portion of his land over which he has granted the town an easement for prospective Central School parking.
"I'm glad Mr. Cataldo agreed to the testing," Weisbrod said.
The test did not reveal dangerous levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium or mercury.
But the test did not check for lead. Also, the borings taken were close to but not on the easement. And the borings were only six inches to one foot deep.
Weisbrod said a licensed site professional should use a 13 priority pollutant metals test with more borings at greater depths to thoroughly test the site.
At the Dec. 2 selectmen's meeting Town Administrator Jeff Nutting said the town may have to go to Town Meeting for funds if the independent expert requests tests of the magnitude Weisbrod is suggesting.
John Warren of the Finance and Advisory Board opposed further testing. He said the problems at the site were minor and that the DEP had fully examined and cleared area for building.
"This is not Woburn," Warren said, referring to the 1970s water pollution linked with child cancer portrayed in the film "A Civil Action."
"In Woburn the federal Environmental Protection Agency removed 1700 tons of soil and 150 million gallons of water, and in Stoneham the state DEP removed 20 cubic yards of soil and 300 gallons of water," Warren said.
Warren also said some of the traces of pesticides found in the soil in Stoneham may have come from a onetime heavy use of pesticide, unlike the actively leaking barrels of chemical waste that were found in Woburn in 1979.
Weisbrod agreed that the Stoneham site was not as contaminated as Woburn, but he said Warren was again overlooking some key historical facts.
"The Mann Chemical company had a permit to make pesticide," Weisbrod said.
Both heavy metals and the volatile organic compounds from pesticides can cause health problems of unknown scope and variety. Such contaminants have been linked to illnesses from asthma to cancer.
Stoneham Parents for Healthy Schools and selectmen want to make sure that when and if Central School construction begins, children attending the Middle School next-door will not be subjected to dangerous chemicals escaping from a site with a long history.
"We're all in this together," Conti said.
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