Confessions of a G33k

In an IBM Village, Fears of Air and Water Pollution

By Samme Chittum/The New York Times

ENDICOTT, N.Y. - This village, best known as the birthplace of I.B.M., has an unusual look these days. Venting systems, with white plastic tubing that runs from basements to roofs, sprout from 377 houses and businesses.

Many houses are for sale, but there are few buyers.

"This area is taboo now," said Tim Davis, who lives on Monroe Avenue. "And it's going to stay that way."

Mr. Davis lives in what residents call "the plume" - 320 acres encompassing the downtown and stretching across the village, all of which were polluted by industrial toxic substances. The chemicals contaminated soil and leached into groundwater. And they continue to produce vapors that waft into hundreds of basements.

Occurring over decades, the pollution is traceable at least in part to I.B.M., which used common solvents in its circuit board assembly.

The venting systems were all paid for by I.B.M., which two decades ago employed 12,000 workers in Endicott, just west of Binghamton. Now 1,700 collect I.B.M. paychecks here. Still, residents say they feel trapped in virtually unsalable homes, where they fear the prolonged effects of the vapors on the health of their families.

Boy, this makes one think twice about purchasing a house near a manufacturing facility.