Dr. Stone to Report on Environmental Sampling Study

CASE is pleased to announce that Dr. Ward Stone, New York Wildlife Pathologist, will address the community in a public meeting on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 7PM at the Ravena VFW Hall on Whitbeck Street, by Mosher Park in Ravena, NY. The meeting, hosted by CASE, is open to the public free of charge.

Dr. Stone will present findings from his ongoing study investigating heavy metal contamination in neighborhoods impacted by pollution from the Lafarge Cement Plant in Ravena, NY. New chemical data from the vicinity of the Ravena Coeymans Selkirk Middle and High School campus will be released, as well as new results from the Village of Ravena and the Hamlet of Coeymans. Dr. Stone will discuss the impact of heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead; as well as recent findings regarding the impact of stone dust in the vicinity of the cement plant. Dr. Stone will identify other possible sources of pollution in addition to the cement plant, and will make recommendations for ways to potentially reduce pollution risks to the environment and to human health.

Dr. Stone began his investigation in the spring of 2009 in response to community concerns over possible environmental and health risks posed by decades of pollution from the Lafarge plant in Ravena. This study has been conducted by Dr. Stone in conjunction with CASE and has taken place entirely on a volunteer basis with Dr. Stone donating his time and CASE paying for the lab fees, also funded by donation.