West Virginia Health Officials Refuse to Accept Experts Findings on Elk River ContaminationChris Carrington What has transpired is that the Center for Disease Control has set safety standards for pure MCHM (4-methylcyclohexaneemethol), but the stuff polluting the Elk River was far from pure. Containing a mix of up to seven chemicals, the crude MCHM that was discharged into the Elk River was something else entirely, and the CDC safety standards set for MCHM dont cover it when mixed with other chemicals, what is referred to as crude MCHM. Investigators still dont know the full composition of the 10,000 gallon discharge into the Elk River. Freedom Industries, the company responsible with maintaining the storage tanks, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and, although hit with numerous law suits regarding the spill, they have been slow to provide information on the toxic cocktail that entered the river. What is known is that water testing by the West Virginia Environmental Quality Board has shown that formaldehyde is present in the water supply. Scott Simonton of WVEQB said: I can guarantee that citizens in this valley are, at least in some instances, breathing formaldehyde. Theyre taking a hot shower. This stuff is breaking down into formaldehyde in the shower or in the water system, and theyre inhaling it. Its frightening, it really is frightening, the Charleston Gazette quoted Simonton telling state lawmakers. What we know scares us, and we know theres a lot more we dont know. He continued: We know that (crude MCHM) turns into other things, and these other things are bad,.And we havent been looking for those other things. So we cant say the water is safe yet. We just absolutely cannot. For this reason residents have been told to flush their domestic systems to remove any lurking toxins, but even the best way to do that is open to dispute with experts disagreeing on the best method to use. Andrew Welton, an environmental engineer from the University of South Alabama, went to West Virginia after the leak. He has been assisting residents to purge their systems, but using different guidelines to those used in West Virginia. For example, he recommends that residents should open windows and doors before starting the process and should use fans to remove fumes from homes. West Virginia officials say this is un-necessary. Speaking to The West Virginia Gazette he said: I cant believe they arent doing this. These issues arent being addressed. The long-term consequences of this spill are not being addressed. In another twist The commissioner of the Bureau of Public Health, Dr Letitia Tierney DISMISSED Simontons statement and said that the formaldehyde detected was unrelated to the chemical spill. Formaldehyde is naturally produced in very small amounts in our bodies as part of our normal, everyday metabolism and causes no harm, Tierneys statement said. It can also be found in the air that we breathe at home and at work, in the food we eat, and in some products that we put on our skin. Simonton countered: Your level of what risk you will accept is up to you, Simonton said. I can only tell you what mine is, and Im not drinking the water. (source) While the arguing over whos right and whos wrong, its interesting to note that West Virginia officials are blaming the winter for some of the hospital admissions. Governor Earl Ray Tomblins office pointed to many reasons why hospital admissions are rising, namely the inability of a large number of people to wash their hands, which is an odd thing to say if they believe the water is safe to use. Or maybe they have washed their hands, and thats why they are sick. Were in the middle of flu and virus season, Dr. Letitia Tierney of the state Bureau of Public Health said in the statement. While the [hand] sanitizer is good for cleaning, it isnt great for eliminating a virus. Some people are getting these viruses, as many people do every winter. In addition, a lot of people are getting very anxious. Anxiety is a real diagnosis, and it can be really hard on people and its OK to be seen by a health professional to ensure youre OK. West Virginia health officials are playing around with the well-being of 300,000 people. It would be good if they could cut the crap and sort this situation out before someone dies. Read more here and here. Contributed by Chris Carrington of The Daily Sheeplewhere this article first appeared. Chris Carrington is a writer, researcher and lecturer with a background in science, technology and environmental studies. Chris is an editor for The Daily Sheeple. Wake the flock up! 