MARSHALL (WKZO) -- The Calhoun County Health Department is expanding the evacuation of homes along the Kalamazoo River. Their most recent air quality tests are showing unacceptably high levels of benzene in the air, enough to pose a health concern to the occupants of 30 to 50 homes. Spokesperson Bridgette Richenbaugh says they will go door to door to notify the specific homes in the evacuation area, to the north and northwest of the oil spill.
She says short term benzene will make you sick, long term it will give you cancer, and can do all sorts of bad things to your immune system, and your bone marrow. She says they have put together a list of shelters and hotels and she says save your receipts.
They are also issuing warnings that anyone with a water well within 200 feet of the contaminated river should stop using their well water for drinking and cooking. Rutherford says with so much benzene in the air they can’t test wells without contaminating samples. They are erring on the side of caution.
