Coleman Creek and playground contaminant free

In the latest Monroe County Health Department newsletter to Village of Brockport residents, the New York State Department of Health has offered free blood tests to residents whose homes are adjacent to the above-ground portions of Brockport Creek Tributary Number Three.

The blood tests will determine the level of PCBs in the blood and then compare the results with PCB levels found in the general population to determine if the levels are elevated. The process will take about six months. Results may be shared publicly with some restrictions due to individual privacy and whether enough people participate to make generalizations.

Only about 10 residences may be eligible, but both present and past residents of those properties have been invited to participate. The department of health contact person for the testing is Karen Nolan who may be reached at 1-800-458-1158 ext. 27950.

Also in the newsletter, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced that sediment and water samples from Coleman Creek, tributary number two of the Brockport Creek, were found free of PCBs, cyanide and other contaminants known to have migrated from the former industrial site on State Street. The tested samples were taken from the creek between Owens Road and the village-owned property on the north side of East Avenue.

Soils from the Barry Street playground were also found to be free of PCBs, cyanide and volatile organic compounds. There were some very low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected at the northwest part of the park, but not above the typical amount expected to be found naturally.

The health department called these findings "good news."