Skip directly to: content | left navigation | search

HEALTH CONSULTATION

NATICK LABORATORY ARMY RESEARCH
(a/k/a U.S. ARMY SOLDIER SYSTEM COMMAND (SSCOM) - NATICK)
NATICK, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS



CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Using the weight-of-evidence approach used in this report, together with the results of the screening-level evaluations conducted in the public health assessment for the SSCOM site, ATSDR concludes that past exposures to VOCs, at the levels predicted for the Natick public water supply, do not pose an apparent health hazard for reproductive and developmental toxicity, nervous system effects, or cancer.

The water treatment system being installed for the Natick municipal water supply is an important measure to ensure that the water will continue to be safe in the future. ATSDR recommends the treatment system be used to ensure that the public water supply is protected from VOCs in the future. ATSDR recommends no follow-up public health action is necessary.


PREPARERS OF REPORT

Brenda K. Weis, Ph.D.
Environmental Health Scientist
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR


REVIEWERS OF REPORT

Allan Susten, Ph.D., D.A.B.T.
Assistant Director for Science
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR

Frank Schnell, Ph.D.
Senior Toxicologist
Petition Response Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR

Gary Campbell, Ph.D.
Environmental Health Scientist
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR

ATSDR Regional Representative:
Susanne Simon
ATSDR Regional Representative
EPA Region I


REFERENCES

Amdur, M.O., Doull, J., and Klaassen, C.D. (Eds.) 1991. Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. New York: Pergamon Press.

ATSDR. 1993. Public Health Assessment Manual. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 1993.

ATSDR. 1995a. Toxicological Profile for Tetrachloroethylene (Update). Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, September, 1997

ATSDR. 1995b. U.S. Public Health Service. Toxicological Profile for Trichloroethylene (Update). Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, September, 1997.

ATSDR. 1997. Volatile organic compounds in drinking water and adverse pregnancy outcomes, United States Marine Corps Base Camp Lejune, North Carolina. Interim Report. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Altmann, L., Bottger, A. and Wiegand, H. 1990. Neurophysiology and psychophysical measurements reveal effects of acute low-level organic solvent exposure in humans. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 62:493-499.

Altmann, L., Weigand, H., Bottger, A., et al. 1992. Neurobehavioral and neurophysiological outcomes of acute repeated perchloroethylene exposure. Applied Psychology: An International Review 41(3):269-279.

Altmann, L., Florian Neuhann, H., Kramer, U., et al. 1995. Neurobehavioral and neurophysiological outcome of chronic low-level tetrachloroethylene exposure measured in neighborhoods of dry cleaning shops. Environmental Research 69:83-89.

ACGIH. 1991. Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices (6th Edition). Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. 1188-1194, BEI-147-153.

Andelman, B.J., Giardino, J.N., Marshall, J., et al. 1989. Exposure to volatile chemicals from indoor uses of water. Las Vegas, Nevada: Proceedings of Total Exposure Methodology: A New Horizon.

Aschengrau, A., Ozonoff, D., Paulu, C., et al. 1993. Cancer risk and tetrachloroethylene-contaminated drinking water in Massachusetts. Arch. Environ. Health 48(5):284-292.

Bagnell, P. and Ellenbarger, H. 1977. Obstructive jaundice due to chlorinated hydrocarbon in breast milk. Can. Med. J. 117:1047-1048.

Bentley, P., Calder, I., Elcombe, C., et al. 1993. Hepatic peroxisome proliferation in rodents and its significance for humans. Food Cosmet. Toxicology 31(11):857-907.

Bergamaschi, E., Mautti, A., Bocchi, M.C., et al. 1992. Rat model of perchloroethylene-induced renal dysfunctions. Environmental Research 59:427-439.

Birner, G., Rutkowska, A., and Dekant, W. 1996. N-acetyl-S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine and 2,2,2-trichlorophenol: Two novel metabolites of tetrachloroethylene in humans after occupational exposure. Drug Metabolism and Disposition 24(1):41-48.

Blair, A., Decoufle, P. and Grauman, D. 1979. Causes of death among laundry and dry cleaning workers. Am. J. Public Health 69:508-511.

Blair, A., Stewart, P.A., Tolbert, P.E., et al. 1979. Cancer and other causes of death among a cohort of dry cleaners. Br. J. Ind. Med. 47:162-168.

Bove, F.J., Fulcomer, M.C., Klotz, J.B., et al. 1995. Public drinking water and birth outcomes. Am. J. Epidemiol. 41(9):850-862.

Brown, D.P. and Kaplan, S.D. 1987. Retrospective cohort mortality study of dry cleaning workers using perchloroethylene. J. Occup. Med. 29:535-541.

Brown, H.S., West, C.R., Bishop, D.R. and Hicks, L.R. 1986. A methodology for assessing developmental and reproductive hazards of chemicals. Toxicol. Ind. Health 2(3):183-203.

Burke, T.A., Gray, S., Krawiec, C.M., et al. 1980. An environmental investigation of clusters of leukemia and Hodgkin's disease in Rutherford, New Jersey. J. Med. Soc. New Jersey, 77(4): 259-264.

Byczkowski, J.Z. and Fisher, J.W. 1994. Lactational transfer of tetrachloroethylene in rats. Risk Analysis 14(3):339-349.

Byers, V.S., Levin, A.S., Ozonoff, D.M., et al. 1988. Associations between clinical symptoms and lymphocyte abnormalities in a population with chronic domestic exposure to industrial solvent-contaminated domestic water supply and a high incidence of leukemia. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 27:77-81.

Cai, S.-X., Huang, M.-Y., Chen, Z., et al. 1991. Subjective symptom increase among dry-cleaning workers exposed to tetrachloroethylene vapor. Industrial Health 29:111-121.

Carpenter, C.P. 1937. The chronic toxicity of tetrachloroethylene. J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 19:323-336.

Cohn, P.D., Fagliano, J.A. and Klotz, J.B. 1994. Assessing human health from chemical contaminants in drinking water, N.J. Med. 91(10):719-722.

Clark, C.S., Meyer, C.R., Gartside, P.S., et al. 1982. An environmental health survey of drinking water contamination by leachate from a pesticide waste dump in Hardeman County, Tennessee, Arch. Environ. Health 37(1):9-18.

Cutler, J.J., Parker, G.S., Rosen, S.H., et al. 1986. Childhood leukemia in Woburn, Massachusetts, Public Health Report 101:201-201.

Dallas, C.E., Muralidhara, S., Chen, X.M., et al. 1994a. Use of a physiologically based model to predict systemic uptake and respiratory elimination of perchloroethylene. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 128:60-68.

Dallas, C.E., Chen, X.M., O'Barr, K., et al. 1994b. Development of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for perchloroethylene using tissue concentration-time data. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 128:50-59.

Dallas, C.E., Chen, X.M., Muralidhara, S., et al. 1995. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic model useful in prediction of the influence of species, dose, and exposure route on perchloroethylene pharmacokinetics. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 44:301-317.

EPA. 1989. Risk assessment guidance for superfund. Volume I: Human health evaluation manual. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. EPA/540/1-89/002, December, 1989.

Fagliano, J., Berry, M., Bove, F. and Burke, T. 1990. Drinking water contamination and the incidence of leukemia: an ecologic study. Amer. J. Public Health 80(10).

Ferroni, C., Selis, L., Mutti, A., et al. 1992. Neurobehavioral and neuroendocrine effects of occupational exposure to perchloroethylene. Neurotoxicology 13:243-247.

Fisher, J.W., Whittaker, T.A., Taylor, D.H., et al. 1989. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of the pregnant rat: A multiroute exposure model for trichloroethylene and its metabolite, trichloroacetic acid. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 99:395-414.

Frantz, S.W. and Watanabe, P.G. 1983. Tetrachloroethylene: Balance and tissue distribution in male Sprague-Dawley rats by drinking water administration. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 69:66-72.

Fredriksson, A., Danielsson, B.R.G. and Eriksson, P. 1993. Altered behavior in adult mice orally exposed to tri- and tetrachloroethylene as neonates. Toxicol. Letters 66:13-19.

Ghantous, H., Danielsson, B.R.G., Dencker, L., et al. 1986. Trichloroacetic acid accumulates in murine amniotic fluid after tri- and tetrachloroethylene inhalation. Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol. 58: 105-114.

Geshwind, S.A., Stolwijk, J.A.J., Bracken, M., et al. 1992. Risk of congenital malformations associated with proximity to hazardous waste sites, Am. J. Epidemiol. 135(11):1197-1207.

Green, T. 1990. Species differences in carcinogenicity: The role of metabolism in human risk evaluation. Teratogenesis Carcinogen. Mutagen. 10:103-113.

Green, T., Odum, J., Nash, J.A., et al. 1990. Perchloroethylene-induced rat kidney tumors: An investigation of the mechanism involved and their relevance to humans. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 103:77-89.

Haerer, A.F. and Udelman, H.D. 1964. Acute brain syndrome secondary to tetrachloroethylene ingestion. Am. J. Psychiatry 12:78-79.

Hake, C.L. and Stewart, R.D. 1977. Human exposure to tetrachloroethylene: Inhalation and skin contact. Environ. Health Perspect. 21:231-238.

Hardin, B.D., Bond, G.P., Sikov, M.R., et al. 1981. Testing of selected workplace chemicals for teratogenic potential. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health [Suppl 4] 7:66-75.

Hattis, D., White, P., Marmorstein, L., et al. 1990. Uncertainties in pharmacokinetic modeling for perchloroethylene. I. Comparison of model structure, parameters, and predictions for low-dose metabolism rates for models derived by different authors. Risk Analysis 10(3):449-458.

Henschler, D., Vamkakas, S., Lammert, M., et al. 1995. Increased incidence of renal cell tumors in a cohort of cardboard workers exposed to trichloroethene. Arch Toxicol 69:291-299.

Karlsson, J.-E., Rosengren, L.E., Kjellstrand, P., et al. 1987. Effects of low-dose inhalation of three chlorinated aliphatic organic solvents on deoxyribonucleic acid in gerbil brain, Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 13:453-458.

Kendrick, J.F. 1929. The treatment of hookworm disease with tetrachloroethylene. Am. J. Trop. Med. 483-488.

Khoury, M.J. and Holtzman, N.A. 1987. On the ability of birth defects monitoring to detect new teratogens. Am. J. Epidemiol. 126:136-143.

Kimmel, C.A. and Kimmel, G.L. 1997. Principles of developmental toxicity risk assessment, in: Handbook of Developmental Toxicology, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. 667-696.

Klemans, W., Vleminckx, C., Schriewer, L., et al. 1995. Cytogenic biomonitoring of a population of children allegedly exposed to environmental pollutants, Phase 2: Results of a three-year longitudinal study. Mutagen. Res. 342:147-156.

Kyrklund, T., Alling, C., Kjellstrand, P. et al. 1984. Chronic effects of perchloroethylene on the composition of lipid and acyl groups in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the gerbil. Toxicol. Lett. 22:343-349.

Kyrklund, T., Kjellstrand, P. and Haglid, K.,G. 1988. Effects of exposure to Freon 11, 1,1,1-trichloroethane or perchloroethylene on the lipid and fatty-acid composition of the rat cerebral cortex. Scan. J. Work Environ. Health 14:91-94.

Kyrklund, T., Kjellstrand, P. and Haglid, K.G. 1990. Long-term exposure to rats to perchloroethylene, with and without a post-exposure solvent-free recovery period: Effects on brain lipids. Toxicol. Lett. 52:279-285.

Lagakos, S.W., Wessen, B.J., Zelen, M., et al. 1986. An analysis of contaminated well water and health effects in Woburn, Massachusetts. J. Amer. Stat. Assoc. 81:583-614.

Larsen, J.L., Wolf, D.C. and Butterworth, B.E. 1994. Induced cytotoxicity and cell proliferation in the hepatotoxicity of chloroform in female B6C3F1 mice. Fund. Appl. Toxicol. 22:90-92.

Lee, K.M., Bruckner, J.V., Muralidhara, S. and Gallo, J.M. 1996. Characterization of presystemic elimination of trichloroethylene and its nonlinear kinetics in rats. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 139: 262-271.

Lee, K.M., Muralidhara, S. and Bruckner, J.V. 1991. Presystemic elimination of trichloroethylene (TCE); direct assessment using an unanesthetized rat model. Pharmacologist 33:178.

Logue, J. N., Stroman, R.M., Reid, D., et al. 1985. Investigation of potential health effects associated with well water chemical contamination in Londonderry township, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Arch. Environ. Health 40(3):155-160.

Lynge, E. and Thygesen, L. 1990. Primary liver cancer among women in laundry and dry-cleaning work in Denmark. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 16: 108-112.

MacMahon, B. 1986. Comment. J. Amer. Stat .Assoc. 81(395): 597-599.

MDPH. 1981. Woburn cancer incidence and environmental hazards, 1969-1978. Massachusetts Department of Public Health. January, 1981.

MDPH. 1994. Woburn environmental and birth study. Draft for Public Comment, Vol 1. Massachusetts Department of Public Health. July 1994.

MDPH. 1997a. Woburn childhood leukemia follow-up study. Final Report. Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment. July 1997a.

MDPH. 1997b. Health Consultation: Assessment of cancer incidence in Natick, Massachusetts 1982-1992. Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment. May 1997b.

MDPH. 1997c. Comments on the Draft ATSDR Health Consultation for the Natick Laboratory Army Research (a/k/a U.S. Army Soldier System Command [SSCOM]). Massachusetts Department of Public Health. December 1997c.

Mallin, K. 1990. Investigation of a bladder cancer cluster in northwestern Illinois. Am. J. Epidemiol. 132 Suppl (1):S96-S106.

Mennear, J., Maronpot, R., Boorman, G., et al. 1986. Toxicologic and carcinogenic effects of inhaled tetrachloroethylene in rats and mice. Dev. Toxicol. Environ. Sci. 12: 201-210.

Meyer, C. 1983. Liver dysfunction in residents exposed to leachate from a toxic waste dump. Env. Health Perspect. 48:9-13.

Monster, A.C. and Smolders, J.F.J. 1984. Tetrachloroethylene in exhaled air of persons living near pollution sources. Int. Arch. Environ. Health 53:331-336.

NCI. 1977. Bioassay of tetrachloroethylene for possible carcinogenicity., US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. DHEW Pub. (NIH) 77-813.

NTP. 1986. Toxicology and carcinogenesis of tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) (CAS No. 127-18-4) in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (inhalation studies). US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Toxicology Program. Technical Report Series No. 311. NIH publication no. 86-2567.

Nelson, B.K., Taylor, B.J., Setzer, J.V., et al. 1980. Behavioral teratology of perchloroethylene in rats. J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. 3:233-250.

Ohtsuki, T., Sato, K., Koizumi, A., et al. 1983. Limited capacity of humans to metabolize tetrachloroethylene. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 51:381-390.

Ozonoff, D., Colten, M.E., Cupples, A., et al. 1987. Health problems reported by residents of a neighborhood contaminated by a hazardous waste facility. Am. J. Ind. Med. 11: 581-597.

Paigen, B., Goldman, L.R., Highland, J. H., et al. 1985. Prevalence of health problems in children living near Love Canal. Haz. Waste Haz. Mater. 2(1):23-43.

Pegg, D.G., Zempel, J.A., Braun, W.H., et al. 1979. Disposition of (14C) tetrachloroethylene following oral and inhalation exposure in rats. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 51: 465-474.

Prentice, R.L. 1986. Comment. J. Amer. Stat. Assoc. 81(395):600-601.

Reitz, R.H., Gargas, M.L., Mendrala, A.L. et al. The in vivo and in vitro methods of perchloroethylene metabolism for physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling in rats, mice, and humans. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 136:289-306.

Rogan, W.J. 1986. Comment. J. Amer. Stat. Assoc. 81(395):602-603.

Rosengren, L.E., Kjellstrand, P. and Haglid, K.G. 1986. Tetrachloroethylene: Levels of DNA and S-100 in the gerbil CNS after chronic exposure. Neurobehav. Toxicol. Teratol. 8:201-206.

Rowe, V.K., McCollister, D.D., Spencer, H.C., et al. 1952. Vapor toxicity of tetrachloroethylene for laboratory animals and human subjects. A.M.A. Arch. Ind. Hyg. Occup. Med. 5:566-579.

Savolainen, H., Pfaffli, P., Tengen, M., et al. 1977. Biochemical and behavioral effects of inhalation exposure to tetrachloroethylene and dichloromethane. J. Neuropath. Exp. Neurol. 36: 941-949.

Schreiber, J.S. 1992. An assessment of tetrachloroethylene in human breast milk. J. Expos. Anal. Environ. Epidemiol. 2 (Suppl 2):15-26.

Schumann, A.M., Quast, J.F. and Wantanabe, P.G. 1980. The pharmacokinetics and macromolecular interactions of perchloroethylene in mice and rats as related to oncogenicity. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 55:207-219.

Schwetz, B.A., Leong. B.K.J. and Gehring, P.J. 1975. The effect of maternally inhaled trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, methyl chloroform, and methylene chloride on embryonal and fetal development in mice and rats. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 32:84-96.

Seiji, K., Inoue, O., Jin, C., et al. 1989. Dose-excretion relationship in tetrachloroethylene-exposed workers and the effect of tetrachloroethylene co-exposure on trichloroethylene metabolism. Am. J. Ind. Med. 16:675-684.

Shaw, G., Shulman, J., Frisch, J.D., et al. 1992. Congenital malformations and birth weight in areas with potential environmental contamination. Arch. Environ. Health 47:147-154.

Sosniak, W.A., Kaye, W.E. and Gomez, T.M. 1994. Data linkage to explore the risk of low birthweight associated with maternal proximity to hazardous waste sites from the national priorities list. Arch. Environ. Health 49(4):251-255.

Stewart, R.D., Baretta, E.D., Dodd, H.C., et al. 1970. Experimental human exposure to tetrachloroethylene. Arch. Environ. Health 20:224-229.

Swan, S.H. and Robins, J.M. Comment. J. Amer. Stat. Assoc. 81(395):604-608.

Swenberg, J.A., Short, B., Gorghoff, S., et al. 1989. The comparative pathobiology of -2ยต-globulin nephropathy. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 97:35-46.

Wang, S., Karlsson, J.-E., Kyrklund, T., et al. 1993. Perchloroethylene-induced reduction in glial and neuronal cell marker proteins in rat brain. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 72:273-278.

Ward, R.C., Travis, C.C., Hetrick, D.M., et al. 1988. Pharmacokinetics of tetrachloroethylene, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 93:108-117.

Next Section          Table of Contents


Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345
Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348
 
USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal