2011 Northport Community Health Survey
With the assistance of Citizens for a Clean Columbia (CCC), and residents in the Northport community, The Northport Project distributed health questionnaires to current and past residents of Northport, WA between 2009 – 2011.
The questionnaires were distributed because of concerns about health issues possibly caused by chronic exposure to heavy metal and other toxic discharges from the Teck smelter for over a century.
More than 500 completed questionnaires were returned.
Survey Participants
I summarized the confidential information into 3 groups, each group representing a generation of residents. I chose to do this because the results clearly followed that pattern.
Participant Generations
• 1st Generation (1925–Present): Residents at any time during this period.
• 2nd Generation (1942–1970): Majority born between 1942–1958, typically lived in the area for 18–20 years.
• 3rd Generation (1970–Present): Residents at any time from 1970 onward.
• “3B” Generation: Children of at least one 2nd Generation parent, most of whom never lived in Northport.
Population Overview
Northport Population (NPP): Approximately 375 residents (1925–2010).
General Population (GP): Prevalence estimates for comparison.
Top Reported Health Issues
Results reported include: Condition / Northport (NPP) / General Population (GP) / Impacted Generations
• Thyroid/Endocrine Disorders / 116 (36%) / 6% / 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3B
• Arthritis 127 (40%) / 0.3% (Osteoarthritis 45–64); 0.1% (Rheumatoid) / 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3B
• Cancer (various types) 65 (20%) — 1st, 2nd
• Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn’s 54 (17%) / 7–11 per 100,000 / 2nd, 3rd
• Brain Aneurysms/Tumors 23 (7%) — 1st, 2nd
• Pulmonary Embolism 8 (3%) — 2nd
• Parkinson’s/Multiple Sclerosis 13 (4%) / 7% Parkinson’s
Call to Action
If you or a family member have any of the above conditions or a related autoimmune disease and did not participate in the 2011 Northport Community Health Survey, please email me at northportproject@hotmail.com your confidential health information to be included in ongoing health studies.
I did not fill out the survey in 2011
My health: I have had chronic pain since a teenager diagnosed in 2016 with a 15 mm thyroid nodule… And deterioration of the disc in my neck.
It’s too late to speak to my mother, Lois Broderius (b 1937), and her younger brother, Henry “Hank” Broderius. Mom married my father (1956) and they ultimately settled down in Olympia where my 5 younger siblings and I were born. My mom died in this decade from cancer. Uncle Henry preceded her in death. My husband frequently said he saw signs in their behaviors that led him to believe they’d been poisoned by heavy metals from the mill. And I can’t say he’s wrong about that. My great-grandparents emigrated from Germany in the late 1800s and ended up in Northport. My grandfather, Harvey Broderius, was born and lived there until the 1960s. He passed away in the late 1970s. My mother’s maternal grandparents, Edmond and Belle Runyon, brought their children to Northport from Kansas. Are you also seeking information on the children of the 1st generation with one parent in the 1st gen? Please let me know and I will acquire additional information for you.
Hi Carolyn – Thank you for sharing your story. I would love to get more details on your family history. If you could email me directly at paparichj@live.com I will respond with a list of questions I have. Thank you for sharing your story!
I am preparing for Broderius family relatives to arrive from Germany for a visit next week. So exciting! I wish to clarify that when I said my mother and uncle displayed behaviors that could have been influenced by heavy metal poisoning, particularly as you characterize them as 1st generation Northporters, I understand at least to a degree, the impact heavy metals can have on physical health and how those physical ailments can be displayed/revealed. I think I was a bit unartful in my earlier post in my description. Both were born, grew up there and I have many fond memories of visiting Northport as a child. It’s been far too many years since I’ve been there. I’m interested in learning more about the health issues in Northport. My fondest memories connected to Northport? Riding the train to visit my grandparents and extended family in Northport. The apricot trees! My siblings and I heartily enjoyed the abundance of apricots! My piano in my grandparents’ home. They sent it to my parents in the early 60s, I learned to play the piano – actually majoring in music (voice/piano) education with a foreign language (French – I thought living so close to Canada that it would be the most useful language I could learn) minor. That piano sits in my home still to this day, more than 5 decades later. It is such a part of my life! Jamie, and more history. I’ll be contacting you shortly to learn and share more. Thank you for this website. Carolyn
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This is incredible. It would be interesting to find out the rates of illness around the surrounding towns including Canada. Then the next step would be to talk to the Canadian government and have them change the statute of limitations so that Teck Cominco is held accountable for what they have done and continue to do.
I was born in Trail BC in 1960 and lived within 1km of the smelter until The early 1970s. I have been diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, hashimoto’s thyroiditus, interstitial lung disease, complex migraine , ascending aortic heart aneurism and two brain aneurisms. I have four children. Two boys two girls. My oldest daughter just passed away two weeks ago at age of 25 years old after a lifetime of suffering from autoimmune disorders, mitochondrial disease, GI system that stopped functioning, complex regional pain syndrome among many other diagnoses. My youngest daughter (17yrs) is suffering from probable mitochondrial disease, autonomic dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis, intractable nausea/vomitting, severe hashimoto’s thyroiditis. My father who worked at the plant suffers from MS and has significant lung problems. If we can help with this case in any way, please reach out to me. I would be happy to provide any information that would be helpful. This is truly a tragedy and something needs to be done to stop the carnage.