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1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

JASPER CREOSOTING COMPANY INCORPORATED
JASPER, JASPER COUNTY, TEXAS

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A - Acronyms and Abbreviations

APPENDIX B - Figures

Figure 1. Company Location

Figure 2. Demographics and Population Distribution

Figure 3. Source 1 and Source 2 Location Map

Figure 4. Facility Map and Sample Locations

APPENDIX C - Tables

Appendix C - Table 1. Jasper Creosoting Company NPL Site Soil Analysis, (February 1993)

Constituent	Background SB-2	SB-1	SB-D1	SB-3	SB-5	HAC Value
Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (mg/kg)
Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(g,h,i)perylene Benzo(k)fluoranthene Chrysene Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene Pentachlorophenol	ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND	17 16 48 15 23 22 4.9 J 16 570 D	44 14 53 17 24 70 5.2 J 14 620 D	ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND	0.170 J 0.092 J 0.500 0.360 ND 0.150 J 0.079 J 0.270 J 19D	na 0.1 CREG na na na na na na 6.0 CREG
Pesticides (mg/kg)
Endrin ketone Heptachlor epoxide	0.0014 J 0.092 Pn	0.290 DJPn ND	ND ND	ND ND	ND ND	na 0.08 CREG
Dioxins/Furans - 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalents (TEQs)1 (µg/kg)
2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents	0.0002	0.66	1.0	-	0.76	0.05

ND: Not detected, na: Not applicable, D: Analyte found through dilution, J: Analyte found, estimated, P: Greater than 25% difference between two CRC columns, n: not attributed to site. ¹ World Health Organization Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEQs) from: Environmental Health Perspectives, 106:12, December 1998.

Appendix C - Table 2. Jasper Creosoting Company NPL Site Sediment Analysis, (February 1993)

Constituent	Background SED-1	SED-2	SED-3	SED-4	SED-5	SED-6	HAC Value
Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (mg/kg)
Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(g,h,i)perylene Benzo(k)fluoranthene Chrysene Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene	5.5 3.3 8.3 D 1.3 3.4 5.2 0.53 1.3	ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND	13.0 J 7.6 J 11.0 J 4.5 J 11.0 J 20.0 ND 5.2 J	4.1 1.9 11.0 8.7 ND 2.6 2.1 9.3	0.06 J 0.061 J 0.16 J 0.28 J 0.12 J 0.086 J ND 0.27 J	ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND	na 0.1 CREG na na na na na na
Pesticides (mg/kg)
Aldrin	0.059P	0.0089P	ND	0.001JP	ND	ND	0.04 CREG
Dioxins/Furans - 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalents (TEQs)1 (µg/kg)
2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents	0.036	-	0.21	-	-	-	0.05

ND: Not detected, na: Not applicable, D: Analyte found through dilution, J: Analyte found, estimated, P: Greater than 25% difference between two CRC columns, n: not attributed to site. ¹ World Health Organization Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEQs) from: Environmental Health Perspectives, 106:12, December 1998.

Appendix C - Table 3. Jasper Creosoting Company NPL Site Groundwater Analysis, (February 1993)

Constituent	Background GW-4	GW-1	GW-2	GW-3	HAC Value
Volatile Organic Compounds (µg/L)
Benzene	ND	ND	ND	60	1.0 CREG
Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (µg/L)
Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(k)fluoranthene Chrysene Pyrene Fluoranthene Acenaphthene Fluorene Naphthalene Pentachlorophenol Phenol	ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND	ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND	ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND - ND	340J 110J 120 120J 320J 1,400 2,400 2,600 2,100 12,000D 580J 2,600	na 0.005 CREG na na 0 CLHA 300 RMEGChild 400 RMEGChild 600 RMEGChild 400 RMEGChild 20 LTHA 0.3 CREG 4,000 LTHA
Metals (µg/L)
Zinc	ND	ND	ND	4,360	2,000 LTHA

ND: Not detected, na: Not applicable, D: Analyte found through dilution, J: Analyte found, estimated, P: Greater than 25% difference between two CRC columns, n: not attributed to site, CLHA: Child Longer Term Health Advisory, drinking water (EPA); LTHA: Lifetime Health Advisory for drinking water (EPA).

APPENDIX D - Dioxins and Dioxin-like Compounds

Both chlorinated dibenzo-dioxins (CDDs) and chlorinated dibenzo-furans (CDFs) are thought to affect human health through similar pathways. Consequently, in environmental studies, they often are treated together as dioxin-like compounds. Experimental studies have examined them separately. Many studies have looked at how CDDs can affect human health [5].

The most extensively studied dioxin-like substance is 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, commonly known as TCDD. TCDD is thought to be the most toxic of these compounds and the toxicity of the other CDDs and CDFs is expressed in terms of toxic equivalents (TEQs) of TCDD. The TEQ of a specific dioxin-like compound is determined by multiplying its concentration by a toxicity equivalent factor (TEF), which represents its toxicity relative to TCDD. The total TEQ for a mixture of dioxin-like compounds is taken as the sum of the TEQs for each individual compound in the mixture. A list of the TEFs established by the World Health Organization is provided below [6].

APPENDIX E - Toxicological Review

Dioxins/Dibenzofurans

Chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) comprise a family of 75 different compounds commonly referred to as chlorinated dioxins. The CDD family is divided into eight groups of chemicals based on the number of chlorine atoms in the compound. The group with one chlorine atom is called the mono-chlorinated dioxin(s). The groups with two through eight chlorine atoms are called the di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, and octa-chlorinated dioxin(s). The chlorine atoms can be attached to the dioxin molecule in any of one to eight positions. The name of the CDD indicates both the number and position of chlorine atoms. For example, the CDD with four chlorine atoms attached at positions 2, 3, 7, and 8 on the dioxin molecule is called 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, or 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Dioxin like compounds have varying harmful effects; however, 2,3,7,8-TCDD is the most researched of the compounds and appears to be the most toxic of the CDDs to mammals. Of the 75 CDDs, only seven are likely to have toxic properties similar to 2,3,4,7-TCDD [7].

In the pure form, CDDs are colorless solids or crystals. CDDs enter the environment as mixtures containing a variety of individual components and impurities. In the environment they tend to be associated with ash, soil, or any surface with a high organic content, such as plant leaves. In air and water, a portion of CDDs may be found in the vapor or dissolved state, depending on the amount of particulate matter, temperature, and other environmental factors. 2,3,7,8-TCDD is odorless. The odors of other CDDs are not known. CDDs are not known to occur naturally and, except for small amounts for research purposes, they are not intentionally manufactured by industry [7].

Chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs) are a family of chemicals containing one to eight chlorine atoms attached to the carbon atoms of the parent chemical, dibenzofuran. The CDF family contains 135 individual compounds with varying harmful health and environmental effects. Of these 135 compounds, those that contain chlorine atoms at the 2,3,7,8 positions on the dibenzofuran molecule are the most toxic. There is no known use for these chemicals, other than for research and development purposes. These chemicals are not intentionally produced by industry. Most CDFs are produced in very small amounts as impurities in certain products and processes using chlorinated compounds. Only a few of the 135 CDF compounds have been produced in large enough quantities so that their properties, such as color, smell, taste, and toxicity could be studied. The few CDF compounds that have been produced in large enough quantities to be studied are colorless solids. They do not easily dissolve in water. CDFs are often found in association with CDDs, and have similar toxic effects [8].

CDDs are released into the air in emissions from municipal solid waste and industrial incinerators. Exhaust from vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel fuel also contains CDDs. Other sources of CDDs in air include: emissions from oil- or coal-fired power plants, combustion products of chlorinated compounds such as PCBs, and cigarette smoke. CDDs formed during combustion processes are associated with small particles in the air, such as ash. The larger particles will be deposited close to the emission source, while very small particles may be transported longer distances. Some of the lesser-chlorinated CDDs may vaporize from the particles (and soil or water surfaces) and be transported long distances in the atmosphere. It has been estimated that 20 to 60% of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in the air is in the vapor phase. Sunlight and atmospheric chemicals will break down a very small portion of the CDDs, but most CDDs will be deposited on land or water [7].

CDDs occur as contaminants in the manufacture of various chlorinated pesticides and herbicides. Releases to the environment have occurred during the use of these chemicals. Because CDDs remain in the environment for a long time, contamination from past pesticide and herbicide use may still be of concern. In addition, improper storage of these pesticides and waste generated during their production can lead to CDD contamination of soil and water [7].

CDDs are released in wastewater from pulp and paper mills that use chlorine in the bleaching process. CDDs also are released in very small amounts in wastewater from domestic and industrial waste treatment plants. Some of the CDDs on or near the water surface will be broken down by sunlight. A very small portion of the total CDDs in water will evaporate to air. Because CDDs do not dissolve easily in water, most of the CDDs in water will attach strongly to small particles of soil or organic matter and eventually settle on the bottom. CDDs may also attach to microscopic plants and animals (plankton) which are eaten by larger animals, that are in turn eaten by even larger animals. Concentrations of chemicals such as the most toxic CDDs, which are difficult for the animals to break down, usually increase at each step in the food chain. This process, called biomagnification, is the reason why undetectable levels of CDDs in water can result in measurable concentrations in aquatic animals. The food chain is the main route by which CDD concentrations build up in larger fish, although some fish accumulate CDDs by eating contaminated particles directly off the bottom [7].

CDDs deposited on land bind strongly to the soil, and therefore are not likely to contaminate groundwater by moving deeper into the soil. However, the presence of other chemicals in the soil may make it easier for CDDs to move through soil. The movement of chemical waste containing CDDs through soil has resulted in the contamination of groundwater. Soil erosion and surface runoff can also transport CDDs into surface waters. A very small amount of CDDs at the soil surface will evaporate into air. Certain types of soil bacteria and fungi can break down CDDs, but the processes are very slow. In fact, CDDs can exist in soil for many years. Plants take up only very small amounts of CDDs by their roots. Most of the CDDs found on the parts of plants above ground probably come from air and dust and/or previous use of CDD-containing pesticides or herbicides. Animals, such as cattle, feeding on the plants may accumulate CDD in their bodies, a process known as bioaccumulation [7].

CDFs can enter the environment from a number of sources. Accidental fires or breakdowns involving capacitors, transformers, and other electrical equipment that contain PCBs are known to release high levels of CDFs formed by thermal degradation. CDFs are also produced as impurities during the manufacture of several chlorinated chemicals and consumer products, such as wood treatment chemicals, some metals, and paper products. When the wastewater, sludge, or solids from these processes are released into waterways or soil in dump sites, CDF contamination may result. CDFs also enter the environment from burning municipal and industrial waste incinerator exhaust, automobile exhaust, and the burning of coal, wood, or oil for home heating or production of electricity. Many of the chemicals or processes that produce CDFs are either being slowly phased out or strictly controlled [8].

CDFs in air are present mostly as solid particles. Particulate CDFs present in air return to the land and water by settling, snow, and rainwater. Reacting with naturally present chemical agents called hydroxyl radicals, some CDFs in the vapor phase atmosphere are destroyed. CDFs may remain in air for an average of more than 10 days depending on the specific compound. Once in the air, CDFs can be carried long distances. They have been found in air and waters and at the bottom of lakes and rivers in areas far away from where they were released into the environment. CDFs tend to stick to suspended and settled particles in lakes and rivers and can remain at the bottom of lakes and rivers for several years. Sediment acts as a medium where CDFs that are present in air and water eventually settle. CDFs can build up in fish, and the amount of CDFs in fish can be tens of thousands times higher than the level in water. The CDFs in water can get into birds, humans and other animals that eat fish containing CDFs [8].

CDFs bind strongly to soil and are not likely to move from the surface soil into groundwater. In some instances, CDFs from waste landfills may reach underground water. CDFs are more likely to move from soil to water or other soils by erosion or flooding. The breakdown or loss of CDFs in soil occurs over years, so CDFs remain in soil for years. Most CDFs found in plants are probably deposited by air. Cattle that eat plants on which CDFs have been deposited will build up some of the CDFs in their bodies. Some of the CDFs will enter the milk and meat of the cattle [8].

Both CDDs and CDFs are thought to affect human health through similar pathways. Consequently, in environmental studies, they are often treated together as "dioxin-like" substance. Experimental studies have examined them separately. Many studies have looked at how CDDs can affect human health. Most of these studies have examined workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD during the manufacture of chemicals and pesticides contaminated with 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Other studies have looked at Vietnam veterans and Vietnamese populations exposed to Agent Orange and populations exposed to accidental releases of 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Most of the human studies have many shortcomings that make it difficult for scientists to establish a clear association between 2,3,7,8-TCDD exposure levels and health effects. A common problem with most of the human studies is that people were exposed to a number of chemicals at the same time. In many of the studies, we do not know how much 2,3,7,8-TCDD people were exposed to or how long the exposure lasted. In other studies, the people were examined many years after they were exposed and some of the effects may have not been present at the time of examination or 2,3,7,8-TCDD may not have caused the effects observed. Some of the more recent studies have measured 2,3,7,8-TCDD levels in the blood of exposed populations. The levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in the blood can be used to estimate the extent of past exposure [7,8].

A number of effects have been observed in people exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The most common health effect in people exposed to relatively large amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDD is chloracne. Unlike common acne, chloracne is harder to cure and can be more disfiguring. In the most severe cases, lesions may last for many years after exposure. Changes in blood and urine that may indicate liver damage have been observed in people. Alterations in the ability of the liver to metabolize hemoglobin, lipids, sugar, and protein have been reported in people exposed to relatively high concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Most of the effects were mild and reversible. However, in some people these effects may last for many years. Abnormal glucose tolerance tests and a slight increase in the risk of diabetes have been observed in some studies of people exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD. We do not have enough information to know if exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD will result in reproductive or developmental effects in people [7].

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that it is reasonable to expect that 2,3,7,8-TCDD may cause cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that 2,3,7,8-TCDD can cause cancer in people butthat it is not possible to classify other CDDs as to their carcinogenicity to humans. The EPA has determined that 2,3,7,8-TCDD is a possible human carcinogen when considered alone and a probable human carcinogen when considered in association with phenoxyherbicides and/or chlorophenols. The EPA has determined also that a mixture of hexa-CDDs is a probable human carcinogen [7].

Most of what we know about the health effects of CDFs comes from studies of accidental poisonings in Japan and Taiwan in the 1960s and 1970s, where many people ate food cooked in contaminated rice oil for several months. In both cases, the rice oil was contaminated with PCBs and CDFs. The amounts of CDFs that these people accidentally ate were much higher than those found in a normal diet. Skin and eye irritations, severe acne, darkened skin color, and swollen eyelids with discharge were the most obvious health effects from CDF poisoning. However, these effects did not develop in some people until weeks or months after exposure and might not have occurred at all in other people. CDFs also caused vomiting and diarrhea, anemia, frequent lung infections, numbness and other effects on the nervous system, and mild changes in the liver, but there was no reported permanent liver damage in the people who ate the CDFs. The children born to the poisoned mothers had acne and other skin irritations. Young children of these mothers also had some trouble learning, but it is unknown if this effect was permanent. It is difficult to determine if these health effects were caused by CDFs alone, or the combination of CDFs and PCBs [8].

There are no cancer studies in people or animals that ate or breathed CDFs. One study found that CDFs alone did not cause skin cancer when they were applied to animal skin for several months. However, when researchers applied another carcinogen to the animals' skin before applying CDFs, skin cancer developed. Although skin cancer developed in these animals, DHHS, IARC, and EPA have not classified the carcinogenicity of CDFs [8].

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of over 100 different chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, and other organic substances like tobacco and charbroiled meat. PAHs are usually found in soot as a mixture containing two or more of these compounds [9].

Some PAHs are manufactured. Pure PAHs usually exist as colorless, white, or pale yellow-green solids. PAHs are found in coal tar, crude oil, creosote, and roofing tar, but a few are used in medicines or to make dyes, plastics, and pesticides [9].

PAHs enter the air mostly from volcanoes, forest fires, burning coal, and automobile exhaust. PAHs can occur in air attached to dust particles. Some PAH particles readily evaporate into the air from soil or surface waters. PAHs can break down by reacting with sunlight and other chemicals in the air over a period of days to weeks [9].

PAHs enter water through discharges from industrial wastewater treatment plants. Most PAHs do not dissolve easily in water. They stick to solid particles and settle to the bottoms of lakes or rivers. Some microorganisms can break down PAHs in soil or water after a period of weeks to months. In soils, PAHs are most likely to stick tightly to particles; certain PAHs move through soil to contaminate underground water. PAH content of plants and animals may be much higher than PAH content of soil or water in which they live [9].

Mice that were fed high levels of one PAH during pregnancy had difficulty reproducing and so did their offspring. These offspring also had higher rates of birth defects and lower body weights. It is not known whether these effects occur in people [9].

Animal studies also have shown that, after both short- and long-term exposure, PAHs can cause harmful effects on the skin, body fluids, and ability to fight disease. These effects have not been seen in people [9].

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that some PAHs may reasonably be expected to be carcinogens [9].

Some people who have breathed or touched mixtures of PAHs and other chemicals for long periods of time have developed cancer. Some PAHs have caused cancer in laboratory animals when they breathed air containing them (lung cancer), ingested them in food (stomach cancer), or had them applied to their skin (skin cancer)[9].

Pentachlorophenol

Pentachlorophenol is a manufactured chemical not found naturally in the environment and was used as a biocide and wood preservative. It was one of the most heavily used pesticides in the United States. Today only certified applicators can purchase and use pentachlorophenol. It is still used in industry as a wood preservative for power line poles, railroad ties, cross arms, and fence posts. It is no longer found in wood preserving solutions or insecticides and herbicides sold for home and garden use [10].

When pentachlorophenol enters the environment, it generally sticks to soil particles. Its movement in soils depends on the soil's acidity. Pentachlorophenol does not evaporate easily and can last for hours to days in air, soils, and surface waters. It does not easily dissolve in water. In soils and surface waters, microorganisms can break down pentachlorophenol into other compounds. Sunlight also breaks it down in surface waters and air. Some of the breakdown products may be harmful to people. Pentachlorophenol may bioaccumulate in fish, but tissue levels are usually low because pentachlorophenol breaks down in the body [10].

Short-term exposures to large amounts of pentachlorophenol or long-term exposure to low levels can harm the liver, kidneys, blood, lungs, nervous system, immune system, and gastrointestinal tract in humans. Researchers have seen similar effects in animals. Impurities, such as CDDs and CDFs, in commercial pentachlorophenol may cause many, but not all, of its harmful effects. Direct contact with pentachlorophenol can irritate the skin, eyes, and mouth, particularly when in a hot vapor phase [10].

We do not know whether pentachlorophenol causes birth defects in people. It caused a decrease in the number of offspring born to animals that were exposed to it while they were pregnant [10].

IARC has classified pentachlorophenol as a possible human carcinogen. This conclusion is based on animal studies that showed an increased risk of cancer in mice, specifically in the livers and adrenal glands. There is no good evidence that pentachlorophenol can cause cancer in people [10].

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