Health Consultation
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Health Consultation METRO CONTAINER NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITE TRAINER, DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA EPA FACILITY ID: PAD044545895 Prepared by Pennsylvania Department of Health FEBRUARY 8, 2013 Prepared under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Community Health Investigations Atlanta, Georgia 30333 Health Consultation: A Note of Explanation A health consultation is a verbal or written response from ATSDR or ATSDR’s Cooperative Agreement Partners to a specific request for information about health risks related to a specific site, a chemical release, or the presence of hazardous material. In order to prevent or mitigate exposures, a consultation may lead to specific actions, such as restricting use of or replacing water supplies; intensifying environmental sampling; restricting site access; or removing the contaminated material. In addition, consultations may recommend additional public health actions, such as conducting health surveillance activities to evaluate exposure or trends in adverse health outcomes; conducting biological indicators of exposure studies to assess exposure; and providing health education for health care providers and community members. This concludes the health consultation process for this site, unless additional information is obtained by ATSDR or ATSDR’s Cooperative Agreement Partner which, in the Agency’s opinion, indicates a need to revise or append the conclusions previously issued. You May Contact ATSDR Toll Free at 1-800-CDC-INFO or Visit our Home Page at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov HEALTH CONSULTATION METRO CONTAINER NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITE TRAINER, DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA EPA FACILITY ID: PAD044545895 Prepared By: Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Environmental Health Epidemiology Under a Cooperative Agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Table of Contents Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Background and Statement of Issues ................................................................................................... 6 Background ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Site Description ................................................................................................................................ 6 Site History and Operations ................................................................................................................. 7 Demographics ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Site Visit ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Exposure Pathway Analysis ................................................................................................................. 8 Historical Site Sampling Investigations ............................................................................................. 11 EPA Removal Environmental Sampling Investigation ...................................................................... 13 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Onsite ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Offsite ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Residential Community .............................................................................................................. 16 Stoney Creek and Delaware River ............................................................................................. 16 Fish consumption ....................................................................................................................... 17 Children’s Health ............................................................................................................................... 19 Community Concerns ......................................................................................................................... 20 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 21 Public Health Action Plan .................................................................................................................. 21 References .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Report Preparation .............................................................................................................................. 24 Appendix 1: Figures ........................................................................................................................... 25 Appendix 2: Site Photographs ............................................................................................................ 32 Appendix 3:Glossary of Terms .......................................................................................................... 38 2 Summary Introduction The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) prepared this health consultation (HC) for the Metro Container Site (‘the site’) in Trainer, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The site was proposed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Priorities List (NPL) in September 2011 and finalized to the NPL in March 2012. ATSDR and PADOH prepared this HC to evaluate whether the public has been or is being exposed to levels of contaminants from historical site activities that could harm their health. Based on historical sampling data and EPA investigations, the on-site sub-surface soil, on-site groundwater, and adjacent creek sediments, are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals. In this HC, PADOH reviewed the on-site sampling data and offered recommendations for additional residential environmental sampling. PADOH’s purpose is to serve the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent or mitigate exposures to harmful substances. PADOH worked under a cooperative agreement with ATSDR to complete this HC document. 3 Conclusions Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) reviewed the available environmental sampling data for the site and conclude/recommend the following: Conclusion 1 Exposures to on-site soil contamination are not expected to harm people’s health. Because access to the site is controlled the public is not being exposed to on-site contamination. Basis for Sampling collected from on-site soil, the adjacent Stoney creek sediment, and Conclusion groundwater have detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). However, public exposures via trespassing are unlikely because a fence and controlled access gate is present. The potential for workers’ exposures is limited because a gravel and stone surface cover along with existing structures limits direct contact with the heavily contaminated sub-surface soils and groundwater. The site uses the public water drinking water and not groundwater for a drinking water source. Therefore, there is no completed exposure pathway. Conclusion 2 PADOH cannot conclude whether ingestion and inhalation of possible contaminants in off-site residential soil could harm people’s health. Basis for No environmental sampling data has been collected in the adjacent community Conclusion to characterize potential off-site exposures. Surface soil in the residential community could potentially be contaminated from historical site activities. Next Steps Given the extensive past environmental violations at the site, historical operations, and on-site sampling data showing significant sub-surface contamination, PADOH recommends that EPA collect off-site soil samples to determine the potential for residential exposure to contaminants. PADOH will review additional environmental sampling data, if available, and issue a public health conclusion. Conclusion 3 PADOH cannot conclude whether residential or on-site inhalation from vapor intrusion is occurring and if indoor air levels could harm people’s health. Basis for Groundwater on the site is highly contaminated with VOCs. Groundwater off-site Conclusion could also be contaminated with VOC’s, but currently there is no off-site groundwater sampling data. If VOC levels are