On the basis of information reviewed, the Byron Johnson Salvage Yard and Dirk's Farm
hazardous waste site poses a public health hazard to persons using contaminated groundwater.
The connection of residences along Razorville and Acorn Roads and within the Rock River
Terrace subdivision to the city of Byron public water supply has significantly reduced the number
of people exposed through drinking and household use of contaminated groundwater. A few
residents continue to use their private wells for watering livestock, gardens, and lawns and other
outdoor water uses despite the connection to the public water supply. Exposure to contaminants
from these uses of potentially-contaminated private well water is much less compared to drinking and indoor use of contaminated water.
The past, on-site remediation activities of soil and waste removal, fencing of the Salvage Yard,
and the establishment of vegetation have adequately reduced exposure from on-site contaminated
soil and waste. Any future development of the Salvage Yard may increase human exposure to
contaminated soil. However, other than possible contact dermatitis, no apparent public health hazard is associated with direct contact with on-site soil. Soil contamination remains on portions of Dirk's Farm, but exposure to this contamination is low and is not considered a health hazard.
Illinois EPA should periodically monitor wells still in use for contaminants to detect changes in water quality. The Ogle County Health Department should carefully review permits for new wells to ensure drilling is not allowed within a contaminated area of the aquifer.
ATSDR should continue to routinely contact residents who are part of the TCE Subregistry.
Do not disturb areas where soil remediation has taken place.
ATSDR's Child Health Initiative recognizes that the unique vulnerabilities of infants and
children demand special emphasis in communities faced with contamination of their
environment. Children are at greater risk than adults from certain kinds of exposures to
hazardous substances emitted from waste sites. They are more likely to be exposed because they
play outdoors and they often bring food into contaminated areas. They are shorter than adults,
which means they breathe dust, soil, and heavy vapors closer to the ground. Children are also
smaller, resulting in higher doses of chemical exposure per body weight. The developing body
systems of children can sustain permanent damage if toxic exposures occur during critical
growth stages. Most importantly, children depend completely on adults for risk identification and
management decisions, housing decisions, and access to medical care.
IDPH evaluated the likelihood for children living near the site to be exposed to contaminants at
levels of health concern. Children were likely exposed to chemical contaminants in drinking
water before the water mains were installed. The public health implications of those exposures were discussed in the Public Health Implications section of this document.
This Byron Johnson Salvage Yard public health assessment was prepared by the Illinois
Department of Public Health under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry. It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures
existing at the time the public health assessment was begun.
Gail D. Godfrey
Technical Project Officer
SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health assessment and concurs with its findings.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. April 1993.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Cadmium
(Draft). September 1997.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Chromium. April 1993.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Cyanide.
September 1997.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for
1,1-Dichloroethylene. December 1990.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Nickel.
September 1997.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for
Tetrachloroethylene. September 1997.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for
Trichloroethylene. September 1997.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Vinyl
Chloride. September 1997.
Camp Dresser and McKee Inc. Feasibility Study Report for Byron Johnson Salvage Yard.
February 1989.
Camp Dresser and McKee Inc. Phased Feasibility Study for Byron Johnson Salvage Yard.
June 1986.
Camp Dresser and McKee Inc. Remedial Investigation Report - Addendum for Byron
Johnson Salvage Yard. August 1988.
Camp Dresser McKee Inc. Remedial Investigation Report for Byron Johnson Salvage
Yard. July 1988.
CH2M Hill. Final Byron Salvage Yard Remedial Action Master Plan. April 1984.
CH2M Hill. Public Comment Feasibility Study Report. February 4, 1997.
D'Appolonia Waste Management Services. Remedial Investigation/Feasibility
Assessment for Remedial Cleanup at Byron Johnson Site. June 1984.
Dames and Moore. Commonwealth Edison Investigation Reports on Contamination. 1974-1976.
Environmental Resources Management-North Central, Inc. Final Report Soil and
Groundwater Investigation of Dirk's Farm, Byron, Illinois. Prepared for Commonwealth
Edison Company. February 1990.
Illinois EPA. Record of Decision, Byron Johnson Salvage Yard. Byron, Illinois.
September 1986.
Illinois EPA Files. Byron Johnson Salvage Yard.
Illinois EPA-Division of Land/Noise Pollution Control. Chemical Analysis Forms.
June-September 1981.
IDPH-Region 1. Private Well Water Analysis, Ogle County. 1983-1989.
Klaassen, C.D., Amdu, M. O., Dorell, J., (eds.). Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons: 3rd ed. Macmillan Publishing Company, NY. 1986.
National Academy of Sciences. "Trichloroethylene." in: Drinking Water and Health
3:155-166. National Academy Press. Washington, DC. 1980.
National Academy of Sciences. "Trichloroethylene." in: Drinking Water and Health
5:79-85. National Academy Press. Washington, DC. 1983.
National Academy of Sciences. "Trichloroethylene." in: Drinking Water and Health
6:186-189. National Academy Press. Washington, DC. 1986.
Pisken, Rauf. Report on Disposal of Toxic Wastes at Byron Johnson Salvage Yard.
Illinois EPA-Division of Land/Noise Pollution Control. 1976.
USEPA. Declaration for the Record of Decision, Byron Johnson Salvage Yard. Byron,
Illinois. June 1989.
USEPA. RI/FS Work Plan for Dirk's Farm Operable Unit (Draft). June 1990.
USEPA-Office for Drinking Water. Health Advisory for Cadmium. March 1987.
USEPA-Office of Drinking Water. Health Advisory for Chromium. March 1987.
USEPA-Office for Drinking Water. Health Advisory for Cyanide. March 1987.
USEPA-Office of Drinking Water. Health Advisory for 1,1-Dichloroethylene. March 1987.
USEPA-Office of Drinking Water. Health Advisory for trans-1-2-Dichloroethylene. March 1987.
USEPA-Office of Drinking Water. Health Advisory for Tetrachloroethylene. March 1987.
USEPA-Office of Drinking Water. Health Advisory for Trichloroethylene. March 1987.
USEPA-Office of Drinking Water, Washington DC. Health Advisory for Vinyl Chloride. March 1987.
USEPA-Office of Superfund, Region 5. Byron Salvage Yard/Dirk's Farm Property --
Remedial Investigation Report. April 1994.
USEPA. Proposed Plan for the Byron Johnson Salvage Yard Superfund Site. February 1989.
USEPA. Proposed Record of Decision for the Byron Johnson Salvage Yard Superfund
Site. September 1997.
