Low rates of PFCs found in east metro produce

Residents of the east Twin Cities metro whose drinking water contained perfluorochemicals, or PFCs, in the past shouldn't worry about their soil or garden produce being tainted by the chemicals, according to a study from the Minnesota Department of Health.

The study examined backyard soil and garden produce near three former 3M landfill and disposal sites in Washington County that were major sources of PFCs.

The samples came from homes in Lake Elmo, Oakdale and Cottage Grove that have a history of PFCs in their water supply. They also looked at dust samples from homes.

The MDH says there is no scientific agreement on whether high levels of PFCs cause illnesses in people, but studies in animals have found the chemicals can damage liver and thyroid functions and potentially increase the risk for cancer.

Officials presented the study's findings Tuesday at the department's Environmental Health Tracking and Biomonitoring Program Advisory Panel meeting in St. Paul.

While PFCs were found in the soil and produce samples, they occurred at very low rates, well below MDH health guidelines.

"In a nutshell, even though there was water contamination that occurred over a number of years but has since been fixed, we're not seeing residual levels of perfluorochemicals in either soil or garden produce that's of a health concern," said James Kelly, a manager with the Environmental Surveillance and Assessment division of the MDH.

Kelly encouraged people to keep gardening.

"It's a very healthful thing to go out and garden and eat the vegetables you produce," he said. "And the health benefits far outweigh any very minor risks that might come from consuming produce that may contain perfluorochemicals."

In the past decade, several wells east of the Twin Cities were identified as having rates of PFCs higher than MDH criteria. Since then the wells have either had filtration systems installed that filter out PFCs or connected with city water supplies.

Officials say they've shared results of the study with residents directly and at community meetings in the affected areas.

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