Contaminated Water Problems in Capital Region Town

According to troyrecord.com, contaminated water issues are facing a town in the Capital Region.

The town of Petersburgh in Rensselaer County has water that is contmainated by high levels of a possible cancer-causing chemical called perfluorooctanoic or PFOA.  A leak in the water system led the town to temporarily use a backup well whose water previously tested above the health advisory level for the substance.  The synthetic substance is used in making non-stick cookwear, dental floss, electrical insulation, among other products. Studies show that chronic exposure has been linked to testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension along with a connection to pancreatic cancer. The chemical was first discovered last year in the public water supply in Hoosick Falls.

For more info on the story and to find out where residents can go to get free bottled water, check out the troyrecord.com article here.