The Wauconda Sand and Gravel NPL site, located in the Village of Wauconda, represents no
apparent public health hazard. The risk of drinking water contamination is greatest for people
whose wells are located downgradient (north/northeast of the landfill) and are tapped into the
upper aquifer. There are 30 to 35 wells within one-quarter mile of the landfill. Only two (about
1600 feet northwest) are known to be tapped into the upper aquifer. In 1983, two other residential
wells just east of the landfill were found to have low levels of a number of contaminants. No
subsequent samplings have detected landfill-related contaminants. These wells have not been
used as residential wells since 1984. It is unclear whether the lower aquifer, which most wells
are tapped into, has been contaminated by the landfill. At present, migration of landfill gases to
nearby homes seems unlikely, since passive gas vents were installed during remediation. There
is also a very low probability of surface water, sediment, and surface soil exposure to
contaminants at this basically remediated landfill.
Although the Health Outcome Data indicate a significant increase in cancer incidence in two zip
codes near the site, there is no evidence that the types of cancer found are linked to
contamination from the site. Community concerns involve health concerns related to potential
exposure to contaminants in groundwater and sludge amended soils.
Continue to restrict access to the Wauconda landfill site.
Site Characterization Recommendations
Continue to monitor off-site groundwater and residential wells.
The origin of vanadium and antimony in the groundwater should be determined, since they
may not be coming from the landfill.
Health Activities Recommendations Panel (HARP) Statement
In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980 as amended, ATSDR and the state have evaluated the Wauconda Sand and Gravel
Company site for appropriate follow-up activities. Although there are indications of past
exposure, the concentrations and duration of exposure were not at levels of public health
concern. At this time, there are no known pathways of human exposure and no follow-up
activities are recommended, However, follow-up activities will be considered if data become
available that suggest human exposure is occurring or is likely to occur in the future.
Public Health Action
The purpose of the Public Health Action (PHA) is to ensure that this health assessment not only
identifies public health hazards, but also provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and
prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the
environment.
No public health actions have been identified as necessary at the Wauconda Landfill site at this
time. ATSDR and IDPH will reevaluate this assessment when needed. New environmental,
toxicological, or health outcome data may indicate the need for additional actions at this site in
the future.
The Wauconda Sand and Gravel Landfill 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 (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
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC)
ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health
assessment, and concurs with its findings.
Robert C. Williams, P.E., DEE
Director, DHAC, ATSDR
Environmental Protection Agency. 1992. Division of Public Water Supplies, Selected
Sample Expanded Report, Report #PWGWP048. Charles Bell, IEPA, Springfield, IL
M., K. Bardo, and G. Millan. 1986. IDPH Preventive Health and Health Services Block
Grant, Annual Report, 10/1/84-9/30/85. Environmental Assessment of Fifteen Closed Landfills
in Lake County. Lake County Health Department, Waukegan, IL
and G. Millan. 1985. IDPH Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant
Project Report: Water Quality at Fifteen Closed Landfills in Lake County. Lake County Health
Department, Waukegan, IL.
Health Department. 1988. IDPH Preventive Health and Health Services Block
Grant: Administrative Report 10/1/86-9/30/87. Monitoring for Water Pollution at Closed Solid
Waste Landfill Sites in Lake County. Waukegan, IL.
Toxicology Program. 1991. NTP Report on the Toxicity Studies of Acetone in F344/N
Rats and B6C3F1 Mice. NTP, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle
Park, NC.
, M.B., M.F. Kuhn, and G. Millan. 1989, 1990, 1991. IDPH Preventive Health and Health
Services Block Grant Administrative Reports. Monitoring for Water Pollution at Closed Solid
Waste Landfill Sites in Lake County. Lake County Health Department, Waukegan, IL.
of the Census. 1990. Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and
Referencing (TIGER) System. Washington, D.C. 20233. Written files located: Lake County
Planning Dept. Library, Waukegan, IL.
Protection Agency. 1985. Record of Decision: Operable Unite Remedial
Alternative Selection, Site: Wauconda Sand and Gravel Landfill, Wauconda, Illinois. Sept. 30,
1985: Valas V. Adamkus, Regional Administrator, Region 5, Chicago, IL.
Protection Agency. 1991. Summary of Information on Waste Disposal for
the Wauconda Sand and Gravel Co. Site. Sec. 106 Administrative Record Index for the
Wauconda Sand and Gravel Site. USEPA Region 5, Chicago, IL.
-Sper. 1988. Memorandum to P. Canpagna, EPA/ERT from Anthony Lombardo,
ERT/TAT, Subject: Data Tables, Summa Canister Analysis, Wauconda Sand and Gravel,
Wauconda, IL. August 1988. Weston-Sper, Edison, NJ.
