Worries Remain Over Raymark Contamination

The brake manufacturing complex of Raybestos/Raymark has been gone for years and since replaced by Wal-Mart, Home Depot and other retailers. But the health risks associated with the toxic site remain a constant worry for families living in the area. Many moved in without being informed of the polluted history of the area.

 According to the Connecticut Post:

In Stratford, the result of this lack of transparency is widespread buyers' remorse among homeowners who unknowingly settled in a neighborhood buried with poisonous chemicals. Residents here say they feel deceived.

"There are no controls to ensure people are informed," said Jim Murphy, a community involvement coordinator for the EPA. "We consider that to be a problem."

The contaminated areas have been redeveloped throughout the years, but a cocktail of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead and copper have been found in areas throughout Stratford. Groundwater is also contaminated, prompting fears of health risks.

Cancer rates in Stratford are above the state average, according to the Connecticut Post, but a study by the Connecticut Department of Health shows that incidences of bladder cancer have not been on the rise in the past four decades.

“These findings come as a great relief because earlier studies hinted at possible increasing trends in bladder cancer among men and women in Stratford,” Director of Health Andrea Boissevain said in a press release quoted by the Stratford Star.

Still – the threat remains, perceived or otherwise. The problem is the inability to coclusively prove the risks. The Connecticut Post told the story of Jackie Kuziac, who moved close to Ferry Creek and put up a fence to

"I was told by another neighbor that the two dogs owned by the previous owners died of cancer and they used to play in Ferry Creek all the time. That kind of scared me a little bit," she said. "That's when the fence went up."

Many experts would discount the story of dogs dying of cancer from the creek as neighborhood lore. There is no way to conclusively prove -- or disprove -- Raymark waste as the cause of a specific case of cancer, either for humans or pets.

For more on the Raymark contamination, read Stratford Patch's series published earlier this year.

Chris Carroll contributed to this report.