About the study on the DISH residents

Please remember, dear readers, that this blog is not my full-time gig. I’m just volunteering my time here.

I will have a response later when I get a hard copy of the analysis Wilma Subra made last night at the GASLAND event. In the meantime, please try to remember that, as with all studies issued by the state recently, this one came sprinkled liberally with SPIN.

The bottom line is”

Over 1/2 the DISH residents tested had elevated levels of drilling chemicals such as benzene and toluene. Sine both of those chemicals are created from hydrocarbons and neither is naturally occurring, then how do you suppose they got into people’s bodies?

When you go to the doctor, the first thing they ask is: “What prescriptions are you taking?” That’s because we all know that mixing chemicals in your body can be lethal. No one knows what the effects might be from mixing drilling chemicals in your body.

I think this quote from the Denton Record Chronicle article is critical:

State inspectors collected tap water samples, but did not collect air samples during the investigation. Health officials said previously they’d hoped to work with TCEQ on such coordinated sampling.

Had the state collected air samples at the same time as the water and blood samples, they would have better input and outcome information, Teitelbaum said.

I think the question you need to ask, dear readers, is this:

How much toluene is okay for my toddler to pee in a cup?

As Mayor Tillman said:

“In 65 percent of our residents, they found detectable levels of toluene — even their own people didn’t have that,” Tillman said, referencing the urine portion of study, which included a “blind internal methodological control” with health department employees.

I posted about the preliminary results previously:

Natural Gas Drilling Toxics Exceed State Standards