In August 2009, the ABC15 Investigators exposed serious health violations at Arizona’s largest TV glass recycler. Two months later, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality still doesn’t know the extent of the contamination.
“Why are we worrying about this months and months later?” ABC15’s Joe Ducey asked the Director of ADEQ, Benjamin Grumbles.
“Well, I don’t have an answer to that,” he said.
Grumbles said ADEQ is frustrated.
“Out patience is running out,” Grumbles said.
Months after the ABC15 Investigators uncovered major health violations at the Dlubak Glass Company in Yuma, AZ, Grumbles said he is not happy with the facility’s progress.
He said the facility has not done enough to clean up or determine the scope of ground contamination.
The Dlubak Glass Company processes and recycles old TVs.
ADEQ is concerned about how Dlubak is handling cathode ray tubes, or CRTs, inside TV sets.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, CRTs contain toxins such as cadmium, which is linked to kidney and lung issues, barium, known to cause brain and lung problems, and most importantly, lead.
CRTs contain four to eight pounds of lead. The EPA says in order to recycle CRTs; the glass must be properly washed and stored because lead is so toxic.
In April of 2009, ADEQ took three soil samples from the Dlubak facility and the surrounding area.
The highest level of lead contamination came from a soil sample taken on the property’s fence line located right next to a fruit orchard. It contained 380 milligram/liter of lead, that’s 76 times higher than the EPA’s regulatory limit.
“Could that be affecting the fruit and people who consume it?” ABC15 asked Grumbles in August 2009.
“The short answer is yes,” Grumbles said. “We are concerned and focused on that precise question right now.”
In the six months since the violations were found, Dlubak has been working on its own clean up plan, something allowed by ADEQ.
“Do you see a potential conflict of interest?” ABC15’s Joe Ducey asked.
“I think it's fair to put the burden upon [the Dlubak Glass Company] to pay for and develop a plan,” said Grumbles.
According to ADEQ, Dlubak has removed some contaminated soil and changed some cleaning practices.
“All of the big questions haven't been answered yet,” Grumbles said.
Those big questions include: has the groundwater been contaminated? How far did the contamination leak into produce fiends? What other toxic materials, other than lead, have leached into the ground?
Calls to the Dlubak Glass Company for comment were not returned.
ADEQ said that Dlubak will be presenting the department with a revised clean up plan at the end of October.
