ATSDR - PHA - Northside Sanitary Landfill; Zionsville, Boone Co., IN

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PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

NORTHSIDE SANITARY LANDFILL
ZIONSVILLE, BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA

CONCLUSIONS

This site is a public health hazard. Evidence exists that exposures to sodium and potentially to chlorinated volatile organic compounds and inorganic site related substances has occurred in the past, are presently occurring, or are likely to occur in the future.

1) The estimated exposures are to sodium and potentially to site related substances at concentrations in the residential wells that, upon long-term exposures (greater than 1 year), can cause adverse health effects to any segment of the receptor population.

2) Aquatic life in Finley Creek may have bioaccumulated site-related inorganic and organic contaminants.

3) The contaminants found in the on-site leachate present a future potential for release and off-site migration.

4) The off-site surface soil surrounding the site has not been sampled.

5) Existing ATSDR Toxicological Profiles for arsenic, chloroethane, and lead lack information that would allow a better assessment of the site's public health implications.

6) On-site workers are at risk of exposure to levels of chemicals that could cause adverse health effects.

7) Since methylene chloride was found at comparable levels in the laboratory blank and the unknown samples, it was considered to be a laboratory contaminant.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1) Provide frequent monitoring of residential wells for contaminant migration in groundwater.

2) Since low levels of methylene chloride can be of health concern, safeguards should be taken to rule out methylene chloride as an environmental contaminant.

3)
Provide drinking water to households with sodium contaminated private wells.

4)
Provide off-site groundwater monitoring designed to ensure that no contamination reaches the residential wells.

5) Inform residents with private wells of the possible health effects caused by the drinking of water containing high levels of sodium.

6) Implement institutional controls in the near future to prevent the use of the contaminated aquifer for drinking water supplies. Institutional controls are required until remediation has reduced contaminant concentrations to levels below those of health concern.

7) Inform area residents of the potential dangers of eating aquatic animals taken from Finley Creek.

8) Implement actions for monitoring or other removal and/or remedial actions needed to ensure that humans are not exposed to significant concentrations of site related chemicals in the off-site leachate and surface water.

9) Characterize off-site soil.

10) Protect persons on and off the site from exposure to dusts or vapors that may be released during remediation.

11)
Provide remedial workers with adequate protective equipment and training in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120, and follow appropriate National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.

Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Recommendations

In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 as amended, ATSDR and the state have evaluated the Northside Sanitary Landfill site for appropriate health follow-up activities. Due to the continued educational activities undertaken by IDEM and EPA, the human interaction with a pathway of exposure, and the indications or allegations of adverse health outcomes, the following activities are recommended.

1) Provide immediate community health education to the exposed populations about the possible health effects from site contaminants and sodium, and about interim measures to reduce exposures.

2) Educate health professionals in Boone County of the potential health effects caused by site related contaminants, and sodium.

3) Consider whether substance-specific applied research should be conducted to identify a chronic MRL for ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure to arsenic, chloroethane, and lead.

If data become available that suggest human exposure is occurring, additional follow-up activities will be considered.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Based on the recommendations made in this public health assessment, the following public health actions have been or will be undertaken.

Actions Planned

The ISDH, Environmental Epidemiology Section will provide health education to two groups of individuals:

a)	Individuals who use private wells for potable water. These individuals will be provided information about potential adverse health effects that could occur if they are on sodium-restrictive diets.
b)	Individuals who live in the general community of the landfill. These individuals will be cautioned against eating aquatic biota taken from Finley Creek in the vicinity of the landfill. They will also be informed of the potential health risk involved if they did eat aquatic biota from Finley Creek.

The ISDH in cooperation with ATSDR, Division of Health Education, will provide health education to health professionals in Zionsville. This will consist of activities to improve the knowledge, skill, and behavior of health professionals in screening, surveillance, diagnosing, treating, and preventing injury or disease due to possible exposure to excess concentrations of sodium. This program will be initiated as resources permit.

PREPARERS OF REPORT

Preparers of the Report:

Ms. Dollis M. Wright
Toxicologist
Indiana State Department of Health

ATSDR Regional Representative:

ATSDR Technical Project Officer:

CERTIFICATION

The Northside Sanitary Landfill Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Indiana State Department of Health under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures existing at the time the public health assessment was begun.

William Greim
Technical Project Officer, SPS, RPB, DHAC

The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health assessment, and concurs with its findings.

Robert C. Williams
Director, DHAC, ATSDR

REFERENCES

ATSDR. 1987. Endangerment Assessment for Northside Sanitary Landfill. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Atlanta, Georgia. February 13, 1987.

ATSDR. February 1992. Draft Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. February 1992. Draft Toxicological Profile for Benzene. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. December 1987. Toxicological Profile for Chloroethane. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. December 1990. Toxicological Profile for Naphthalene/2-Methylnaphthalene. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. February 1992. Draft Toxicological Profile for Di(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthalate. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. February 1992. Draft Toxicological Profile for Lead. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. February 1992. Draft Toxicological Profile for Methylene Chloride. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. February 1992. Draft Toxicological Profile for Trichloroethylene. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

EPA. March 1986. Final Remedial Investigation Report on Northside Sanitary Landfill. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. Chicago, Illinois.

EPA. June 1986. Final Community Relations Plan, Northside Sanitary Landfill. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. Chicago, Illinois.

EPA. December 1986. Public Comment Feasibility Study Report, Northside Sanitary Landfill. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. Chicago, Illinois.

EPA. May 1991. Record of Decision Amendment Proposed for the Northside Sanitary Landfill Superfund Site, Zionsville, Indiana. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. Chicago, Illinois.

EPA. August 1991. Declaration for the Record of Decision Amendment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. Chicago, Illinois.

HSDB. May 1992. Hazardous Substance Data Bank. National Library of Medicine, National Toxicology Information Program, Bethesda, MD.

HSDB. July 1992. Hazardous Substance Data Bank. National Library of Medicine, National Toxicology Information Program, Bethesda, MD.

NAS. 1977. Drinking Water and Health. National Academy of Sciences.

Sittig M. 1981. Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals. Noyes Publications.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. 1990. Consent Decree. March 23, 1990.

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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345
Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348

Department of Health and Human Services

1)	The estimated exposures are to sodium and potentially to site related substances at concentrations in the residential wells that, upon long-term exposures (greater than 1 year), can cause adverse health effects to any segment of the receptor population.
2)	Aquatic life in Finley Creek may have bioaccumulated site-related inorganic and organic contaminants.
3)	The contaminants found in the on-site leachate present a future potential for release and off-site migration.
4)	The off-site surface soil surrounding the site has not been sampled.
5)	Existing ATSDR Toxicological Profiles for arsenic, chloroethane, and lead lack information that would allow a better assessment of the site's public health implications.
6)	On-site workers are at risk of exposure to levels of chemicals that could cause adverse health effects.
7)	Since methylene chloride was found at comparable levels in the laboratory blank and the unknown samples, it was considered to be a laboratory contaminant.

1)	Provide frequent monitoring of residential wells for contaminant migration in groundwater.
2)	Since low levels of methylene chloride can be of health concern, safeguards should be taken to rule out methylene chloride as an environmental contaminant.
3)	Provide drinking water to households with sodium contaminated private wells.
4)	Provide off-site groundwater monitoring designed to ensure that no contamination reaches the residential wells.
5)	Inform residents with private wells of the possible health effects caused by the drinking of water containing high levels of sodium.
6)	Implement institutional controls in the near future to prevent the use of the contaminated aquifer for drinking water supplies. Institutional controls are required until remediation has reduced contaminant concentrations to levels below those of health concern.
7)	Inform area residents of the potential dangers of eating aquatic animals taken from Finley Creek.
8)	Implement actions for monitoring or other removal and/or remedial actions needed to ensure that humans are not exposed to significant concentrations of site related chemicals in the off-site leachate and surface water.
9)	Characterize off-site soil.
10)	Protect persons on and off the site from exposure to dusts or vapors that may be released during remediation.
11)	Provide remedial workers with adequate protective equipment and training in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120, and follow appropriate National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.

1)	Provide immediate community health education to the exposed populations about the possible health effects from site contaminants and sodium, and about interim measures to reduce exposures.
2)	Educate health professionals in Boone County of the potential health effects caused by site related contaminants, and sodium.
3)	Consider whether substance-specific applied research should be conducted to identify a chronic MRL for ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure to arsenic, chloroethane, and lead.