Fuel storage tank sparks health concerns in Clinton
CLINTON, Iowa — A contingent of South Clinton residents told the Iowa Department of Public Health they are concerned about a fuel storage tank containing benzene and other chemicals.
The initial health consultation compiled by the state agency indicated there was no health hazard from the levels of exposure. The study was conducted using available data from Equistar, the firm using the 480,000-gallon tank. Equistar officials said the company plans to stop using the tank later this year.
About 50 people who attended a meeting Tuesday told agency officials they
didn’t believe the data from their own experiences and health issues, which they blamed at least in part on exposure to the chemicals.
Health department officials Stuart Schmitz and Sara Colboth listened to the concerns. Colboth said the questions will prompt the health department to look into the situation further.
Colboth, health educator with the department, said they would look at a cancer study using the state’s cancer registry as the first step. Another effort will be to ask federal officials through the Centers for Disease Control to conduct a health study using interviews and the experience of people in the area in a broader scope than cancer.
She said they cannot go back and determine exposure levels in the past, but further studies may indicate whether problems exist.
The residents were upset that no city officials attended the session, but thanked the state health department officials for listening after feeling they had been ignored in past efforts to register their concerns and complaints.
A representative of U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, also attended the meeting and said the congressman was ready to do whatever he can to help.
The fuel storage tank has been used for about 40 years, residents said.
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