On the basis of information reviewed, the Albion-Sheridan Township Landfill (ASTL) site
does not pose any apparent public health hazard under current conditions. The site did
pose a public health hazard in the past and may pose one in the future because of possible
exposure to hazardous substances at concentrations that may result in adverse health
effects. As noted previously in the Environmental Contaminants and Other Hazards,
Pathways Analyses, and Public Health Implications sections, humans may have been
exposed to various metals in the past through incidental ingestion of soils on the landfill.
Access to the site has probably been infrequent, and the site has recently been fenced to
deter future access. In addition, a child subject to pica behavior might ingest enough of
various metals from the soil around a residence on former landfill property south of the
landfill itself to incur a slight risk of adverse health effects. No children are currently
living in this residence, though future inhabitants may include children.
A plume contaminated with arsenic, manganese, and other metals is in the groundwater
beneath and downgradient of the landfill. However, this plume apparently has not reached
any existing private wells in the area, including one directly south of the landfill. Organic
chemicals have been found in leachate within the landfill, though no confirmed organic
contamination has been reported in the groundwater below the landfill.
Arsenic, heptachlor, and manganese have been detected at concentrations of human health
concern in water from residential wells in the site area. The presence of these chemicals in
the private wells near the site is probably not caused by conditions on the site, since the
concentrations detected are the same in wells upgradient of the ASTL site as in
downgradient wells. None of the reported concentrations of these chemicals exceed the
Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant limits, and the validity of the
reported concentrations of heptachlor has been questioned. The potential adverse health
effects from exposure to water containing the reported heptachlor concentrations would
be minor.
Cancer incidence data kept by the Michigan Department of Public Health were examined
in response to reports of concern about cancer incidence in a nearby community. The data
do not indicate any increased incidence of cancer in the ZIP Code area including the site.
The remediation option selected for this site should provide for the control of off-site
migration of contaminants. The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH)
supports the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to cap the landfill as
prescribed in its record of decision (ROD) (12). MDCH understands that EPA and the
owners of the residence south of the landfill are negotiating to include that portion of the
former landfill property in the remediation.
The monitoring wells on and near the site should be sampled on a regular basis to detect
migration of the contaminant plume. In addition to sampling for the metals found in the
plume to monitor its location, samples should be periodically analyzed for EPA's Target
Contaminant List of organic chemicals to determine whether the leachate from the landfill
is reaching the groundwater aquifers. The EPA ROD includes monitoring of the
groundwater for 5 years to determine whether further treatment is required (12).
Future remedial investigations (RIs) or remedial activities include periodic sampling of
private and municipal wells in the vicinity of the site. These wells should be sampled at
least once each year for arsenic and manganese. The wells in which heptachlor was
reported should be sampled again to confirm the presence of the chemical. Because of the
questions about the validity of the data and the detection limits previously mentioned in
the Quality Assurance and Quality Control section, the laboratory that performs the
analysis must have the capability to accurately measure this compound in the range of
concentrations originally reported by the EPA contractor laboratory used for the RI. The
EPA ROD for the site includes monitoring of nearby residential wells (12).
A Health Activities Recommendation Panel convened by the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry (ATSDR) and MDCH has evaluated the data and information developed for the
Public Health Assessment for the Albion-Sheridan Township Landfill to ascertain appropriate
follow-up health actions. The panel determined that there is circumstantial evidence that
trespassers on the site may have been exposed to environmental contaminants. However, there is
no evidence that this exposure was of significant human health hazard. The community around
the site has expressed concern about the perceived incidence of cancer in their community, and a program of citizen and physician education should be developed to address these concerns.
Public health action plans (PHAPs) are developed to describe actions to be taken by ATSDR or
MDCH, or both, at and in the vicinity of sites after public health assessments are completed. The
purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that public health assessments not only identify public health
hazards, but also provide 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 undertaken and to be implemented by ATSDR or MDCH, or both, are as follows:
Health Actions Undertaken
The Michigan Department of Public Health (MDPH) referred a report of concerns about
increased cancer incidence in a community near the site to the Jackson County Health
Department. The Jackson County Health Department, in cooperation with the MDPH, conducted
a preliminary investigation of the concerns.
Health Actions Planned
MDCH, ATSDR, the Jackson County Health Department, and the Calhoun County Health
Department will develop a program of health education to address the health concerns of the
residents of the site area.
ATSDR and MDCH will coordinate with federal and state environmental agencies to carry out
the other recommendations made in this assessment.
ATSDR will reevaluate and expand the PHAP when needed. New environmental, toxicological,
or health outcome data, or the results of implementing the above proposed actions and
recommendations may determine the need for additional actions at this site.
Robin Freer, Geographic Information System Specialist
John L. Hesse, Principal Investigator
Brendan Boyle, Health Assessment Coordinator
ATSDR Regional Representative
Louise Fabinski
Regional Services, Region V
Office of the Assistant Administrator
ATSDR Technical Project Officer
William J. Greim
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC)
Superfund Site Assessment Branch (SSAB)
CERTIFICATION
The Albion-Sheridan Township Landfill Area Public Health Assessment was prepared by the
Michigan Department of Community 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 initiated.
William Greim
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health
assessment and concurs with its findings.
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OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES NOT CITED IN TEXT
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