EPA warns of chemical contamination in the air in part of Olde Towne Bellevue

The EPA believes the groundwater was contaminated in the early nineties.

The EPA believes the groundwater was contaminated in the early nineties.

? -- EMILY: THIS LOT IS WHERE CARRIAGE CLEANERS USED TO BE. THE EPA SAYS SOMETIME IN THE EARLY 90’S, DRY CLEANING CHEMICALS CONTAMINATED THE GROUNDWATER. THE FEDS SAY THE DRINKING WATER ITSELF IS SAFE, BUT THEY’ WORRIED PEOPLE ARE BREATHING IN THOSE CHEMICALS. KRISTIAN FARLAND LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SOURCE OF THE CONTAMINATION. HONESTLY, I’M SO TERRIFIED. JUST BECAUSE I GET PARANOID ABOUT THAT KIND OF STUFF ANYWAY, BUT IT’S A SERIOUS ISSUE. EMILY: THE EPA SAYS A DRY CLEANING CHEMICAL CONTAMINATED THE GROUNDWATER NEAR 21ST AND FRANKLIN SOMETIME BETWEEN 1992 AND 1995. IN 2017, SAMPLERS DISCOVERED THE CHEMICAL PCE. THE AREA OF CONCERN IS ABOUT 15 BLOCKS, ACCORDING TO THIS EPA MA KRISTIAN AND OTHERS WHO LIVE AND WORK THERE ONLY FOUND OUT RECENTLY. >> AND IT WAS SAYING THAT GROUNDWATER FROM CHEMICALS COULD BE IN THERE. EMILY: NOW SHE WORRIES FOR THE HEALTH OF HER TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. >> IT REALLY JUST CONCERNS ME, BECAUSE I HAVE MY WHOLE FAMILY, MY ANIMALS, AND WE COULD JUST BE BREATHING THINGS IN AND WE DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG WE’VE BEEN DOING IT, SO I JUST WANTED ANSWERS. EMILY: THE EPA SAYS IT TESTED 12 BELLEVUE PROPERTIES. HALF CAME BACK POSITIVE FOR PCE IN THE AIR. EMERGENCY COORDINATORS SAY THOSE LEVELS WERE EXTREMELY LOW, AND THOSE BUILDINGS NOW HAVE VAPOR-MITIGATION SYSTEMS TO KEEP THE CHEMICAL OUT. BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THUS FAR WITH THE SAMPLING WE’VE DONE THAT THERE’S LEVELS IN INDOOR AIR THAT IS A CAUSE FOR IMMINENT CONCERN FOR HEALTH THREATS EMILY: BELLEVUE MAYOR RUSTY HIKE LIVES IN THE AREA AND OWNS PROPERTY. >> NOT REAL SCARED ABOUT IT, BUT IT’S A LITTLE BIT ALARMING. BUT AT LEAST WE FOUND IT NOW THAN GO ANOTHER 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS. EMILY: THE EPA IS NOW ASKING EVERYONE IN THE CONTAMINATIO ZONE TO ALLOW INVESTIGATORS TO SAMPLE THEIR PROPERTIES. >> WE WANT TO DO THAT SIMILAR RATHER THAN LATER, IT’S NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF A SEVERE, URGENT TOXICOLOGICAL CONCERN, BUT IT’S FOR THE CONCERN OF BEING EXPEDITIOUS IN TERMS OF DOING OUR SAMPLING INVESTIGATIONS. EMILY: IF ANY OTHER PROPERTIES TEST POSITIVE FOR THE CHEMICAL, THE EPA WOULD INSTALL MORE OF THOSE VAPOR MITIGATION SYSTEMS. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION AT THE BELLEVUE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS HALL TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00. REPORTING LIVE, EMILY TENCER, KETV NEWSWATCH 7. JULIE: THANK YOU, EMILY. BREATHING HIGH LEVELS OF PCE MAY LEAD TO DIZZINESS, DROWSINESS, HEADACHES, AND A LOSS OF COORDINATION. THAT’S FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL TONIGHT. LONG-TERM EXPOSURE CAN AFFECT YOUR VISION AND MEMORY. THE CHEMICAL CAN ALSO CAUSE CANC

EPA warns of chemical contamination in the air in part of Olde Towne Bellevue

The EPA believes the groundwater was contaminated in the early nineties.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports groundwater near a corner in Olde Towne Bellevue is contaminated by a harmful chemical. Emergency coordinators say that chemical, tetrachloroethylene or PCE, could potentially be in the air of nearby homes and businesses.At a public information session Tuesday, Michael Davis explained that the EPA believes sometime between 1992 and 1995, the groundwater at 21st and Franklin was contaminated by dry cleaning chemicals. Carriage Cleaners used to be located at the site there until 1995."Honestly, I'm so terrified. I get paranoid about that kind of stuff anyway, but it's a serious issue," said Kristian Farland. Farland lives with her family in the area potentially contaminated.Davis said in 2017, samplers discovered the PCE at the site. In 2019, the EPA notified those living and working in the properties near the source.Davis said the EPA has already tested 12 Bellevue properties. Half came back positive for PCE in the air. He said although they were positive, those levels were "extremely low." Those buildings now have vapor mitigation systems installed to keep the chemical out of the indoors."We have not seen thus far with the sampling we've done, that there's levels in indoor air that is a cause for imminent concern for health threats," Davis told KETV.Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike owns property in the area. Hike said the situation reminded him of radon contamination."I'm not real scared about it, but it's a little bit alarming. At least we found it now then go another 10 years, 20 years," said the mayor.The EPA is asking everyone in the potential contamination zone to fill out access request forms to allow investigators to sample their properties. Any property that tests positive with high enough levels of PCE in the air will receive a vapor mitigation system at the EPA's expense."We want to do that sooner rather than later. It's not necessarily because of a severe, urgent toxicological concern, but it's for the concern of being expeditious in terms of doing our sampling investigations," said Davis.There is another public information meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Bellevue Volunteer Firefighters Hall.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high levels of PCE may lead to dizziness, drowsiness, headaches and loss of coordination. Long-term exposure can affect your vision and memory. The chemical can also cause cancer.

At a public information session Tuesday, Michael Davis explained that the EPA believes sometime between 1992 and 1995, the groundwater at 21st and Franklin was contaminated by dry cleaning chemicals. Carriage Cleaners used to be located at the site there until 1995.

"Honestly, I'm so terrified. I get paranoid about that kind of stuff anyway, but it's a serious issue," said Kristian Farland. Farland lives with her family in the area potentially contaminated.

The blue highlights the properties potentially contaminated by PCE. (Map from the EPA)

Davis said in 2017, samplers discovered the PCE at the site. In 2019, the EPA notified those living and working in the properties near the source.

Davis said the EPA has already tested 12 Bellevue properties. Half came back positive for PCE in the air. He said although they were positive, those levels were "extremely low." Those buildings now have vapor mitigation systems installed to keep the chemical out of the indoors.

"We have not seen thus far with the sampling we've done, that there's levels in indoor air that is a cause for imminent concern for health threats," Davis told KETV.

Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike owns property in the area. Hike said the situation reminded him of radon contamination.

"I'm not real scared about it, but it's a little bit alarming. At least we found it now then go another 10 years, 20 years," said the mayor.

The EPA is asking everyone in the potential contamination zone to fill out access request forms to allow investigators to sample their properties. Any property that tests positive with high enough levels of PCE in the air will receive a vapor mitigation system at the EPA's expense.

"We want to do that sooner rather than later. It's not necessarily because of a severe, urgent toxicological concern, but it's for the concern of being expeditious in terms of doing our sampling investigations," said Davis.

There is another public information meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Bellevue Volunteer Firefighters Hall.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high levels of PCE may lead to dizziness, drowsiness, headaches and loss of coordination. Long-term exposure can affect your vision and memory. The chemical can also cause cancer.

EPA warns of chemical contamination in the air in part of Olde Towne Bellevue

The EPA believes the groundwater was contaminated in the early nineties.

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