The scent of burning tar often wafts in the breeze across the Mississippi River near the Lowry Avenue Bridge. While the smell and complaints about it are nothing new, findings from a recent study funded and coordinated by the Bottineau Neighborhood Association (BNA) indicate a correlation between the GAF Shingle Plant, located near the bridge at 50 Lowry Ave. N, and rates of deaths from cancer and asthma in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The BNA says they have been fielding complaints surrounding the plant for a long time, according to Association staffer Nancy Przymus. “This is the kind of smoking gun we’ve been looking for,” she said in an interview shortly before the results of their tests were presented to the public at a press conference near the bridge on July 25.
The study’s census data was provided largely by the Minnesota Department of Health vital statistics. Death rates from cancers related to air pollution were examined going back as far as 19 years. Deaths under the age of 18 were not counted for the study, and only human subject data was examined. Of the census data they were provided, they sifted out which individuals were located at addresses in the areas in question surrounding the plant, namely the Marshall Terrace, McKinley, Hawthorne, and Bottineau neighborhoods. They designated a one-mile zone centered on Lowry Avenue at the river. The statistics from these zones were compared against the Minnesota population at-large, and the total U.S. population. Data from Mound was used as a control group, as the town has a similar population to the subject area, but does not have the same level of industry.
The Hawthorne neighborhood’s data came in the worst, with 325.31 per 100,000 deaths being from cancer. This is compared to the control group in Mound, where 68.40 per 100,000 deaths were due to cancer. In Minnesota overall, the number is 161, and in the U.S. overall, it is 171. Bottineau is listed as having 249.66 cancer deaths, and Lowry has 212.15. Marshall Terrace and McKinley measured in at 172.17 and 177.33 respectively. The 100,000 unit was chosen as a standard scale for comparison to the national population. Meteorological data from 32 tests was used to determine prevailing winds surrounding the GAF plant, according to Przymus. The Hawthorne and Bottineau neighborhoods are downwind from the plant.
Legally speaking, the emissions documented by the plant are not high enough to constitute a long-term threat to human health. The emission of 95 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) is allowed per year, as per the shingle plant’s permit, and this is allegedly safe for the surrounding area. Their permit does not require them to list the exact composition of their output though.
“Then why the [expletive] do we have these cancers?” asked Przymus. “We have an inordinate number of cancer deaths that cannot be justified.”
In a statement released by GAF on July 25, the company denies BNA’s “suggestion” that the study supports the conclusion that GAF has “contributed to any negative health effects on its neighbors.” They say they are committed to the safety of their employees and the community surrounding the plant, and they say they have recently made “significant capital investments and changes to [our] operations in order to help minimize non-toxic odors in the area.” GAF also makes a point to note that the study’s researchers have not stated that GAF is the cause of any negative health effects.
The study’s research coordinator Tonye Sylvanus says that causation is difficult to definitively prove, but the correlation found between proximity to the plant and rates of cancer deaths gives them a 95% confidence in their research. The study is now moving on to phase two, which will be researching records of living cancer patients in the same areas.
In light of their findings, the BNA says they will be advocating the cancellation of GAF’s lease, as well as requesting a government-funded study to corroborate their own findings. Given the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) current case against the Northern Metals recycling plant, the BNA may also seek a collaborative effort in cleaning up the alleged fallout from these two facilities. Mariam Slayhi, president of the BNA, said they will be providing their data to the MPCA.
“We would like the MPCA to be part of this discussion,” said Slayhi. “We don’t know what kind of chemicals are coming out of that plant, but the dead do talk, and they tell the truth.” At the time of publication for this story, Sarah Kilgriff, manager of land and air compliance section at the MPCA, who has worked closely on the MPCA’s case against Northern Metals, said that she had heard of the BNA study but had not reviewed it.
Janiece Watts, environmental justice organizer at Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), says she thinks it is “terrible that we have to keep having studies that statistically show how much North Minneapolis is suffering due to environmental impacts.” She says she is grateful to BNA for putting the study together and that she looks forward to “elevating this information in the larger campaign around air quality and a future cleaner environment.”
GAF noted that they did build the 71-foot tower Borne heater unit that allows them to keep their asphalt warm but use their original stack to burn off odors at higher temperatures. The mechanism has been in operation since November 2015.
Below: The Bierbrauers and Nancy Przymus look across the river to the GAF plant. (Photo by Alex Schlee)
