Residents in Grindsted urged for transparency ahead of health study results on factory contamination

Today, residents of Grindsted will gain a clearer understanding of the contamination from the former Grindsted factory, including its locations, potential contact risks, and implications for their health. For years, locals have suspected that the significant pollution from the old facility might be linked to health issues, including an unusual number of ALS cases in the town.

During a town hall meeting this evening, the results of the third health study ordered by Region Syddanmark will be presented. However, the timing of this announcement has drawn criticism from politicians and local residents. They believe it is problematic that the health study’s findings are only being disclosed at the meeting. Politicians Carsten Sørensen and Karsten Fogde argue that this approach is undemocratic, suggesting that residents should have access to the report beforehand to formulate informed questions.

The factory has been known to dump chemical waste and release wastewater into local bodies of water, leading to severe contamination with heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and chlorinated solvents. Much of this pollution remains underground in the area and poses health concerns for the community.

Both politicians advocate for advance access to the study’s findings to allow for meaningful discussions at the meeting. Local resident Ketty Hjøllund, who lost her husband to ALS, supports this call for transparency, emphasizing the need for advance preparation for residents to ask questions.

In response, Poul Erik Jensen, chair of the environmental committee in Region Syddanmark, contends that presenting the results during the meeting ensures fairness and factual accuracy, along with subsequent opportunities for residents to ask questions. Prior studies have previously concluded that residents of Grindsted do not have higher illness rates than those in similar towns, though new reports have raised concerns about specific diseases like ALS and leukemia in certain areas.