KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — State Environmental Officials have released their latest air samples taken around Kalamazoo’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, in the ongoing effort to tackle the “big stink”, and they say it produced some unexpected results.
A week of air sampling was done in mid November to test for a dozen compounds to the west, the east, and at the fence line around the Wastewater Treatment plant. Sampling took place for five straight days at four locations: right at the plant’s fence line, to the east of the plant and to the west in the Northside neighborhood at a Daycare on Edwards Street.
The actions were prompted due to odor complaints from that area that have resulted in state sanctions.
The fourth test site was at the County Fairgrounds, where EGLE has a permanent air quality testing station, some distance from the Treatment Plant. That site provided an ambient sample from the community to compare with the test target.
Tests were completed for 12 compounds, 10 of which officials say came in it at levels that were either normal or too low to trace. However, two of the chemicals came in at a little higher level, Formaldehyde and another similar compound called Aceteldehyde. While both chemicals measured in at the slightly higher levels, officials went onto say that both were still at levels well below what EGLE considers to be a health risk.
Kalamazoo City Utilities Director Jim Baker called the results “reassuring”.
The biggest surprise from the report however, is that the highest level of formaldehyde was detected at the County Fairgrounds, in Kalamazoo Township’s Lakewood Neighborhood, far from the Wastewater Plant. But test results also indicated those levels were still well below what EGLE considers a health risk, which officials say is below one in a million chance of causing cancer.
Baker speculated that those readings may be due to higher traffic volumes in the area.
As this report from the state was preliminary, city officials, Graphic Packaging executives and concerned residents are still waiting for a more comprehensive health assessment that will discuss a broader range of contaminants, including Hydrogen Sulfide, which is a more threatening emission.
The report, which is being compiled by State and Federal environmental officials and the State’s Health Department, is expected to be released soon.
The full report can be viewed online on the following link: Kalamazoo Community Sampling Report 2022 (michigan.gov)
reporting from John McNeill
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