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1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

D. L. MUD, INCORPORATED
ABBEVILLE, VERMILION PARISH, LOUISIANA

8. CONCLUSIONS

Based on the information provided in EPA's Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study and reviewed by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, Section of Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology, it is concluded that the site poses no public health hazard based on current site conditions. Prior to the 1987 remediation, the site may have posed a health hazard but because of inadequate sampling data for that time period, we are unable to determine past exposure levels.

Arsenic was detected at elevated levels (levels that exceed ATSDR's comparison values) in some of the on-site monitoring wells and in some of the surrounding residential wells. The presence of arsenic in the groundwater is believed to be unrelated to site contamination but rather representative of natural background conditions. Nonetheless, it is considered a completed exposure pathway. The estimated exposure, using the maximum level detected in a residential well, was found to be near the EPA chronic oral RfD for both children and adults. The chronic dose for children drinking water from arsenic contaminated residential wells, compared to levels used in human studies on noncancerous effects, was found to be above the level where "no adverse health effects" can be expected. Therefore, adverse health effects from long-term exposure may result and chronic exposure to arsenic in the drinking water is a public health concern. With respect to cancer, it was determined that there is a slight increase in the possibility of developing cancer over a lifetime from ingestion of arsenic at levels detected in the residential wells.

The most prevalent contaminant remaining on site is barium. Barium, a common component of drilling muds, was detected at elevated levels in the surface soils where the process area and storage tanks were once located. It was also detected in the surface water and sediments of the on-site drainage ditches. Based on the assumptions used in the exposure scenarios for this public health assessment, it was determined that exposure to the levels of barium remaining on site does not exceed the EPA chronic oral RfD. Therefore, adverse health effects are unlikely.

Completed exposure pathways existed prior to remediation from exposure through ingestion of and dermal contact with surface soils, sediments, and surface water. Past exposure may have occurred to former site workers, trespassers on-site and children who may have played in the canals and ditches near the site.

The main concerns expressed by the local community were related to environmental contamination present at the site and possible health effects which might result from exposure to these contaminants. Analysis of the health outcome data for cancer incidence in Vermillion Parish was based on eight years of data available at that time. As more data becomes available especially at the block group level, it should be reevaluated to address more specifically the health of the exposed community.

9. RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendations were made by OPH in earlier versions of the PHA. Both recommendations have been implemented at this time and are documented here for completeness.

1. Deed restrictions on the D. L. Mud property have been instituted, restricting its future use for residential or agricultural purposes as described in the EPA's Final Close Out Report.



2. Long-term groundwater monitoring is being performed on a quarterly basis to ensure that the groundwater from beneath the site is not further impacted by contaminants as described in the EPA's Final Close Out Report.



3. Private Wells should continually be monitored for arsenic, as levels indicated could be a public health concern.

Public Health Action

The following describes the actions taken by ATSDR and/or LOPH/SEET at the D. L. Mud site and the surrounding community. The purpose is to ensure that this public health assessment has not only identified public health hazards, but provided a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. The public health actions which have been implemented by ATSDR/SEET are as follows:

   Actions Taken

1. In May of 1992, the Louisiana Office of Public Health (LOPH), in cooperation with the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service conducted a Water Well Education Program for the residents of Vermilion Parish.



2. As a follow-up to the Water Well Education Program, LOPH conducted residential water well sampling from February through May 1993 around the D.L. Mud/Gulf Coast Vacuum Superfund sites and the Pab Oil Superfund site (three miles north of Abbeville). Each resident was sent a copy of the results once they were finalized. Residents whose wells had elevated levels of arsenic were encouraged to limit its use for drinking and cooking.



3. In May 1993, a public meeting was held in Abbeville to explain the private well sampling results and the public health assessment process.



4. SEET evaluated the most recent health outcome data (1988-1996) available for cancer incidence in the community surrounding the D. L. Mud site, using the Louisiana Tumor Registry Data.



5. In December 1999, SEET conducted a Community Assistance Panel/ Public Meeting in Abbeville. The public comment version of the Public Health Assessment was released.

10. PREPARERS OF THE REPORT

Preparers of the Report:

Louisiana Office of Public Health/Section of Environmental Epidemiology & Toxicology:

Daniel J. Odem, MS
Geologist/Environmental Scientist

Lina Balluz, MPH, ScD
Environmental Scientist (PHA Supervisor)

Kabrina Smith, M.S. (Health Outcome Section)
Public Health Epidemiologist Supervisor

Revised and Updated by:

Louisiana Office of Public Health/Section of Environmental Epidemiology & Toxicology:

Erica M. Caesar, MSPH
Public Health Epidemiologist

Kimberly M. Gallo, MSPH
Public Health Epidemiologist

ATSDR Regional Representative:

George Pettigrew
Senior Regional Representative
ATSDR, Region VI

ATSDR Technical Project Officers:

William J. Greim
Environmental Health Scientist
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Superfund Site Assessment Branch

Tammie A. McRae, MS
Environmental Health Scientist
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Superfund Site Assessment Branch

11. CERTIFICATION

This D L Mud, Inc. Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals 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.

Tammie McRae, MS
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC

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

Richard Gillig
Chief, State Program Section, DHAC, ATSDR

12. REFERENCES

1. Remedial Investigation Report, D. L. Mud Inc., Site, Abbeville, Louisiana, CH2M Hill Southeast, Inc., December, 1992.



2. Expanded Site Investigation, D. L. Mud Inc., Vermilion Parish Louisiana, Ecology & Environment, Inc., 1988.



3. Sampling Inspection at Gulf Coast Vacuum Services, Inc. and D. L. Mud, Inc., Ecology & Environment, Inc., December 11, 1985.



4. Preliminary Health Assessment (Interim), D. L. Mud, Inc., Prepared by Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, February 27, 1992.



5. Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual, ATSDR 1992.



6. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic, Update (Draft for Public Comment) ATSDR, August 1998.



7. Toxicological Profile for Barium and Compounds, ATSDR, July 1992.



8. Revised Work Plan for Additional EPA Requested Investigation-D. L. Mud, Inc. Site., October 1992.



9. Final Close Out Report: D.L. Mud Superfund Site Abbeville, Louisiana, U.S. EPA Region VI, Superfund Division, June 1999.

13. APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: Tables 1-10

Table 1. Population Distribution by Race and Sex¹.

	Caucasian American		African American		Other Americans		Total	Median Family Income	Median Household Income
	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male
Abbeville	3,549	3,058	2,231	1,915	189	245	11,187	$14,769	$12,653
Vermilion Parish	21,686	20,551	3,721	3,122	394	581	50,055	$21,815	$18,202
Census Tract 9505	2,168	2,091	92	77	12	14	4,454	$24,464	$21,491

¹1990 U. S. Census data

Table 2. Population Distribution by Age Groups¹.

	Age
	<5	5-14	15-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75>
Abbeville	996	2,026	1,548	1,658	1,306	912	976	969	796
Vermilion Parish	3,998	9,062	6,866	8,003	6,504	4,725	4,316	3,664	2,917
Census Tract 9505	344	877	596	759	648	408	341	252	229

¹1990 U. S. Census data

Table 3. Range of Contaminant Concentrations in On-site Surface Soil Samples¹.

Contaminant	Concentration Range (ppm2)	Date	Reference	Comparison Value
				ppm	Source
barium	210-13,500	1992	1	4,000	RMEG3

¹child comparison value used
²ppm - parts per million
³RMEG - Reference dose media evaluation guide

Table 4. Range of Contaminant Concentrations in On-site Sediment Samples¹.

Contaminant	Concentration Range (ppm2)	Date	Reference	Comparison Value
				ppm	Source
barium	355-18,400	1992	1	4,000	RMEG3

¹child comparison value used
²ppm - parts per million
³RMEG - Reference dose media evaluation guide

Table 5. Range of Contaminant Concentrations in On-site Surface Water Samples¹.

Contaminant	Concentration Range (ppb2)	Date	Reference	Comparison Value
				ppb	Source
barium	89-6,090	1992	1	700	RMEG3

¹child comparison value used;
²ppb - parts per billion;
³RMEG - Reference dose media evaluation guide.

Table 6. Range of Contaminant Concentrations in On-site Groundwater Samples.

Contaminant	Concentration Range (ppb1)	Date	Reference	Comparison Value
				ppb	Source
arsenic	1.1-43	1992	1	0.02	CREG2

¹ppb - parts per billion;
²CREG - Cancer risk evaluation guide.

Table 7. Range of Contaminant Concentrations In Residential Water Supply Wells Sampled by EPA.

Contaminant	Concentration Range (ppb1)	Date	Reference	Comparison Value
				ppb	Source
arsenic	9.5-48	1991	1	0.02	CREG2

¹ppb - parts per billion
²CREG - Cancer Risk Evaluation Guide

Table 8. Completed and Potential Exposure Pathways

PATHWAY NAME	EXPOSURE PATHWAY ELEMENTS					TIME
	SOURCE	ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA	POINT OF EXPOSURE	ROUTE OF EXPOSURE	EXPOSED POPULATION
Completed Exposure Pathways:
surface soil	DL Mud, Gulf Coast Vacuum	surface soil	site	ingestion, dermal contact	workers, trespassers	past
sediments	DL Mud, Gulf Coast Vacuum	sediments	on-site, canals, ditches	ingestion, dermal contact	children, trespassers	past
surface water	DL Mud, Gulf Coast Vacuum	surface water	on-site canals, ditches	ingestion, dermal contact	children, trespassers	past
groundwater (private wells)	unknown	ground water	residential taps	ingestion	residents using private wells	past, present, future
Potential Exposure Pathways:
sediments	D. L. Mud, Gulf Coast Vacuum	sediments	on-site, canals, ditches	ingestion, dermal contact	children, trespassers	present, future
groundwater (private wells)	D. L. Mud, Gulf Coast Vacuum	ground water	residential taps	ingestion	residents using private wells	future

Table 9. Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIR) for D. L. Mud (Census Tract 9505), 1988-1996. Comparison of Observed and Expected Cancer Incidence Using Louisiana Region IV Rates (1988-1992). All Races.

Cancer Type	Sex	Cases		SIR	p-value
		Observed	Expected
All Cancers	Male Female	19 4	88.92 74.98	0.21 0.05	0.0000 0.0000
Lung/Bronchus	Male Female	6 0	21.67 9.83	0.28 -	0.0008 -
Prostate	Male	3	19.82	0.15	0.0002

Table 10. Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIR) for D. L. Mud (Census Tract 9505), 1988-1996. Comparison of Observed and Expected Cancer Incidence Using Louisiana Region IV Rates (1988-1992). Whites Only.

Cancer Type	Sex	Cases		SIR	p-value
		Observed	Expected
All Cancers	Male Female	18 4	83.02 71.17	0.22 0.06	0.0000 0.0000
Lung/Bronchus	Male Female	5 0	19.37 9.28	0.26 -	0.0011 -
Prostate	Male	3	18.55	0.16	0.000

APPENDIX B: Figures 1-8

Figure 1. General Location Map

Figure 2. Surficial Soil Sampling Locations

Figure 3. Contour Intervals of Barium in Surficial Soil

Figure 4. Soil Boring Locations

Figure 5. Area of Discolored Soil in Former Impoundments

Figure 6. Monitoring Well Locations

Figure 7. Surface Water Sample Locations

Figure 8. Residential Water Supply Well Locations

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