Tribe Watches Generations Die Young ; Blames Illnesses On Toxic Ooze

Summary

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They say their ancestors routinely lived healthy, simple lives, well into their 80s and 90s.

That's why the Ramapough Mountain Indians find it so striking - and frightening - that, these days, even older baby boomers are rare in their 500-member Ringwood community.

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Tribe Watches Generations Die Young ; Blames Illnesses On Toxic Ooze

Almost an entire generation of residents has died off in the last few decades - mainly from cancer. Many have been in their 40s.

That timetable matches how long the community has lived with leftover toxic paint sludge in its midst. And it's why residents and their lawyers are now trying to collect hard statistical evidence that the two events are linked.

"There are a lot of sick people in that area, and a lot of them are dying," said Matthew Plache, a Washington, D.C., attorney who worked with the tribe to get governmental recognition. "We know the toxic waste is a health risk and these people have been and continue to be exposed to it."

Ford Motor Co. initially plan...

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