ENDICOTT (WBNG) — If you were born and raised in Broome County, chances are you know about the dangerous chemicals left behind by IBM in Endicott. While cleanup there is still underway, one man is standing up for those who don’t know.

When you drive down North Street in Endicott, you can’t miss Mark Bacon’s signs posted on the side of his building.

They read, “IBM Cancerous Chemical Spill Area.” He said he put up these signs on his building to warn people about the chemicals under the ground. A warning — he never got.

“The spill was 21-years old when I bought the building. Everybody knew except for me because I lived in New Jersey,” said Bacon.

The former IBM campus is a state superfund site, listed as class two, which by DEC standards means there’s a significant threat to public health or the environment.

“I have all kinds of health problems,” said Bacon. “I know a lot of people that got cancer here.”

TCE is one of the main chemicals of concern the Department of Enviromental Conservation found at the site.

According to the Department of Health’s website, the chemical is linked to cancer and other health effects when someone is exposed over long periods of time.

The DEC tells 12 News the ground water contamination significantly shrunk over time. In April, a plan was put in place to continue extracting and treating groundwater and eventually cover contaminated soils. Mitigation systems were installed years ago, to protect people living in homes near the plume, but Bacon still worries about the air outdoors.

The DEC said it continues indoor air sampling and mitigation of indoor air to lower TCE levels.

Bacon said the Village of Endicott sent him a letter saying his signs violate code.

“The Following NYS Building and Fire Code Violations are deemed to be dangerous, hazardous, and detrimental to life or health,” the letter from Code Enforcement read in part.

“I don’t see me doing that. I see someone else doing that …by not telling the people,” said Bacon.

Bacon plans to speak with Code Enforcement in hopes of keeping the signs up. 12 News reached out to Endicott Code Enforcement and IBM but neither have gotten back to us.

The DEC says proper measures are in place to prevent people from coming in contact with contaminants on site.

Regardless of who owns the property or leases space IBM retains responsibility of the cleanup and future investigations.