PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
MEDLEY FARMS
GAFFNEY, CHEROKEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Medley Farms Site is classified as a no apparent public health hazard because the available data do not indicate that humans are being exposed to levels of contamination that would be expected to cause adverse health effects. Exposure to surface soil is unlikely and the groundwater plume is confined to the site. Although none of the area private wells are located in the groundwater plume from the site, the presence of contamination in one upgradient well indicates the possibility of another source. These wells should be sampled to ensure that exposures are not occurring. If information becomes available indicating that exposures to on-site contamination is occurring this site may be reclassified.
A past completed exposure pathway was identified for a private well user located upgradient from the Medley site. The hydrogeologic data presented in the RI indicate that the contaminated groundwater plume does not underlie the existing residential buildings; therefore, this exposure pathway is not considered to be site related. The private well user was advised to discontinue the use of this well and now utilizes municipal water. The length of the completed exposure pathway is not known and cannot be further evaluated in this public health assessment. We recommend that other sources of contamination in the area be characterized and that the private wells downgradient of the site be identified and sampled on a regular basis. Presently, there are no known completed exposure pathways.
Potential exposure pathways were identified for groundwater, surface water, soil, air, and food chain for the Medley Farms site. The most likely route of exposure to contaminants at the Medley site could occur if the site becomes further developed and a private well is drilled and utilized on the site or in contaminated areas in the vicinity of the site. In this instance, a potential exposure pathway could become a completed exposure pathway.
People could be exposed to groundwater contamination if a private well is drilled on the site or if the
area surrounding the site is further developed and the residents use private wells from the
contaminated areas for their potable water source. Exposures could occur through ingestion,
inhalation of water vapors while bathing or cooking, and through dermal contact with the
contaminated groundwater from a private on-site well.
Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Recommendations
The Public Health Action Plan for the Medley Farm site contains a description of actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or the South Carolina Department of Environmental Control (SCDHEC) 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/or SCDHEC to follow-up on this plan to ensure that it is implemented. The public health actions to be implemented by ATSDR and/or SCDHEC are as follows:
If any additional data should become available, we will review the information for further public
health implications.
Robert F. Marino, MD, MPH
Director
SCDHEC, Division of Health Hazard Evaluation
John F. Brown, DVM, PhD
State Toxicologist
SCDHEC, Division of Health Hazard Evaluation
Lovyst L. Howell
Project Administrator
SCDHEC, Division of Health Hazard Evaluation
Charles Lewis, MPH
Environmental Quality Manager
SCDHEC, Division of Health Hazard Evaluation
ATSDR Regional Representative:
Chuck Pietrosewicz
Public Health Advisor
Office of the Assistant Administrator
ATSDR Technical Project Officer:
Richard R. Kauffman
Technical Project Officer
Remedial Program Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
This Medley Farm Site public health assessment was prepared by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 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.
Richard R. Kauffman
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
Director, DHAC, ATSDR
ATSDR, Toxicological Profile for Benzene, ATSDR/TP-88/03, May 1989.
ATSDR, Toxicological Profile for Chloroform, ATSDR/TP-88/09, January 1989.
ATSDR, Toxicological Profile for 1,1-Dichloroethylene, ATSDR/TP-89/11, December 1989.
ATSDR, Toxicological Profile for 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, ATSDR/TP-90/27, December 1990.
ATSDR, Toxicological Profile for 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, ATSDR/TP-89/24, December 1989.
ATSDR, Toxicological Profile for Trichloroethylene, ATSDR/TP-88/24, October 1989.
Clayton, G. D., and F. E. Clayton (eds.). 1981-82. Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 3rd ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Klaasen, C. D., M. O. Amdur, and J. Doull. 1986. Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons, 3rd ed. MacMillan Publishing Co., New York.
Sirrine Environmental Consultants. 1990. Draft Feasibility Study Report, Medley Farm Site, Gaffney, South Carolina.
Sirrine Environmental Consultants. 1990. Draft Remedial Investigation Report, Phase I & II, Medley Farm Site, Gaffney, South Carolina.
Sittig, M. 1985. Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, 2nd ed. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, New Jersey.
South Carolina Data Center. 1989. South Carolina Statistical Abstract, 1989. South Carolina Division of Research and Statistical Services, Columbia, South Carolina.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) files.
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