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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
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Her dogs kept dying, and she got cancer. Then they tested her water.
Her dogs kept dying, and she got cancer. Then they tested her water. ELKTON, Md. - Debbie Blankenship's wheelchair carved perfect lines in the grass as she rolled into her backyard garden, passing a wooden arch filled with small grapes, a bush with plump blueberries and yellow crates filled with sprouting potatoes. She stopped at a dirt patch with a burial marker for her beagle - the latest of her dogs to die of cancer. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. 'They are all buried back here. It's like a pet cemetery,' she said, catching her breath from navigating the hilly terrain. Gazing at the burial site, she spoke about her own long battle with cancer. For decades, Blankenship chalked up her health problems, including losing her right leg to an infection, to bad luck. Then in 2023 she received a phone call from W.L. Gore & Associates, which makes waterproof membranes such as Gore-Tex and a host of other products. Gore wanted to test Blankenship's well water for PFOA, a highly toxic 'forever chemical' that was used to make PTFE, commonly known as Teflon. 'That's when the light went off,' she said. She and her dogs were the only members of the household to drink the well water. Her husband and children always drank bottled water. Gore's offer to test Blankenship's well came after a former employee named Stephen Sutton sued the company in 2022, claiming the company's negligent use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, harmed workers and the surrounding community. The litigation triggered a public water crisis: A class-action lawsuit was filed the following year, and Maryland filed suit in 2024. These stable chemical compounds tend to persist indefinitely in the environment, as well as in the human body. They have been linked to serious health problems including high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, infertility, low birth weight and certain cancers. The lawsuits claim that the company knew for decades that its use of these chemicals endangered public health and the environment but hid that fact from the state and the nearby community. Gore has denied concealing information about the presence of PFOA in its materials or any potential risks. Maryland's Department of the Environment and Cecil County declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. In a statement made when the state filed its lawsuit, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown (D) said, 'It is unacceptable for any company to knowingly contaminate our drinking water with these toxins, putting Marylanders at risk of severe health conditions.' Gore said in a statement that it has never manufactured PFOA and that only 'trace levels' were present in raw materials purchased from suppliers. The company said all its vendors must now certify their materials are made without it. 'We dispute the allegations in the lawsuit filed by the State of Maryland and deny the allegations in the Sutton matter,' said Amy Calhoun, a spokeswoman for Gore. - - - Poisoned wells Gore has helped anchor Elkton's economy for more than 50 years. The privately held company, based in Delaware, operates 14 facilities in and around Cecil County. It reports $5 billion in revenue, employs more than 3,100 residents and has created a deep relationship with the community. A wooden sign near the entrance of Kenmore Elementary School reads: 'In partnership with W.L. Gore & Associates.' A thin line of trees is the only barrier separating the school from Gore's Cherry Hill facility, where PTFE was received in powder form and transformed into products. Blankenship's husband, Richard, who suffers from Alzheimer's, worked at Gore for nearly 40 years. Water samples taken from Blankenship's well in May 2023 showed PFOA concentrations of 3.4 parts per trillion (ppt), according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post, below the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminate level of 4 ppt. However, the agency has said that there is no safe level of exposure and that small amounts of the chemical can cause serious health impacts, including cancer. Other well water samples from Blankenship's neighbors across the street from Gore's Cherry Hill site revealed PFOA concentrations as high as 800 ppt, according to tests conducted throughout 2023 by Gore and the Maryland Department of the Environment. Groundwater samples from the site were as high as 1,300 ppt. Monitoring wells near Gore's Fair Hill site contained concentrations of 1,800 ppt, while a nearby stream had PFOA concentrations of 740 ppt. Gore's Calhoun acknowledged 'some isolated numbers' at high concentrations in well water but said the impact on groundwater at the Cherry Hill facility was 'limited.' 'We do know now that a limited amount of PFOA has been released as part of our historic operations and in concentrations that by today's standards are higher than acceptable,' she said. 'Most importantly, Gore is committed to addressing the issue.' The scope of the contamination from Gore's facilities is not yet known. Sutton alleges in his suit that Gore knew by the late 1980s, through its own groundwater testing, that pollution from its Cherry Hill plant could travel to neighboring properties. Philip Federico, an attorney at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico who represents Elkton residents, said in a statement that the firm filed suit because Gore knew about the risks of PFAS for four decades and continued dumping toxic chemicals into the community. 'Today, both the residents and agricultural interests of these communities are dealing with the life-altering consequences of PFAS exposure, including cancer, reproductive and fertility challenges, developmental delays, hypertension, and more,' Federico said. Gore said it eliminated PFOA from its supply chain in 2014. DuPont and other manufacturers agreed to phase out the chemical in the United States by 2015 under a voluntary agreement with the EPA. In recent years, the chemical industry has reached large settlements with states and local communities over PFAS contamination of public water supplies. The EPA estimates that more than 158 million Americans are exposed to PFAS through their drinking water. Unlike water from public water utilities, private wells are not subject to federal water regulations. Gore offered Blankenship and other residents within sampling areas around its facilities the choice of filtering their well water or connecting their homes to the local water utility. The company said it has installed 84 filtration systems and connected 13 homes to the utility. While Blankenship is waiting for the county hookup, she is drinking bottled water provided by Gore and uses rainwater in her garden. Linda Birnbaum, a former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, said that based on the water sample results near the Cherry Hill plant, many of the nearby wells should be capped and closed because 'it would be very difficult to clean them up.' 'If this was a public water supply, those would have to be remediated,' she said. 'In many of the wells, their levels of PFOA are of concern.' - - - Chemical dreams Mark Strickler, 68, who moved to Cherry Hill after landing a job at Gore more than 40 years ago, said he sometimes dreams he is back on the production line. That is where he used to scoop up white PTFE powder and mix it with graphite and other materials to make fibers for industrial weaving applications and products such as dental floss. He said he was told by his supervisor that the chemicals were safe. He recalled some 'pretty nasty' times, when the odor from the chemicals gave him headaches or the PFAS-soaked scrap material would leave his hands numb for half an hour. Even so, Strickler said he recalls his time at Gore with fondness. Then he wakes up to a harsh reality of the drinking-water contamination in his community. 'It was a surprise to me,' Strickler said. 'I'm disappointed in the company for polluting, when I thought they were more concerned about the culture of the company.' Despite his disappointment, Strickler said he considers Gore a good employer. After an aneurysm years ago, a graft created by Gore was inserted in his heart during one of his five heart operations, three of which required him to be 'cut open like a lobster.' Blankenship, who wakes up in pain that she can only compare to that of childbirth, praised Gore even though she believes the company's operations could have contributed to her health problems. 'They've taken care of us. They were good to us. They're good to their employees,' she said. Richard was still working at the company when they heard about the class-action lawsuit. Last month marked the couple's 49th wedding anniversary. Instead of treating her illnesses in the hospital, she wanted to spend whatever time she has left at home with her husband. 'I'm tired of my body being invaded by tests and needles,' she said, sitting in a wheelchair on her porch. 'I'm just tired of battling, so I'll take my chances. I've laid it all on Jesus' feet.' Now she makes sure her dog drinks only from the three-gallon water jugs Gore delivers every month, saying she was determined to end the cycle. 'It was really too late,' Blankenship said. 'That's why I said the next dog we got, she will never drink the water.' Related Content Ukraine scrambles to roll back Russian eastern advance as summit takes place Her dogs kept dying, and she got cancer. Then they tested her water. D.C.'s homeless begin to see the effects of Trump's crackdown Solve the daily Crossword
ABC News
4 days ago
- ABC News
Calls to change Victoria's 'outdated' burial laws to allow for owners to be laid to rest with their pets
Lyn Robinson says she lost her pet dog twice. The first time was after she laid Deejay — a pit-bull terrier she likens to a sixth child — to rest at a pet cemetery outside Bacchus Marsh. She visited his grave several times a year, and even recommended the cemetery to friends mourning their own deceased pets. Then, without warning, she lost him again. The land was sold to developers — and the cemetery, along with Deejay's remains, was destroyed. "We went there and it had just been bulldozed. All the concrete slabs were gone. The small headstones and plaques had been thrown away. It's like they never existed," she said. This statue marks the grave of a pet dog at a grave in Castlemaine. ( ABC News: Danielle Bonica ) Lyn says Deejay's plaque — which she estimates cost up to $1,000 — was never returned, and she has since ordered a replacement to place in the backyard, "just to have something to remember him by". "We feel like we're going through all the emotions and all the stress of losing him again. "It's like losing a limb." It's left her grappling with how this could have happened — and why there isn't a safer option to lay her pets to rest. Now, advocates are pushing for a change that they say could prevent others from facing the same fate. An 'impossible' choice "I broke the law again today. Here's a video of me breaking the law." That was the text message Deb Tranter sent her local MP, alongside footage of a private ceremony she held for an 86-year-old man laying his dog Molly to rest in the grave beside his late wife. Deb Tranter has been Chair of the Castlemaine Cemetery Trust since 2018. ( ABC News: Danielle Bonica ) Under Victorian law, burying an animal in a public cemetery — even in an urn — is illegal. But Ms Tranter, who manages Castlemaine General Cemetery in central west Victoria, says she has "no problem" breaching the Act if it means burying people with their loved ones — human or otherwise. "Society now recognises pets as family — but in death, the law states that the pets must stay outside of the cemetery gate. And I think that's really, really harsh and unfair," she said. "So that, to me, is a really bad law, and bad laws need to be exposed and broken to show how ridiculous they are." Animal Justice Party MP and member for Northern Victoria, Georgie Purcell, says Ms Tranter is among "hundreds" of cemetery managers quietly doing the same. "They're doing this because they care so deeply about giving people their final wishes and honouring people after their lives end," Ms Purcell said. "And they're faced with this impossible decision of breaking the law or not letting someone be buried with someone that they love. "It's just not good enough." This owner was buried with their pet over a decade ago. ( ABC News: Danielle Bonica ) This owner was buried with their pet over a decade ago. (ABC New: Danielle Bonica) This 'treasured little companion' called Tramp was buried with his owner. ( ABC News: Danielle Bonica ) A plaque marks the resting place of Tramp, a 'treasured little companion'. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica) Cemetery volunteers could face hefty fines or even lose their positions if they're caught. "Every single day, these people are going to work, they are operating under a risk that doesn't have to be there," Ms Purcell said. Ms Tranter said she's "not worried in the slightest". "We need to normalise burying pets in the family plot. They are family members. "So we shouldn't have to keep it a secret." Victoria dragging its feet Deb Tranter is no stranger to fighting for the rights of animals. She was the founder of Oscar's Law, a campaign to end puppy farming in Australia, and has worked alongside Georgie Purcell for many years. The MP said she was horrified when Ms Tranter first brought the law to her attention, describing it as "heartless" and "outdated". Within days, she raised it in parliament and asked the government to change it. "They wrote back to me quite positively and said they'd consider it. But it's been almost a year now, and they've just been dragging their feet since that time." Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell says the government has been "dragging its feet" on cemetery reforms. ( ABC News: Matthew Holmes ) Earlier this year, fellow Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst succeeded in pushing for reforms to be legislated in New South Wales — the first of their kind in the country. "They've shown that this is actually not that difficult. It's very clear that this very simple change is just not something that they care about," Ms Purcell said. The Victorian Government told the ABC it was aware of community interest in the issue but said it was "not currently a legislative priority". Ms Tranter called the response "really sad". "It is such a tiny little amendment to the cemetery act, it could be done tomorrow, and it would mean the world to a huge range of people," she said. "And it'd bring us into line with community expectations and needs." Who gets a soul? Lyn Robinson says she would "of course" pursue co-burial if it were an option. The only legal way for owners to currently be laid to rest with their pets is to either be buried on private land with the owner's permission, or to be scattered with the ashes of a pet outside the gates of a cemetery. Dr Hannah Gould, a death studies academic at The University of Melbourne, says the legislation has its roots in 19th-century Christian beliefs. "In the history of our cemeteries, we see a lot of segregation between different groups … and a lot of the time animals have been excluded from that categorisation of who is important," she said. Dr Hannah Gould is a lecturer at University of Melbourne and researcher with the DeathTech team. ( ABC News: Simon Tucci ) She says this stems from the traditional belief that animals don't have a soul. "So there's a lot of religious traditions that only those who have souls … are the ones who have the last rites and are buried properly in a cemetery." Dr Gould says this belief is not universal across other religions. In Buddhism, she said, humans and animals have a "much more equal footing". Hundreds of pets are believed to have been buried at the pet cemetery in Rowville before it was sold off and destroyed. ( Supplied: Ashton Grave ) She says the exclusionary law is becoming increasingly out of step with the way Australians view their pets. "We're seeing a really marked shift, particularly between Gen Z and older generations, in who they consider family. More and more, this includes animals — and with that shift comes the expectation they'll be treated the same way in death." Recent findings from the Australian Institute of Family Studies backs this up, with over half of participants regarding pets as family rather than as property. The study also found this bond was more common with women and LGBTQIA+ people. "What I think we're going to see is more and more people wanting to be buried in groups that don't just reflect their blood ties, but also their kind of found family," Dr Gould says. "And that's something that our cemeteries are going to have to reflect in the future." 'More and more' pet cemeteries destroyed The pet cemetery at Bacchus Marsh was just one of several which have met a similar demise in the past decade. The Pets Memorial Gardens in Rowville had been housing the remains of dead pets and champion racehorses for 52 years before it was sold off and demolished. Former site of Pets Memorial Gardens in Rowville, December 2018. / Plot of land which was formerly Pets Memorial Gardens in Rowville, February 2025. Ashton Grave, 76, specialises in exhuming pets for owners across Victoria. He says he recovered the remains of about a dozen animals at the Rowville cemetery. "Some of the owners I spoke to were quite upset about the fact their animals' remains had an unknown future," Mr Graves said. Ashton Grave says he recovered at least a dozen animal remains from the Rowville pet cemetery. "Clearly these places get sold for development … and that's the main reason people want me to exhume — they're worried about them being dug up during construction." Mr Grave said the push to change Victoria's burial laws was an "absolute no-brainer". "I can't see any problems whatsoever with including a cremated animal in a human grave," he said. "It just seems very, very sensible". Georgie Purcell said these cases are exactly what she warned the government of. "That land can be sold off, ripped up, demolished at any time," she said. "By allowing joint burials of humans and pets in government-run cemeteries, we know that there's this protection that they can always be there and they can always lie together." She warns more resting places could be at risk if the government doesn't act soon. "There's going to be more and more instances of this as that land becomes more valuable," she said.
