Many Minnesotans pour themselves a glass of water from their kitchen faucet without a second thought. However, more and more people are becoming concerned about the safety of their drinking water.

“I don’t trust our water,” states Vicki Hendricksen, a Woodbury mom of three, “we get all our water for drinking and cooking from our fridge because it’s filtered.” When Vicki moved to Woodbury two years ago to be closer to work, she learned the city’s water was contaminated with PFCs— chemicals used in non-stick pans, stain resistant clothing, and thousands of other products. Even though the level of PFCs in Woodbury’s water is considered to be at safe levels according to the state, Vicki has her doubts. “I wonder if the level they set is really acceptable—will this change years later when they learn more?”

Vicki’s sister lived in Bayport— another Minnesota community with contaminated water—and over the years heard about her water concerns. “My sister’s family never drank the water because of the contamination. Her friend’s daughter went through pre-mature puberty at a really young age and you can’t help but suspect it was due to the water.”

The Bayport contamination was first discovered in 1987 at the Stillwater Prison. Eventually 630 private wells in four communities, including portions of Bayport, were found to be contaminated with trichloroethylene(TCE), a known cancer-causing chemical.¹ “I always thought we were lucky living upstream along the Mississippi. My uncle lives in the state of Mississippi and says the water he drinks goes through three other people before it gets to him. Now I worry about our water in general—what are we doing to it; will it run out in the future?”

Vicki’s family’s exposure to chemicals comes not only from contaminated water, but also the products they use every day. “My mom developed a rash and initially thought it was poison ivy. But then she continued to get outbreaks, developing painful hives all over her body. After a year of testing, she was diagnosed with a formaldehyde allergy. When I heard this I was shocked and perplexed. Where was she coming into contact with formaldehyde?” Vicki’s mom found out from her allergist all permanent press fabrics used to make things like clothing and sheets contain formaldehyde. The chemical is also present in many body care products and building materials.² “When I thought of formaldehyde, I pictured dissecting frogs and preserving them in my high school science class. Formaldehyde wasn’t something we would wash ourselves in, we knew it was toxic. Now it’s in everything.”

Based on her personal experiences, Vicki is very motivated about educating others and making changes in her home, work and community. “I joined a group at work called the Green Light Initiative and we develop ideas on how to green our workplace. Our first step was to get rid of Styrofoam cups. I’m also very conscious when shopping. When I can pick a better product I do it.” Vicki also scheduled a Healthy Home presentation for her PTA so other parents could learn about harmful chemicals in every day products and how to make better choices.

¹ MPCA Fact Sheet, “Baytown Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site: Background Information,” Remediation, December 2007
² New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated, Derma Net NZ website, “Formaldehyde Allergy.” http://dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/formaldehyde-allergy.html