New Jersey
New Jersey residents concerned after PFNA levels in drinking water exceed standards
![New Jersey residents concerned after PFNA levels in drinking water exceed standards New Jersey residents concerned after PFNA levels in drinking water exceed standards](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/13713567_082823-wpvi-westville-water-issues-11pm-CC-vid.jpg?w=1600)
WESTVILLE, New Jersey (WPVI) — Some residents in Westville, New Jersey are concerned after receiving a notice that their drinking water system exceeds the state’s new standards for levels of a class of chemicals called perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).
“I had an idea being we are in such proximity to neighboring towns that’s been affected,” said Allison Lucci of Westville. “It’s very concerning.”
Lucci says she’s using bottled water as a preventative measure.
“Ever since I’ve lived here, we’ve been only drinking bottled water, but there’s unavoidable things, like washing your clothes, dishes, showering, and the potential risk is there for everyone,” said Lucci.
According to the notice, in the second quarter of 2023, the water system violated a New Jersey drinking standard for exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PNFA.
The chemicals found in the water system are used as a processing aid in the manufacturing of high-performance plastics, according to the notice.
SEE ALSO: Communities work to meet new drinking water standards in New Jersey
The notice also says people who drink water containing PFNA in excess over time could experience problems with their liver, kidney, and immune system. In males, the reproductive system may be affected, along with developmental delays in a fetus/ and or infant.
The notice goes on to say that people including the elderly, children and those with health concerns may choose to get bottled water to reduce their exposure, but it’s not necessary.
“What doctor can read that letter and say, ‘Yeah, your body can handle that.’ Nobody can. We don’t know,” said Gwen Herzalla of Westville.
Residents took their concerns to the borough council meeting Monday night where they questioned officials.
Public Works Superintendent Martin Finger Jr. says stricter standards by the state of New Jersey mean communities are at higher risk of exceeding the acceptable levels of these forever chemicals in the water.
Westville is just the latest community to be impacted.
“I know it’s kind of scary, it’s not anything we did specifically. It’s an ongoing problem throughout Gloucester County,” said Finger. “I don’t know if this will help, but I have family that lives in town, I haven’t, I won’t tell them to stop drinking it.”
Finger says they are designing and purchasing a new filtration treatment system. The estimated cost will be between $1.5 and $2 million.
The process could take up to two years to complete.
To read the full notice, click here.
New Jersey adopted a standard, or MCL, for PFNA in 2018 and monitoring began in 2021. The MCL for PFNA is 0.013 parts per billion (ppb) and is based on a running annual average (RAA), in which the four most recent quarters of monitoring data are averaged.
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New Jersey
Another 4-year-old boy nearly drowns, tragic NJ summer continues
![Another 4-year-old boy nearly drowns, tragic NJ summer continues Another 4-year-old boy nearly drowns, tragic NJ summer continues](https://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2024/09/attachment-near-drown.jpg?w=1200&q=75&format=natural)
🔵 Boy rescued from swimming pool at the Jersey Shore
🔵 Tragic drownings continue in NJ
🔵 Families can take steps to protect unsupervised kids from pools
BERKELEY — A four-year-old boy is hospitalized in critical but stable condition after a rescue in Ocean County this Labor Day weekend, according to authorities.
The young child was rescued from a swimming pool at a home in South Seaside Park on Friday, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Police said the boy was unresponsive when officers arrived around 3:30 p.m.
He was rushed to the hospital. Authorities said the boy was alive as of the latest update midday Saturday.
Tragic drownings continue in NJ
At least 11 other families have lost children in accidental drownings in New Jersey since Memorial Day.
A missing four-year-old child in Middlesex County was found dead in a pond behind a home in Monroe on Tuesday, authorities said.
Another four-year-old boy in Bergen County drowned in his family’s pool in July.
Children aren’t the only ones drowning in New Jersey. A man swimming with friends drowned in the Cedar Lake Wildlife Management on Thursday.
Read More: Multiple drownings this week, with the latest in South Jersey
Residential inground swimming pool in backyard with waterfall and hot tub
Protect unsupervised kids from pools
Drowning is a leading cause of death among young children four and under.
Nationally, drownings of children 15 and younger increased 15% from 2020 to 2021, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. That’s the latest data available.
The CPSC recommends families should install multiple protective measures around pools including fences, alarms, pool covers, and self-latching features to keep unsupervised kids away from the water.
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New Jersey
Hockey sticks, Gatorade left in tribute on NJ road where NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother Matthew were killed: ‘Forever in our hearts’
![Hockey sticks, Gatorade left in tribute on NJ road where NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother Matthew were killed: ‘Forever in our hearts’ Hockey sticks, Gatorade left in tribute on NJ road where NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother Matthew were killed: ‘Forever in our hearts’](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/newspress-collage-re5zh8cs1-1725158866963.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1725144496&w=1024)
Grieving hockey fans erected a memorial Saturday on the New Jersey corner where an alleged drunk driver claimed the lives of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew.
A cross crafted from old hockey sticks bearing the names of the brothers and their respective player numbers was plunged into the ground alongside County Route 551 in Oldmans Township, where the duo had been cycling together Thursday evening.
Several other sticks were arranged on the grass peppered between dozens of flower bouquets, balloons and a sign promising that the brothers will be “forever in our hearts.”
Suchat Pederson/New York Post
Odes to the Gaudreaus’ respective hockey careers were also offered up at the memorial — including two bottles of Gatorade, which served as a nod to Johnny Gaudreau’s tradition of sharing a bottle of the sports drink with his old Calgary Flames teammates after scoring a goal.
One man who laid down flowers told The Post that the offerings were left by “the entire hockey community across the country.”
They even left behind flowers, hockey sticks and even jerseys front of the home of their surviving family members — who were meant to be celebrating a wedding rather than the loss of both brothers.
“What makes this so sad is that it could have been preventable. If he drank, why didn’t he just take an Uber?” one grieving visitor, who declined to share their name, said of the alleged drunk driver.
Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were biking in their New Jersey hometown when they were struck and killed by a motorist who allegedly told a state trooper he guzzled “five to six” beers” before the crash.
The driver, Sean Higgins, reportedly attempted to pass an SUV in front of him, which had moved into the middle of the roadway to give the brothers plenty of room, just after 8 p.m.
Follow the NY Post’s coverage on NHL star Johnny Gaudreau’s tragic death at 31:
The US Army Major tried to pass the SUV on the right, striking the Gaudreaus from behind. The county road is rural, with crops on either side. There are no shoulders or street lights.
The tragedy struck one day before the Gaudreau brothers were set to take part as groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding to hockey player Devin Joyce in Gloucester City, NJ. The family had even celebrated the wedding rehearsal just hours before the tragedy.
Johnny, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.
Matthew’s wife is pregnant and is expecting their first child in December.
Higgins — who appeared to sigh with exasperation in court upon learning he would be held in jail through next week — faces two counts of vehicular homicide.
New Jersey
NJ judge rules smoking can continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to gaming workers
![NJ judge rules smoking can continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to gaming workers NJ judge rules smoking can continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to gaming workers](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/88654381-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024)
New Jersey gaming workers were dealt a serious legal blow Friday when a state judge dismissed a lawsuit that sought to ban smoking on casino floors.
The ruling in favor of Atlantic City’s nine struggling casinos was delivered by Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels.
The tobacco-wary casino workers filed a lawsuit in May, seeking a permanent ban on smoking over the health concerns posed by second-hand smoke.
When the state abolished smoking indoors nearly 20 years ago, they did so with an exception — permitting smoking on 25% of the casino floor.
The casino workers first called on state lawmakers to prohibit smoking four years ago, but when a bill to that effect stalled, they filed their lawsuit.
Opponents of the ban say it will lead to casino closures and thousands of layoffs.
They also believe putting an end to smoking in Atlantic City casinos will drive gamblers to casinos in neighboring Pennsylvania.
Casino owners also contend the state would lose millions in tax revenue under such a ban.
Atlantic City‘s nine casinos have been hurting financially since the start of the COVID pandemic, a recovery made even harder with the advent of online and app-based gambling.
The casino industry has long opposed a smoking ban, and said it has been working to develop better ventilation systems as well as enclosed smoking rooms, staffed by employees who volunteer to work there.
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