El Defensor Chieftain brings us an update to this story via an interview with a man who claims to be a former plant manager at Eagle Picher approx. 30 yrs ago. The man says, amongst other things:

· "If they're just checking for lead, they're just scratching the surface"
· [B]ased on the other chemicals and solvents used in the plant while he was there, "lead is a minor problem."
· "We used lots of chemicals and solvents..."
· Among the chemicals in use while he was there that he could recall were sodium hydroxide, acetone and trichloroethylene (or TCE).
· [H]e also thought they used a chemical containing cyanide.
· "Effluents from the plant ran into the lagoons, human and (manufacturing) wastes."[sic]
· [B]ased on what he observed while at the plant, "I wouldn't willingly walk over there through that dust."

Of course, they're not just checking for lead. As we reported earlier, they've discovered TCE contamination already and are checking for more. But you can read the full interview story here