Seminole Family Unveils Cancer-Causing Water Contamination. The Fulmer family experienced a heartbreaking series of losses when their beloved dogs, Tasha and Rocky, succumbed to cancer in 2004 and 2007, respectively. These Rhodesian ridgebacks were deeply cherished by Alan and Patricia Fulmer and their children. In an attempt to fill the void left by their departed pets, the family adopted another pair of puppies, Zippora and Ariel, who, tragically, also succumbed to cancer.
In 2018, the city of Sanford conducted tests on the Fulmer family’s well water, and the results were alarming. Patricia Fulmer recalled the chilling moment when she was warned, “Don’t drink it, don’t cook with it, don’t brush your teeth with it, don’t bathe in it, don’t touch it.” The revelation was terrifying.
Their shock was threefold. Initially, they learned that their drinking water contained a chemical called 1,4-dioxane, which was deemed likely to cause cancer, and it was present at a high concentration in their private well. Subsequently, they discovered that authorities had been aware for years that this chemical, associated with hazardous pollution from a former Siemens factory in Lake Mary, was contaminating the underground water supply – the Floridan Aquifer – in all directions around their home, just south of Sanford.
Adding to their distress, Patricia Fulmer was diagnosed with a malignant tumor, further exacerbating their worries. The family was already grappling with the chronic illnesses of their two daughters and the loss of their fifth pet, Dunder, a miniature pinscher.
In 2021, they made the difficult decision to sell their home to a developer and move away from the area. Patricia Fulmer noted that everything finally fell into place and made sense, shedding light on the possible cause of their medical struggles and concerns about their exposure to 1,4-dioxane. The Fulmer family insisted on maintaining a measure of privacy while they confronted their medical challenges.
Regrettably, this narrative is not unique in Florida, as the state has witnessed similar pollution incidents. In the case of 1,4-dioxane, it had been in use across the United States since the 1970s. The Siemens factory, involved in manufacturing telephone network components, was cited by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for improper handling of hazardous chemicals before its closure in 2003.
Determining when and how strongly 1,4-dioxane first contaminated the drinking water in Seminole County remains difficult. Nevertheless, its presence was confirmed in the tap water of Sanford and the county’s Northwest Service Area in 2013, as well as in Lake Mary’s water in 2014.
The unfortunate truth is that the Fulmers were not alone in their lack of awareness. Countless residents and workers in Lake Mary, Sanford, and Seminole County were likely unaware of the 1,4-dioxane in their drinking water. Despite the efforts of organizations like the League of Women Voters of Seminole County and individuals like Melanie Beazley, a chemistry professor at the University of Central Florida, and Gabrielle Milch, a water conservation advocate, information about the chemical’s presence in the Floridan Aquifer remained scarce.
The case mirrors a similar environmental controversy in Tallevast, north of Sarasota, where residents were kept in the dark for years about toxic chemical contamination. Tallevast’s struggle with Lockheed Martin’s polluted American Beryllium Co. plant serves as a poignant reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in such situations.
When it comes to unregulated contaminants like 1,4-dioxane, utilities and tap water providers play a crucial role in safeguarding public health. While Seminole County utilities detected 1,4-dioxane concentrations above health advisory levels, their annual reports lacked sufficient information for ordinary citizens to comprehend the implications.
The absence of health-protective regulations for chemicals like 1,4-dioxane leaves water utilities in a challenging position. While they work to reduce contamination, transparency becomes the key to empower consumers and hold polluters and regulators accountable.
Unfortunately, the suspected source of the contamination, the former Siemens factory, is now being overshadowed by the Lake Mary Wellness and Technology Park. This development project symbolizes progress and economic growth but conceals the factory’s toxic legacy. The Fulmer family’s former home, situated near the factory, has become a victim of this transformation, raising questions about the potential health risks they may have faced.
In summary, the Fulmer family’s struggle with cancer and tainted tap water serves as a powerful reminder of the need for transparency, accountability, and information dissemination when it comes to environmental hazards. As communities strive to protect their water resources, the well-being of residents must remain the utmost priority.
