The research team investigating the human health and environmental impacts of the AltEn ethanol plant near Mead will share an update of their ongoing study on Thursday evening.
The presentation featuring researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will be at the Mead Fire Hall at 7 p.m.
The meeting is open to the public and will include a question-and-answer session and general discussion of the 2021 sampling.
AltEn, which used pesticide-treated seeds to produce ethanol, creating toxic solid and liquid waste products along the way, was ordered to shut down in February 2021 for violating numerous state environmental regulations.
Faculty from UNL, UNMC and Creighton University then launched a wide-ranging research project to study the movement of pesticides through the environment, as well as the chemicals' effects on humans, animals and pollinators.
Environmental sampling started in the spring of 2021, while a survey of perceived health effects from 1,000 individuals living near the defunct plant was closed in May.
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Dr. Eleanor Rogan, interim chair of the Department of Health Promotion in UNMC's College of Public Health, said the research team is still analyzing the results of the survey.
UNMC will also look for the presence of pesticides and toxic compounds in the blood or urine of individuals who wish to provide samples.
The study got a boost from the Legislature in April when it approved an amendment from Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue appropriating $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to continue the study through 2022.
Members of the research team who will present their findings and lead a discussion about their results include Rogan; Ali Khan, dean of UNMC's College of Public Health; Jesse Bell, director of the Water, Climate and Health Program; Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, department chair of civil and environmental engineering at UNL; Liz Van Wormer, coordinator of the One Health program at UNL; and Judy Wu-Smart, extension and research entomologist at UNL.
Photos: Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
The Korean War gave the Nebraska Ordnance Plant near Mead new life in the early 1950s. Assembly line workers, pictured here in 1952, made rocket ammunition for the Army that made its way to training camps all over the U.S.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Don Buell of Oakland (center) explains a 2 million-volt X-ray machine for inspecting ammunition at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant at Mead in the 1950s. With him are Jim Kuhl of Fremont (left) and John McGuire of Fremont. The three are standing on a ring which rotated the shells in and out of the room as the giant machine (left) made X-ray pictures. The plant, which closed at the conclusion of the Korean War, produced more than 2.8 million bombs for World War II.
Mead Ordnance Plant
The Mead Ordnance Plant in 1943 was operated by the Firestone Rubber Company for the U. S. government in the production of bombs and other ordnance for World War II.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Nebraska Ordnance Plant, September 1953.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Owen Kentopp of Falls City places cartons of rockets in ammunition boxes in April 1954. Mead-made rocket ammunition for the 3.5 inch recoilless rifle developed by the Army found its way to Army training camps all over the U.S.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant Employees
Employees of Rocket Loading Line at Nebraska Ordnance Plant being commended on Nov. 6, 1953, by the commanding officer, Lt. Col. Walter J. Seely, on attaining over 1 million man hours without a lost-time accident.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
The Nebraska Ordnance Plant in Mead, built in 1942, was one of 27 bomb-making plants built as part of the country's World War II efforts. At the end of shifts, workers would use high-pressure hoses to clean concrete floors, allowing chemicals to leach into the groundwater.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Harold Johnson of Fremont stands at the entrance of the Nebraska Ordnance Plant maintenance shop and warehouse area on April 20, 1958.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Nebraska Ordnance Plant site after closure, prior to being parceled and sold to the public. Former Saunders County Assessor Ira Wolfe said much of the land -- 5,131.72 acres are to be sold -- is "some of the best farm land in the state." On Feb. 21, 1989, groundwater contamination cleanup began at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant location, after designation as a Superfund site.
Nebraska Ordinance Plant
Roland Buchholz of Oakland grasps a rocket motor unit ready to go to the assembly line at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant at Mead in the 1950s. With back to camera is Maxine Osterloch of Wahoo. Across from her is Rose Rejda, also of Wahoo. The women check all of the motors to be sure they are complete.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Eight thousand pounds of explosives and Tritonite pellets are poured into the high casing of a 10,000 pound bomb at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant at Mead in the 1950s. The bombs were handled entirely by machines throughout production.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
S.N. Bennett (from left) and I.A. Miller pose with 6-ton bombs at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant at Mead in December 1954.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Workers at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant at Mead in the 1950s.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
Members of the plant protection department at Nebraska Ordnance Plant in Mead, were awarded a commendation certificate of merit for having worked 50,000 man-hours without a lost-time accident on July 26, 1953.
Nebraska Ordnance Plant
The millionth practice rocket was assembled at the Nebraskan Ordnance Plant at Mead and celebrated. This photo ran in the Lincoln Evening Journal on Oct. 10, 1952. Production of the rockets started at the plant in February. Shown are (from left) Capt. D.F. Daugherty, Army ordnance inspector; Donald Barclay, a line superintendent; Frank Crowley, director of production; and R.J. Martinelli, direction of inspection and quality control.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS
Chris Dunker
Higher education/statehouse reporter
Chris Dunker covers higher education, state government and the intersection of both.
