SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. — "You can do this!"
Erin Brockovich started her town hall meeting in Satellite Beach Saturday with these words of encouragement.
"Your state can be taking action, your city council, your municipalities," she said.
Dr. Julie Greenwalt, oncologist and cancer survivor, first asked the Florida Department of Health to take action a year ago.
She brought Brockovich to town to help rally others, like Chrissy White, to join her in the fight to investigate a possible cancer cluster around Satellite Beach.
"I'm able to go and get the test to find out if this chemical is in my blood system," said White. "I want my children to get the test."
White, who used to live in the area, is in the middle of a lengthy battle with cancer. She wonders if the disease is connected to dangerous levels of some chemicals found in water at a lift station at Patrick Air Force Base.
"If we get them tested, we might know what their potential risk factors are and we can help prevent future generations from getting sick," said White.
Brockovich hosted the town hall meeting at the Kingdom Worship Center in Satellite Beach, a day after the mayor of Cocoa Beach asked pet owners not to let their dogs drink the well water at a beachside dog park.
The mayor made that request after water quality tests of the well that serves Lori Wilson Dog Park found high levels of carcinogens in the water.
That well is one of 12 around the area that have shown high levels of cancer causing agents.
John McGee frequents the dog park.
“This place is like Cheers without the alcohol. Everybody knows everybody; they all hang out,” he said.
Next week, the city will discuss why, according to the new tests, what’s coming from the nearby well show levels of contaminants much higher than Environmental Protection Agency recommended levels.
After a large number of cancer cases were documented in nearby Satellite Beach, the dog park’s area was selected for a second round of analysis as cities along the Space Coast begin intensive testing.
Of 19 new locations tested for PFOA and PFOS contaminants in Cocoa Beach, 11 showed levels above EPA standards.
A lift station for Patrick Air Force Base, where the analysis suggests the contaminants are coming from, showed the highest concentration of all.
While McGhee finds the results concerning, he appreciates the city’s emphasis on testing and thinks leaders are doing all they can to keep the community informed.
Cox Media Group
