6 Glendale apartment units vacated after high levels of carcinogens detected, tenants speak out

GLENDALE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Tenants at a luxury apartment complex in Glendale have questions after dangerous levels of carcinogens were detected in their brand-new apartments, forcing them out.

The evacuation took place Tuesday, July 19, for six units in The Lydell Apartments.

Health officials said the units had 10 times the Health Department's approved limit of the chemicals.

Tenants told CBS 58 they knew there were traces of trichloroethylene, or TCE, in their apartment. They were notified a few weeks after they moved in, but what they didn’t know is just how dangerous those levels were.

"Don’t be concerned about it, and it's not at the level where they need to evacuate anyone yet," said one tenant with The Lydell Apartments who did not want to be identified.

Health officials said people could stay in certain units without worry, but some tenants feared for their safety.

"As far as the levels in my unit, I'm still being told I can stay, but I am taking the initiative to get transferred to a different building because I don’t feel safe."

Tenants said it's been hard to get a straight answer from the management of the property about questions regarding the effects of the carcinogens.

"It's been kind of back and forth and it was kind of nonchalant, that it's not serious."

CBS 58 obtained an internal email sent to tenants from The Lydell Apartment that read in part:

"As part of our commitment to ensuring your well-being and the quality of living spaces, we continue to comply with the Department of Health and take all precautionary measures and continue air testing within units in the building that is affected."

But for some tenants, questions remain.

"There's no way to tell how long we've actually been exposed, if we were exposed, if anything is wrong."

CBS 58 did reach out to The Lydell Apartments for a formal statement, and they have yet to get back to us.