Researchers from Aarhus University’s National Center for Environment and Energy have concluded in a new analysis that there is no evidence that pollution from the former Grindsted Factory poses a specific and unacceptable health risk to the residents of the town, as long as guidelines are followed. The findings of the analysis will be presented at a town hall meeting in Grindsted on Thursday evening.

Although the researchers indicate in the report that serious contamination involving several problematic substances exceeds threshold levels in the groundwater, they stress that the deep groundwater is not used and therefore no individuals are directly exposed to it. There is also contamination present within the top seven meters of the groundwater, which may pose a health risk, leading the researchers to recommend against using that water.

“We should clarify that this water does not come into contact with the drinking water in the homes of Grindsted’s residents,” the conclusion from the researchers states.

The researchers also report that there is no data to support exposure via outdoor air, and although only a few measurements have been taken of indoor air, they suggest further measurements and risk assessments in certain homes.

The group emphasizes that no unacceptable exposures have been found in the soil outside of the known contaminated areas. This analysis concludes three health studies commissioned by the Southern Denmark Region (Region Syddanmark) following concerns that decades of pollution could have led to increased illness among citizens. The Grindsted Factory, which produced pharmaceuticals among other products, used to discharge wastewater directly into the Grindsted Stream (Grindsted Å).

The two previous studies conducted earlier this year concluded that the residents of Grindsted are not experiencing higher rates of illness compared to similar towns.