February 27, 1999
City tests wells near old landfill
By David Crawford
Staff Writer
Tiffin officials took samples from water sources around the former city landfill Wednesday.
''The city wants to do what is right,'' City Administrator Wayne Stephens said. ''We expect the test results back in the next 10 to 14 days.''
Concerns have been raised by some residents in an area in Seneca and Eden townships about the number of reported cancer cases there and about possible groundwater contamination from the city's former dump on CR 6.
Although the city is beginning to test, Stephens said there is no scientific proof to link the dump to the cancers in the area.
''People have to realize that the list is just a list. It is not the result of a scientific study and it is not the result of a research project with guidelines,'' said Stephens.
He said, ''Personally, I feel that there is no scientific significance to the list since it covers a very wide geographic area, has a long timeline of individuals, and does not address other cancer factors.''
Stephens said factors not accounted in the study include whether the individuals who have cancer:
- Used tobacco
- Used fertilizers on their farms or gardens
- Used birth control pills
- Have radon in their homes
- Used wood burning stoves
- Used alcohol
- Used solvents
''There has been no study done of the other possibilities,'' Stephens said.