Parents: Brookhaven Town dump is making children sick

Some parents are demanding action from the state and Suffolk County, claiming the Town of Brookhaven Landfill is making their children sick.

News 12 Staff

Jan 7, 2019, 8:29 PM

Updated 1,942 days ago

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Some parents are demanding action from the state and Suffolk County, claiming the Town of Brookhaven Landfill is making their children sick.
The residents say their kids are sick from attending Frank P. Long Intermediate School in Bellport, which is located right next to the landfill.
Caroline Wilkinson says her son was ill during the time he attended Frank P. Long - he would throw up, have severe migraines and get dizzy. The boy is now out of the school, but Wilkinson says he still struggles with his undiagnosed illness.
A group of teachers and students claims the landfill has contaminated the community's air and water. They say the town's promise to finish capping the landfill is not enough.
The Town of Brookhaven has said the landfill will be 75 percent capped by mid-February and that it will be closed for good by 2024.
In December, area residents reported a strong odor event and Brookhaven officials agreed it was the result of the construction underway to cap a portion of the landfill. But the town says other nearby businesses also contribute to odor problems in the area.
Nancy Dodge believes it is not just the air that is contaminated. She says her daughter Skye was also sick the entire time she attended Frank P. Long. Dodge and other residents tested the drinking water provided by the Suffolk County Water Authority. They say test results showed high levels of the radioactive gas radon, which causes lung cancer.
The Suffolk Water Authority sent News 12 a statement saying:
A recently released documentary called "Sick School" explores the issues of sick teachers and students at Frank P. Long.


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