PRELIMINARY PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
DUBLIN WATER SUPPLY CONCLUSIONS
DUBLIN, BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
PADOH and ATSDR have concluded, based on the data available, that the site posed a public health hazard in the past. Actions have been taken to reduce exposures to levels below public health concern. Currently, the site is an indeterminate health hazard because the groundwater contaminant plume is still under study and the potential for future exposures cannot be determined. As noted in the Pathways Analyses section, human exposure to VOC's has occurred in the past and can occur through the use of contaminated well water.
All people in Dublin known to be impacted by the site are currently having their water supplies treated to correct the problem. However, the contaminant plume continues to migrate. Current and future exposure to contaminants at levels of public health concern is possible through use of contaminated well water if the wells are not identified and the water treated.
The long-term effectiveness of the carbon filtration systems is questionable. Additionally, some
carbon filtration systems have been known to support the growth of harmful bacteria. EPA
issued a ROD in December 1991 that addresses a long-term solution for the impacted
community. Once the ROD is implemented, a safe water supply should be available to the
people affected by the site. Additional monitoring should help identify other threatened wells in
the community.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Health Activities Recommendation Panel
The data and information developed in the Dublin TCE Public Health Assessment have been
evaluated for appropriate follow-up health actions. The ATSDR Health Activities
Recommendation Panel (HARP) determined that past exposure to contaminants at levels of
public health concern has occurred and that current and future exposure to contaminants at levels
of public health concern is possible. HARP determined that people known to have been exposed
to TCE should be considered for inclusion on the National Exposure Registry--TCE Subregistry.
Community and health care provider education are indicated. ATSDR will reevaluate this site
for additional follow-up public health actions if new data become available that indicate a need
to do so.
Public
The public health action plan (PHAP) for the Dublin TCE site contains a description of actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or other governmental agencies at and in the vicinity of the site subsequent to the completion of this public health assessment. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment not only identifies public health hazards, but provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. Included is a commitment on the part of ATSDR and PADOH to follow up on this plan to ensure that it is implemented.
Actions Planned
In order to help the community better understand the implications of their exposure, PADOH, with the assistance of ATSDR, will provide community health education.
In order to help the health care providers in the Dublin community better understand the possible health implications of exposure to people in the area, PADOH, with the assistance of ATSDR, will provide information to area health care providers.
ATSDR's Division of Health Studies will review the information in this public health assessment and consider the request of the community for a health study. Considerations will include whether appropriate tests are available that will benefit the community and whether resources are available to conduct such tests.
PADOH will conduct a Site Review and Update, or other appropriate follow-up, in late 1994 or early 1995 when more data are available on the current status of drinking water quality in the area and on current conditions at the site. If data become available before that time that indicate exposures are occurring at levels of health concern, ATSDR will evaluate that information and determine what actions need to implemented to protect the public health.
Currently, the National Exposure Registre--TCE Subregistry is closed. ATSDR will consider including members of the exposed community on the TCE subregistry should a need for additional members arise.
EPA has approved the design of a waterline to distribute water to affected residences. The
construction of the line is expected to begin by spring 1994. EPA also continues to extend the
area of private well sampling to determine if other residences have been affected as a result of
contaminant plume movement.
PREPARERS
James N. Logue, Dr.P.H.
Epidemiologist
Director
Division of Environmental Health
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Kandiah Sivarajah, Ph.D.
Director, Health Assessment Program
and State Toxicologist
Toxicology and Health Assessment Section
Division of Environmental Health
Pennsylvania Department of Health
ATSDR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Charles Walters
Senior Regional Representative
Regional Services, Region III
ATSDR TECHNICAL PROJECT OFFICER
Gail D. Godfrey
Technical Project Officer
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Remedial Programs Branch
State Programs Section
The Dublin TCE Site Public Health Assessment has been prepared by the Pennsylvania
Department of 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.
Gail D. Godfrey
Technical Project Officer, SPS, RPB, DHAC
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 REFERENCES
Director, DHAC, ATSDR
1. Roy F. Weston, Inc., Spill Prevention and Emergency Response Division (EPA Contract 68-01-6669). September 15, 1986 Memorandum from Greg Janice and Peter Harnett to Jay Rodstein (OSC, EPA Region III) entitled "Dublin TCE Site."
2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, Emergency Response Section. September 23, 1986, letter from Jay Rodstein, On Scene Coordinator, to Mr. Peter Noll, Bucks County Department of Health, regarding the Dublin TCE site.
3. U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Health Assessment. October 23, 1986, written Health Consultation from Dr. Jeffrey A. Lybarger to Mr. Charles J. Walters (Public Health Advisor, EPA Region III) entitled "Dublin Water Supply Site, Dublin, Bucks County, Pennsylvania."
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, Hazardous Waste Enforcement Branch. November 6, 1986, letter from Bruce P. Smith to Mr. John H. Thompson regarding Dublin Water Supply TCE Contamination.
5. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Resources, Norristown Office, Operations Section. November 12, 1986, letter form Walter E. Stanley, Jr., to Mr. John Thompson regarding Industrial Waste/Groundwater Pollution.
6a. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III. Consent Agreement and Order made and entered into between EPA and John H. Thompson regarding the property located at 120 Mill Street in Dublin Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, referred to as the "Dublin TCE Site," June 1987 (Docket No. III-87-22-DC).
6b. Memorandum "Telephone Conversation: Dublin Water Supply Site, Dublin, Bucks County PA" from Chief Technical Support Section, Emergency Response and Consultation Branch (ERCB), Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC) ATSDR to Charles Walters, October 16, 1990.
7. Roy F. Weston, Inc., Assessment of Source Contamination in Whistlewood Apartment Complex Water Supply Well, Dublin, Pennsylvania. West Chester, Pennsylvania: Roy F. Weston, Inc., February 15, 1988.
8. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III. Summary data base for all well water samples collected in Dublin from 1986 to 1989. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: U.S. EPA, 1989.
9. BCM Engineers, Inc. Results of Soil Sampling Program: Thompson Property, 120 Mill Street, Dublin, Pennsylvania. Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania: BCM Engineers, Inc., March, 1988.
10. Toxicological Profile for Vinyl Chloride, ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, August 1989.
11. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. August 17, 1990, written Health Consultation from Dr. Jerome Cater to Mr. Charles J. Walters (Public Health Advisor, EPA Region III) entitled "Dublin Water Supply Site, Bucks County, Dublin, Pennsylvania."
12. Toxicological Profile for Trichloroehtylene, ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, April 1993.
13. Toxicological Profile for Tetrachloroethylene, ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, February 1992.
14. Toxicological Profile for Bromodichloromethane, ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, December 1989.
15. Toxicological Profile for 1,3-Dichloropropene, ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, September 1992.
16. Toxicological Profile for Methylene Chloride, ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, April 1993.
17. Toxicological Profile for 1,2-Dichloropropane, ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, December 1989.
18. Pennsylvania Vital Statistics File, State Health Data Center, Pennsylvania Department of Health, 1991.
19. Bailor, J.C., III, Ederer F. Significant Factors for the Ratio of a Poisson Variable to its Expectation. Biometrics; 20; 639-643, 1964.
20. U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. National Exposure Registry Trichloroethylene (TCE) Subregistry Baseline Technical Report. May 1993.
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