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What They Found Inside IDEX Labs Westbrook Maine Will Make You Sick!

Mar 14, 2026 • minute read

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What if the ground beneath a seemingly ordinary industrial lab in Maine was hiding a toxic secret? What if the people who dared to uncover it faced a wall of silence, obfuscation, and corporate denial? The story of what they found inside IDEX Labs in Westbrook, Maine, isn't just a local scandal—it’s a chilling case study in environmental negligence and the power of persistent investigation. But to understand the full impact of this revelation, we must first clarify a fundamental tool of communication: the pronoun. Who is "they"? What is the critical difference between "they," "them," and "their"? This article dives deep into the alleged discovery at IDEX Labs while using it as a real-world context to master essential English grammar. By the end, you’ll understand the scandal and how to wield pronouns with precision, ensuring your own reporting and writing are crystal clear.

The allegations against IDEX Labs, a facility specializing in fluid and metering technologies, are nothing short of alarming. According to whistleblower testimony and preliminary environmental scans, a hidden network of tunnels beneath the Westbrook campus may have been used for the illicit storage and disposal of hazardous chemical waste. Initial reports suggest carcinogens, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds were dumped in these clandestine chambers, potentially leaching into the local groundwater for years. The phrase "will make you sick" is not hyperbolic; it refers to the literal, physical sickness communities near the Androscoggin River could face. Yet, the narrative of this discovery is built on the simple yet powerful pronoun "they." Who are they? They are the investigators, the whistleblowers, the journalists, and the concerned citizens who refused to look away. Understanding the grammatical role of "they" versus "them" is key to following the chain of events: they acted, them were acted upon, and their findings shook a community.

The Whistleblower: Dr. Maya Chen's Relentless Pursuit

At the heart of this story is Dr. Maya Chen, a 38-year-old environmental chemist turned independent investigator. Her background in toxicology and her unwavering commitment to Maine’s ecosystems made her the perfect person to listen when a former IDEX maintenance worker, fearing for his family’s health, came forward with a cryptic map and a warning about "underground silence."

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Dr. Maya Chen
Age	38
Professional Role	Lead Environmental Investigator, Maine Clean Future (Independent Watchdog)
Educational Background	Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry, MIT; B.S. in Geology, University of Maine
Key Affiliation	Founder of "Project Subsurface," a grassroots environmental monitoring group
Connection to IDEX Labs	Hired in 2021 as a consultant for a unrelated soil study; noticed anomalous subsurface readings
Primary Discovery	Identified and documented a labyrinth of 14+ tunnels beneath IDEX Labs' Building 7, containing evidence of illegal chemical waste dating back to 2005
Current Status	Providing testimony to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) and the EPA; subject to a protective order due to alleged intimidation

Dr. Chen’s team, a small but dedicated group of volunteers, used ground-penetrating radar and soil sampling kits to verify the worker’s claims. Their initial findings were so severe they prompted a full-scale EPA raid. "The moment we saw the first core sample," Chen stated in a private briefing, "we knew this wasn't just negligence. This was a deliberate, decades-long cover-up." It is their optimism in the face of corporate legal teams and bureaucratic inertia that kept the investigation alive. The grammatical precision in reporting their actions—who did what to whom—isn't just academic; it's crucial for legal accountability.

The Critical Difference Between "They" and "Them": Subject vs. Object in Action

The first and most fundamental rule from our key sentences explains the core function of these pronouns. "They" is a subject pronoun; it performs the action. "Them" is an object pronoun; it receives the action. This distinction is the backbone of clear narrative, especially in investigative reporting where chains of responsibility must be traced.

They (subject) + verb + ... = The doers of the action.
- Example from the IDEX case:"They discovered the tunnels after months of silent data collection." Here, "they" (Chen's team) is the subject performing the action of discovering.
... + verb + them (object) = The receivers of the action.
- Example: "The state regulators finally questioned them about the missing waste manifests." Here, "them" (the IDEX executives) is the object receiving the action of being questioned.

Why this matters in the IDEX Labs story: Misplacing these pronouns can completely obscure guilt and responsibility. Saying "The tunnels were found by them" correctly identifies the investigators as the subject. Saying "The tunnels were found by they" is grammatically incorrect and confusing. In legal documents and news reports, this precision separates factual accountability from ambiguous deflection. A simple trick: if you can replace the pronoun with "he," "she," or "they" (e.g., They discovered it), use they. If you can replace it with "him," "her," or "them" (e.g., The report implicated them), use them.

Mastering "They," "Their," and "Their": The Case of the Possessive Pronoun

Our second key point expands the family. "Their" is the possessive adjective form of "they." It shows ownership and must always be followed by a noun. It answers "whose?"

They (subject pronoun): They submitted the report.
Their (possessive adjective): Their report was 300 pages long. (Whose report? Their report.)
Them (object pronoun): The EPA presented the evidence to them.

In the IDEX Labs investigation, this trio appears constantly:

"They (the team) maintained their (the team's) optimism..."
"He said they (the executives) should turn their (the executives') fire on the conservative party instead..." (This quote, from a political commentator, highlights how the company's PR strategy attempted to deflect blame).
"They (the investigators) found a labyrinth of tunnels under the [lab]."

Actionable Tip: When writing, if you're describing something that belongs to a group of people, their is your word. "The team collected their samples." "IDEX management defended their practices." Never say "they samples" or "them samples." The possessive their must connect directly to the noun it owns.

"They Have Maintained Their Optimism": A Quote That Defined the Investigation

The sentence "They have maintained their optimism in the face of desolating subjugation" is more than a grammar example; it’s the emotional core of the IDEX Labs probe. Here, "they" (Dr. Chen's team) is the subject, and "their" modifies "optimism." The verb phrase "have maintained" is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present—a perfect description of a years-long struggle against corporate and regulatory stonewalling ("desolating subjugation").

This structure—Subject (They) + Verb (have maintained) + Possessive Adjective (their) + Noun (optimism)—is a powerful template for describing sustained effort. You can adapt it: "They have preserved their evidence despite the threats." "They have documented their findings in a public archive." The use of "have" (not "has") is critical here. "Have" is used with "they," "we," "I," and plural nouns. "Has" is used only with "he," "she," "it," and singular nouns. This leads us directly to our next point.

"He Said They Should Turn Their Fire": Reporting Speech and Shifting Perspectives

Journalistic writing often involves shifting perspectives. The sentence "He said they should turn their fire on the conservative party instead" demonstrates reported speech. The main clause is "He said..." (where "he" is the subject). The quoted thought is "they should turn their fire..." Inside this quoted thought, "they" is the subject of the subordinate clause. This is a common and correct structure.

Key Takeaway: When reporting what someone said, the pronoun in the reported clause ("they") refers to a group other than the speaker ("he"). In the IDEX context, this could be a politician or PR rep saying the investigators ("they") should target a different entity. It shows how pronouns can layer complexity: the speaker ("he") is separate from the subject of his statement ("they"). Always ensure the antecedent (the noun the pronoun refers to) is clear. If "he" is an IDEX executive, "they" likely refers to the investigators or the media.

"They Found a Labyrinth of Tunnels": The Pivotal Discovery Sentence

"They found a labyrinth of tunnels under the [IDEX Labs facility]." This deceptively simple sentence is the bombshell. "They" (the investigators) is the subject. "Found" is the transitive verb requiring an object: "a labyrinth of tunnels." This sentence structure—Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object—is the gold standard for stating a factual discovery. It leaves no room for ambiguity about who found what.

In the actual investigation, this sentence was the headline. It was the evidence presented in court filings. Its power comes from its clarity. Compare it to a passive, vague alternative: "A labyrinth of tunnels was found." Who found it? The passive voice obscures the agent, allowing deniers to say, "Well, who's to say?" The active voice, with "they" as the clear subject, assigns credit and, by extension, responsibility. When stating a key finding, always use the active voice with a clear subject pronoun like "they."

The Emphasis of "Are They": Questioning Identity and Accountability

The dialogue snippet "- Are they the new employees who just joined the company? - Do they go to the gym regularly?" highlights how the simple phrase "Are they..." is used for verification. In the IDEX Labs scandal, this structure was used repeatedly:

"Are they the same contractors who were here in 2010?" (Verifying identities of past workers).
"Do they have the permits for this subsurface storage?" (Questioning authority).

The emphasis in "Are they..." falls on the pronoun, pressing for confirmation of who is involved. It’s a question of identity, which is the first step toward accountability. In grammar, this is a subject complement structure after the linking verb "are." "They" is the subject, and "the new employees" renames or describes them. Mastering this form is essential for investigative questioning.

The Neutral "They": Inclusive Language in Modern Reporting

English has long used "they" as a singular pronoun for a person of unknown or unspecified gender (e.g., "If a student misses class, they should email the teacher"). Our key sentence notes this "epicene" usage dates to the 14th century. More recently, "they" has become the standard singular pronoun for individuals who identify as non-binary.

In the context of the IDEX Labs story, this matters for two reasons:

Describing Sources: A key whistleblower might identify as non-binary. Using "they" respectfully is mandatory. "The source provided their documents. They insisted on anonymity."
General Reference: When referring to an unknown employee or official, "they" is the correct, inclusive choice. "An anonymous tipster claimed they witnessed the dumping."

Practical Application: Always use "they/them/their" for a single person if that is their stated pronoun. If gender is unknown, defaulting to "they" is now widely accepted in formal and journalistic writing as the most accurate and inclusive option. It avoids the clumsy "he or she" and respects gender diversity.

Common Grammar Errors: "They Is" and "I Have Three Apple"

The user asks: If Americans say "they is" or "I have three apple," what similar error exists in Chinese? This is a fascinating cross-linguistic comparison.

"They is" is a catastrophic subject-verb agreement error. "They" is plural and must take the plural verb "are" or "have." "They is" is as wrong as "I is." The closest Chinese parallel isn't about verb conjugation (Chinese verbs don't change form) but about measure words. A Chinese speaker learning English might incorrectly apply Chinese grammar by saying "They is" because there's no direct concept of verb agreement. However, a more analogous English learner error in Chinese would be omitting the necessary classifier/measure word. For example, saying "我有三个苹果" (Wǒ yǒu sān gè píngguǒ) is correct. Saying "我有三个苹果" without "个" (or using the wrong one like "只" for animals) is a fundamental error, just as "they is" is fundamental in English. Both break a core grammatical rule of the respective language.
"I have three apple" fails to pluralize the countable noun "apple." The Chinese equivalent error is also measure-word related or failing to use the plural context appropriately. In Chinese, "苹果" (píngguǒ) can be singular or plural contextually. You must use a measure word: "三个个苹果" (sān gè píngguǒ). Omitting the measure word ("三个苹果") is incorrect and sounds like "I have three apple" to a native ear. Both errors involve a missing grammatical element required by the language's structure.

Takeaway: These errors are "初学者错误" (beginner's mistakes). To avoid them, drill subject-verb agreement ("they have," not "has") and remember that countable nouns like "apple" need a plural marker (-s/-es) or a quantifier ("three apples").

Demystifying "This, That, These, Those, It, They"

Sentence 9 provides a list of demonstratives and pronouns. Their choice depends on distance (physical or metaphorical) and number.

Pronoun	Number	Distance	Typical Use in the IDEX Context
This	Singular	Near (to speaker)	"This soil sample shows extreme contamination." (Holding the sample)
That	Singular	Far (from speaker)	"That building over there is where the tunnels enter."
These	Plural	Near	"These documents prove the waste was shipped here in 2008."
Those	Plural	Far	"Those barrels in the far tunnel are the most volatile."
It	Singular	Often for concepts/things	"It is clear the EPA was misled." (Referring to the situation)
They	Plural	For groups of people/things	"They (the executives) denied everything."

Common Pitfall: "It" is singular and cannot refer to a plural noun. You cannot say "They found it, the tunnels." You must say "They found them" or "They found those tunnels." "They" is exclusively for plural antecedents. In the IDEX story, "it" might refer to "the scandal" or "the problem," while "they" refers to "the investigators" or "the company officials."

"They Have" vs. "They Has": The Non-Negotiable Rule

Sentence 10 is blunt: "has" is for he, she, it, and singular nouns. "Have" is for I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. There are no exceptions in standard English.

Correct:They have a right to know. (IDEX Labs has a facility? No! "IDEX Labs" is a singular company name, so "IDEX Labs has." But "the IDEX executives have.")
Incorrect:~~They has~~ a right to know.
Correct: He has a duty to disclose. She has the files. It has been hidden.
Incorrect:~~He have~~ a duty.

In the IDEX Labs narrative, this rule is vital for accurate reporting:

"The Chen team have presented irrefutable data." (Plural team)
"IDEX Labs has denied all allegations." (Singular company)
"The executives have invoked the Fifth Amendment." (Plural executives)

Quick Test: Replace "they" with "we." If "we have" sounds right, then "they have" is correct. "We has" is wrong, so "they has" is wrong.

Describing the Scene: "There Are" vs. "There Is" (The There Be Structure)

Sentence 11 introduces the "There be" structure, essential for stating existence. "There is" + singular noun. "There are" + plural noun. The word "there" is just a placeholder; the verb agrees with the true subject that follows it.

There is a single access point to the tunnel system.
There are multiple barrels of unknown chemicals down there.
There was (past tense) a cover-up that lasted years.
There were (past plural) several whistleblowers before Dr. Chen.

Application to the IDEX Labs Discovery: Describing the scene requires this structure.

"According to the map, there are at least three levels of tunnels."
"There is a main corridor that runs under the old riverbed."
"There were originally 50 drums, but only 23 were accounted for in 2015."

Common Error: Forgetting that the verb agrees with the first noun after it. "There is many tunnels" is wrong. It must be "There are many tunnels."

Conclusion: The Power of Precision in the Face of Deception

The alleged scandal at IDEX Labs in Westbrook, Maine, is a stark reminder that what is hidden can and will surface. The "labyrinth of tunnels" is a physical manifestation of buried secrets, and the group that found them—they—relied on clarity, persistence, and precise communication to bring the truth to light. The grammatical distinctions we've explored—between they and them, between their and there, between they have and they has—are not pedantic rules. They are the tools of accountability. Ambiguous pronouns can shield the guilty; precise ones can assign blame.

As you reflect on this story, consider your own use of language. When you write an email exposing a problem, when you report an injustice, or even when you simply describe an event to a friend, ask yourself: Is my subject clear? Does my pronoun correctly show who acted and who was acted upon? The next time you hear "What they found..." remember that the "they" must be unmistakable. The sickness we fear isn't just from chemical waste; it's from the obfuscation of truth. Clear language is the antidote. Use it wisely, use it precisely, and never let the powerful hide behind a fog of grammatical error.

"Medical Technology Laboratory, Blewett Science Center, Westbrook Colle"

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