Defenders Investigate Mysterious Dust

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Defenders Investigate Mysterious Dust

Landfill Reportedly Emitting Illegal Amounts Of Dust

April 24, 2003

Decorations sway, lawn ornaments whirl, wind whips through an American flag -- in some metro Detroit neighborhoods, everyday serene moments are causing panic and concern, Local 4's Defenders Investigator Drew reported.

See Part I Of Defenders Mystery Dust Investigation

The worry for local residents is what's lurking in the air? A brand new driveway is stained red with a mysterious dust, and the same dust clings to trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, aluminum siding, front door mats -- all brand new and all stained reddish brown. Several homes in a middle-class neighborhood, and homes in a new upscale subdivision in Southgate are all victims of the strange substance, Local 4 reported. The same dust clings to Batistone's home and belongings. "Last year I started noticing when I cut my lawn. My shoes would be orange, my lawnmower would be orange and I was blowing out clouds of this stuff," Batistone said. Batistone has lived in for 13 years and up until a few months ago, life in his downriver community was peaceful and clean, Local 4 reported. "This is the stuff we're talking about. I mean it's just getting all over everything and making a big mess of everything … destroying our homes, vehicles, depreciating our home values. It's just making a mess," Batistone said. Down the road from Batistone, Madden wipes her feet on her doormat, each time leaving a red residue. "You even hate to leave for vacation for a couple of weeks because you know when you come back everything is going to be coated; you're going to have to scrub it down and it's going to be a mess," Madden said. Residents living in the neighborhood seemed to each have a story of how their home was losing value; their health was suffering. And everyone points the finger at one place, the Penfill Landfill, Local 4's Drew reported.

What's Being Dumped On The Neighborhood?

The Defenders learned the landfill accepts waste products consisting of iron from steel manufacturing plants. The concerns and complaints are so serious that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is investigating the Penfill Landfill, Local 4 reported. "It is in violation of their (Penfill's) permit and it is in violation of air quality law," said an official from the DEQ. The Defenders obtained copies of letters of violations issued by the state against the landfill. According to the documents, the landfill is emitting more dust than legally allowed. The question remains, what's in this dust, and is it making people sick? "I have chronic sinus infections, chronic ear infections, respiratory infections … it's not one or two people, it's been quite a few people," Batistone said. Stay with Local 4 at 11 p.m. when the Defenders reveal the results of lab tests on the mystery dust.

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