Soil study details to be released

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - There is something toxic in the Tonawandas and residents want answers. Wednesday, the results of a long-awaited soil study will be released. The samples were collected and tested by the Tonawanda Community Fund in conjunction with the Wellness Institute of Buffalo.

In January , the group claimed the ground near the the Tonawanda Coke Plant was polluted with high levels of hazardous chemicals and they urged the state to test more yards.

For years, residents there have said their community is making them sick and they have the statistics to back up that claim. Bladder cancer is 24 percent higher for men, and 81 percent higher for women living in the area. That’s compared to the rest of the state, excluding New York City.

In the Sheridan Parkside neighborhood, the State Health Department found that incidents of leukemia in women is 93 percent higher than in the rest of the state. Many claim the high cancer rate are linked to the more than 50 industries in the area.

Wednesday’s meeting is open to the public. It’s being held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center in Tonawanda.