Past exposure to airborne contaminants is considered a completed exposure pathway.
Available information indicates that, at certain times during the 1960s and early 1970s, levels of
airborne contaminants from the Spectron/Galaxy site represented an urgent public health hazard
for some exposed area residents. Recent air monitoring data (collected in August, 1995) did not
detect any elevated levels of airborne contaminants near the site, indicating that there is currently
no public health hazard from site contaminants in the air near Spectron/Galaxy.
Potential past and present exposures include direct contact with contaminants in sediments and
surface waters of Little Elk Creek. Surface water monitoring results from 1995 indicate that
volatile organic compounds from the site continue to be released into Little Elk Creek. The 1995
data on creek contaminant levels downstream from the site indicate that occasional recreational
contact would not pose a significant human health risk.
Site-related VOC contaminants were tentatively identified in some residential wells in 1992.
Residents were supplied with bottled water, which was discontinued in 1993 when repeat testing
of these wells did not reveal any contamination. Residential well monitoring in 1995 identified
low levels of VOCs in one well. The affected residence has been supplied with a water treatment
system. No VOCs were detected in any of the other sampled wells, including the wells sampled
in 1992.
A cancer mortality study of Providence Valley residents covering the period January 1967 -
June 1976 reported a greater-than-expected number of total cancer deaths during the period, as
well as a greater than expected number of cancer deaths from cancers involving the lymphatic
system. Task force members recommended that cancer deaths be monitored in Providence
Valley residents, in particular cancers of the lymphatic and hematopoietic (blood forming)
tissues. Two other cases of residents who developed lymphatic cancers have been recently
reported to MDE staff.
People living near the site have expressed concern about the potential for long-term health
effects, such as cancer, resulting from past exposures to off-site contaminants; there is also
concern regarding the potential relationship between high level exposures in the past and other
adverse health effects, including miscarriage and heart disease. Past exposures to high levels of
airborne contaminants may have increased the lifetime risk of developing cancer (e.g., certain
types of lymphoma and leukemia) in some residents. Residents who were exposed to high levels
of airborne contaminants also have been at greater risk for experiencing other health effects.
Maintain a periodic sampling program of local residential wells that are or may be potentially
affected. If private wells are contaminated at levels of health concern, an alternate water supply
or treatment system should be installed.
Determine the extent of site-related contamination in Little Elk Creek surface water and
sediments downstream from the site.
Provide health education to the exposed and potentially exposed populations.
If necessary records are available, update the cancer mortality study of the population of
Providence Valley residents that was previously conducted for the years 1967 - 1976, with
particular emphasis on deaths from cancers of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues (e.g.,
lymphoma, leukemia).
The data and information developed in the Spectron/Galaxy Public Health Assessment have been
evaluated for appropriate follow-up health actions. The ATSDR Health Activities
Recommendation Panel (HARP) agreed with MDE's conclusions and recommendations that past
exposures to site contaminants released into the air were a health concern and that evaluation of
possible current exposures require further environmental sampling data (additional air sampling
has already been conducted). HARP also concluded that community health education and health
professions education are indicated in order for the community and health care providers to better
understand the public health implications of past exposures. A health statistics review, which
should include, but not be limited to, cancer mortality and birth defects databases, is also
indicated. Including the exposed population on ATSDR's benzene subregistry was considered
and subsequently rejected. ATSDR and MDE will reevaluate this site for additional follow-up
public health actions when new data become available.
The public health action plan (PHAP) for the Spectron/Galaxy site contains a description of
actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or other governmental agencies at and in the vicinity of the
site. 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 MDE and ATSDR to follow up on this plan to ensure
that it is implemented.
Actions Implemented
EPA, at the request of MDE and ATSDR, requested that air monitoring be performed at and
around the site to determine if nearby residents are currently exposed to contaminants in the air at
levels of concern. This sampling was performed by a contractor for the PRP group in November,
1993; however, some of the data are invalid because of problems with the sampling
methodology.
At the request of MDE and ATSDR, additional air monitoring was conducted by a contractor to
EPA on residential property near the site during the week of August 7, 1995.
MDE is performing a cancer mortality data review and is evaluating the feasibility of a review of
birth defects data to evaluate the public health implications of past exposures.
At the request of EPA and MDE, a contractor to the PRP group sampled 21 residents' wells from
the site vicinity in September and October, 1995. The same contractor also collected four surface
water samples from Little Elk Creek in September 1995. Both residential well and surface water
sampling will be repeated on a biannual basis.
Actions Planned
The HARP determination that community health and health professions education is indicated
has been provided to ATSDR's Division of Health Education (DHE).
Starting in September 1995, water samples at seventy-one residential wells and 4 South West
stations in Little Elk Creek will be monitored for site contaminants on a semi-annual basis (twice a year).
Peter Ashley, Dr.P.H.
Environmental toxicologist
Environmental Risk Assessment Program
Maryland Department of the Environment
Shannon Cameron, M.H.S.
Environmental toxicologist
Environmental Risk Assessment Program
(formerly the Office of Environmental Health Coordination)
Maryland Department of the Environment
Contributing Author:
Chad Roy, M.S.P.H.
Environmental toxicologist
Environmental Risk Assessment Program
Maryland Department of the Environment
Data and Technical
Reviewers:
Rick Grills, M.S.
Geologist/Remedial Project Manager
Federal and NPL Superfund Division
Waste Management Administration
Maryland Department of the Environment
Sesh Lal
Public Health Engineer
Federal and NPL Superfund Division
Waste Management Administration
Maryland Department of the Environment
Deirdre Murphy, Ph.D.
Chief, Toxics Assessment Division
Environmental Risk Assessment Program
Maryland Department of the Environment
ATSDR REPRESENTATIVES
Regional Representative:
Technical Project Officer:
Charles Walters
Senior Regional Representative
Office of Regional Operations
Gail Godfrey
State Programs Section
Division of Health Assessment and
Consultation
This Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Maryland Department of the
Environment 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.
Gail D. Godfrey Technical Project Officer Superfund Site Assessment Branch (SSAB) 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.
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