DISH — Officials with the Environmental & Injury Epidemiology and Toxicology Unit of the Texas Department of State Health Services will investigate health concerns related to natural gas production here, probably early next year.

Health concerns were raised in October after the town of Dish commissioned an air quality study and scientists found toxins at troubling levels.

Allison Lowery, spokeswoman for the Department of State Health Services, said the agency plans to test at least 50 people.

“We hope that will be a good representative number for the community,” Lowery said. “We have found some funding, but it’s not money that was originally budgeted for this.”

A preliminary analysis of residents’ health surveys submitted in conjunction with the air study by environmental scientist Wilma Subra found people’s symptoms were consistent with the emissions found.

Among the acute symptoms, residents reported frequent sinus infections and nosebleeds, headaches, persistent coughs and irritated eyes. Town librarian Dawn Melton was one of those who had debilitating migraines, one of which triggered a stroke, her doctors told her.

Among the chronic symptoms, residents reported enlarged spleens and abnormal mammograms and EEGs.

But to find out whether the emissions were contributing to or causing their health problems calls for some expensive tests. After learning what the tests would cost, Dish Mayor Calvin Tillman went to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and asked for help.

“I was bounced around the agency and eventually learned they wouldn’t do it without a state request,” Tillman said.

He wrote a letter to the Texas Department of State Health Services, asking for its endorsement of the town’s request. State officials said they could conduct the investigation, although they balked at the town’s request to test every resident.

Dish has about 125 residents inside town limits. A large mobile home community, part of the town’s initial formation, lies just outside town limits, having been de-annexed in 2004.

“I hope they get a good sampling,” Tillman said. “I’m trying to get as much data as I can.”

Lowery said the agency, which has done similar studies in other communities, hasn’t ruled out the possibility of testing more people, depending on the results.

“We haven’t decided whom to test,” Lowery said. “There is a methodology on how to get a representative sample.”

Community cooperation is important, she said, although agency officials had no reason to not expect it. They will begin with a community meeting, probably early next year, in order to explain the methodology and answer people’s questions.

In addition, agency scientists hope to work in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The chief engineer’s office previously announced plans to deliver ambient air quality monitors in the spring, on the heels of intense sampling by local inspectors.

It could be beneficial for health officials to collect blood and urine samples at the same time environmental officials are collecting air samples, Lowery said.

Sue Matthews, who lives on Swafford Road at the town’s northern edge, said she hopes to participate. Gastric problems suffered by several of her neighbors spurred her to stop drinking local water. The air often smells funny and she hasn’t felt right in a long time, she said.

“Even my co-workers have noticed and ask what’s wrong with me,” Matthews said. “I used to be outside all the time, and now I barely have any energy to do anything. I’m tired all the time.”

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com.