Fired state hydrologist claims pesticide risk

Article by: Tom Meersman , Star Tribune
Updated: October 10, 2007 - 8:27 PM

He said drinking water in southeastern Minnesota may be contaminated, but the state says the water is still safe.

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A former state hydrologist warned Wednesday that people in southeastern Minnesota may be drinking water contaminated with pesticides, and he criticized state agriculture and health officials for not doing enough to assess potential health risks.

Paul Wotzka said farm chemicals he has measured at high concentrations in rivers and streams probably make their way rapidly through fractured limestone and sinkholes to groundwater used for drinking.

Wotzka, who worked for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture from 1990 to 2006, filed a whistleblower lawsuit in May. He claims he was fired six weeks after being asked to testify about his research. Minnesota Department of Employee Relations Commissioner Pat Anderson said she could not comment because Wotzka has appealed his firing to an arbitrator.

Agriculture officials said that they are also very concerned about occasional "spikes" of atrazine Wotzka measured but that so far concentrations have not violated health standards.

Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, chairman of the Health, Housing and Family Security Committee, said he called for Wednesday's hearing to learn about Wotzka's research and because he is concerned that state scientists are being muzzled by supervisors if their data raise troublesome or politically sensitive issues. Marty and Rep. Ken Tschumper, DFL-La Crescent, have proposed a bill to require state health officials to review about 50 of the 185 pesticides used in Minnesota and to restrict or ban any that pose risks to public health and safety.

Tom Meersman • 612-673-7388

Tom Meersman • meersman@startribune.com