Residents in Cadillac, Michigan, are voicing their concern over groundwater contamination in Cedar Creek Township. According to reports, a local resident recently had samples taken from trees on his land, which is about one mile northwest of Wexford County landfill, due to his growing concerns that they were contaminated by dangerous chemicals.

Months later, Donald Alger discovered that his original intuition was correct and the trees were indeed contaminated with four types of volatile compounds. Results showed that the trees were contaminated with benzene, toluene, styrene and tetracloroethylene.

Land Contaminated with Benzene

The land, which was originally purchased to serve as the home to Alger’s shiitake mushroom growing operation, was found to be highly contaminated with benzene and other toxic chemicals. As a result, not only were all of the plants ruined, but these chemicals were seeping into the neighbor’s yards and contaminated their land and groundwater as well. Alger immediately knew exactly who to blame, the nearby landfill.

DEQ Fights Back

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality reportedly has been attempting to fight back against Alger and his claims regarding the landfill being the place to blame. However, Alger isn’t the only one pointing fingers, the entire community is up in arms and are concerned that they could now be the victims of benzene exposure.

Benzene is a highly toxic carcinogen that can be potentially fatal to those who inhale, ingest or handle it over an extended period of time. Since many of the plants on Alger’s land just showed signs of harm recently, residents are concerned that this benzene issue could be something that was ongoing without their knowledge.

"They’ve dirtied up my property," stated Alger.

Tags: "Benzene Exposure" carcinogens "environmental toxins" "toxic chemicals", carcinogens, environmental toxins, News, toxic chemicals