Someone a while ago on DU was wondering if there was something in the water in Bachman's MNdistrict.

[lindisfarne]

www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/50376382.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs
3M chemicals found in residents' blood

Tests of east metro residents shows 3M chemicals in their blood.
East metro residents who drank water tainted with 3M chemicals have retained trace levels of those compounds in their blood, according to a new state health study. Scientists tested blood from 196 volunteers in Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove and Oakdale and found that levels of three compounds were slightly above the national average. Those eligible for the study had to live in areas where private wells or city water was found to be contaminated.

Study participants have been notified of the results, and state health officials will hold two public meetings to explain the findings and to answer other questions.

The compounds, known as perfluorochemicals, were manufactured by 3M in its Cottage Grove plant for more than 50 years until 2002. They were used in Scotchgard, Teflon, firefighting foam and hundreds of other products. The company disposed of wastes in area dumps until the mid-1970s.

3M agreed in 2007 to clean up the chemicals in four locations. It has also financed hookups with city water for more than 200 households with contaminated private wells in Lake Elmo, and paid for Oakdale to install special filters for a city well that was tainted.

Little is known about the long-term health effects of exposure to the chemicals. 3M has reported that studies of its workers who made the perfluorochemicals have had no impact on their health. Studies on animals have shown effects on the liver, thyroid and pancreas, but it's unclear whether those problems are likely to affect humans and at what levels of exposure.

[madaboutharry]

1. We must have the same thing in the water

here in the town where I live in Wisconsin.

[DCKit]

2. Dow vs. 3M vs. Union Carbide vs. teh peoples

There are probably only small bubbles of land in the U.S. that are still safe for habitation.

[Generic Brad]

3. That is not Michelle Bachman's district

Hers is easily identifiable by all the right to life billboards. They sure love their fetus photos in that neck of the woods. Unfortunately the water is pretty clean around there, so you can't credit 3M.

[lindisfarne]

4. Lake Elmo is definitely in her district. The 6th is a very strange meandering district - it was the

"everything else" district (strange shape due at least in part to need to keep counties together, if at all possible, complicated by having Hennepin & Ramsey to south). Oakdale is in WA county so it should be as well, although the map seems to exclude it (map could be wrong).

http://bachmann.house.gov/District/06districtmap.htm