To the Editor:

I was upset to learn that the town of Guilderland was keeping a toxic chemical secret from its citizens. This week, all citizens in the town received a letter from the water department stating the toxic chemical TTHM was above allowable safety levels. Current levels are 83.5 parts per billion.

During the previous few years, these chemicals were at 79.4 parts per billion. This is six-tenths below the allowable level.

These toxic chemicals are known carcinogens. They cause cancer, central nervous system disorders, and a variety of birth defects.

Of course we don’t know how much exposure someone needs before these problems occur. The people of Guilderland should have had the option, though, to make a different decision on the water they consume and how to rectify this problem.

This chemical is not only absorbed through consumption but through the skin. Even if you filter your water for drinking, most don’t filter for bathing. Every citizen of this town has exposed their family and themselves to this carcinogen.

Any woman that has been pregnant from 2016 through 2018 has been inadvertently exposed to high levels of this toxin as well as exposing her unborn fetus to this chemical. In addition, babies and children, whose brains and nervous systems who are still developing, have been exposed to this toxic chemical as well.

The citizens of New York have made clear they want government to make healthcare and wellbeing decisions for them.This should be a warning to them. Government doesn’t necessarily have their best interest at heart.

A responsible politician would tell his citizens that something is dangerous and explain what is needed to fix the problem. That would be keeping in line with integrity and wanting to do what is best for the community he serves.

Doing what is right is true leadership. Just being under the limit is still too high. Instead it was hidden from us and left to fester while we trusted the town to be honest and forthright.

Currently, the town cannot be trusted to keep even the most basic life-giving necessity, water, safe to consume.

Erica Smith

Guilderland

Editor’s note: See front-page story.