FLORJbA DEPARTMENT OF HEALT Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H. Governor State Surgeon General

October 15, 2008

The Honorable Charlie Justice The Honorable Rick Kriseman The Honorable Janet Long 8601 4thStreet, North Suite 100 St. Petersburg, 33702

Re: Indoor Air Testing Near Raytheon in St. Petersburg

Dear Senator Justice, Representatives Kriseman and Long:

Thank you for your recent letter dated October 1, 2008 regarding the Department of Health's (DOH) indoor air quality testing of nine apartments, condominiums, and other buildings above groundwater contamination from the Raytheon hazardous waste site in St. Petersburg. DOH initiated these tests as a precaution to determine if vapors from the contaminated groundwater are entering buildings.

Preliminary results suggest that groundwater vapors are not entering these buildings. None of the chemicals most frequently found in contaminated groundwater from Raytheon (trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, etc.) were found in the indoor air of these buildings.

DOH collected two sequential 12-hour samples from each building. We shipped them via DHL to a specialized laboratory in Utah for analysis. Subsequently, we learned that DHL lost one of the shipping boxes containing four air samples. Despite repeated inquires, DHL was unable to find the missing box. DHL is reimbursing the laboratory $2,400 for the air sample containers.

DOH received written permission to test indoor air from the owners of the Brandywine apartments and from the residents, including Mr. Oscar Silva. The signed consent forms included instructions on various household products and chemicals that should not be used for 72 hours prior to testing. When DOH staff reminded Mr. Silva over the phone not to use products that could interfere with the test, he simply replied "Yes." In our September 16 letter to Mr. Silva, DOH relied on the apartment manager's assertion that Mr. Silva smoked. Upon learning that Mr. Silva was not fluent in English, DOH staff spoke with Mr. Silva through an interpreter and subsequently learned he does not smoke.

The highest level of one chemical found in the air of Brandywine apartments, 1,2- dichloroethane (1,2-DCA), is not an imminent health threat. Any health threat from breathing 1,2-DCA would only come from lifetime (70-year) exposure. Short-term exposures (less than a year) to the levels in Brandywine apartments are not likely to cause illness in adults, children, or infants. The highest level of 1,2 DCA in the Brandywine apartments is within the national indoor air background range. 1,2-DCA is used to make many common household plastics including

Office of the State Surgeon General 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin AOO. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1701 The Honorable Charlie Justice The Honorable Rick Kriseman The Honorable Janet Long Page 2 October 15, 2008

PVC pipes, packaging materials, furniture upholstery, wall coverings and housewares. 1,2- DCA was formerly used in some cleaning solutions, pesticides, wallpaper/carpet glue, paint/varnish/finish removers, and air fresheners. Some of these products may still be in use. Smoking is also associated with 1,2-DCA in indoor air. Florida and other states have found elevated levels of 1,2-DCA in indoor air in -theabsence of 1,2-DCA in groundwater. Without outside air exchange, 1,2-DCA levels can remain elevated for months. Some of the above- mentioned products may be the source of 1,2-DCA in buildings around Raytheon.

Prior to testing buildings around Raytheon, DOH staff requested residents refrain from using cigarettes and 24 different household chemicals and products. Studies show 1,2-DCA levels vary widely from building to building depending on the products in use. Unfortunately, not all household product labels give a detailed list of ingredients.

Since 1,2-DCA has not been found in shallow groundwater where vapor intrusion is most likely, and none of the chemicals most frequently associated with groundwater contamination were found in indoor air, it does not appear that groundwater vapors are intruding into buildings near Raytheon.

The Department will retest non-smoking locations where the shipping company lost sample containers, including one Brandywine apartment with elevated 1,2-DCA. Once indoor air retests are complete, DOH and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will publish a comprehensive report. This report will also examine the effect of breathing low levels of 1,2-DCA on risk of cancers caused by tobacco smoke.

Thank you again for your inquiry. Please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

Sincerely,

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Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H. State Surgeon General

cc: Congressman C.W. "Bill Young Senator Secretary Mike Sole, DEP