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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCD001810365_19880119_Martin-Marietta Sodyeco Inc. (Clariant)_FRBCERCLA SPD_Health Assessment-OCRI I -. I ' I I •• •• :·· j· I . .:1 .,. I I I I I I I I ·MARTIN MARIETTA -SODYECO HEllLTH ASSESSMENT JANURA'i 1998 I.·. ""'\ I 'I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ·I I ' Health Assessment for SODYECO, INC, SITE MOUNT HOLLY, NORTH CAROLINA JANUARY 19, 1988 ;\\'' •. ;. !'or 1'oxic Substan22s _-.rid -=•i·:ot:>a. :,: r~_e,_,_;. • Li S. P:1blic Health Service ' . . ' t • ;-- ., '{ -: I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I. SUMMARY II. The NPL site at Sodyeco, Inc. is located approximately 10 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina and has been used since 1938 to manufacture specialty chemicals. On-site disposal of distillation tars and dye clarification cake has resulted in extensive groundwater and soil contamination. Based on information provided in the Remedial Investigation Report for the site, there is currently no human exposure to site contaminants because: 1) the nearest off-site drinking water wells located northeast of the Sodyeco property do not intercept a contaminated aquifer, 2) all contaminated soil is under a minimum of two feet of uncontaminated cover material, 3) contaminant concentrations in sediments are in low part per billion concentrations and are not of con·cern and 4) contaminant releases to surface water are diluted to below analytical detection limits. The primary concern at this ~ite is future human exposure to contaminants. Such exposures may occur if groundwater use patterns change or remedial measures are unsuccessful in controlling or reducing groundwater cont,;rninant migration. This type of exposure could pose a significant health threat. BACKGROUND A. Site Description The subject of this Health Assessment is the National Priorities List Sodyeco Site. This site is located 10 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina, off Highway 27, across the Catawba River from the City of Mount Holly. The Site is a 1300 acre active manufacturing facility owned by Sandoz Chemicals Corporation. The facility produces specialty chemical products for the agrochemical, electronic, explosive, lithographic, pigment, plastic, rubber, and general chemical industries. A Remedial Investigation (RI) Report of.the site was completed August 1987 (1), and a draft Feasibility Study (FS) was submitted in July 1987 (2). A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed by the EPA and Sandoz Chemicals Corp. on October 1, 1987 (3). The ROD specifies that contaminated soil from Area C will receive in situ treatment, the soil from Area D will be transported off-site for incineration and contaminated groundwater will be pumped and treated utilizing the on-site RCRA wastewater treatment system. A map of the facility delineating the areas of contamination is located in the Appendi~ of this report. ·.'. The three trenches in Area C were excavated in 1981 and 1983 by the property owner upon discovery of the groundwater contamination. To determine the extent of removal in trenches one and two (excavated in 1981), Sodyeco performed appearance (discoloration from the dyes) and odor evaluations, which allowed some soil contamination to go undetected. The third trench was excavated in 1983. Samples from Page 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I this trench bottom were collected for a semi-quantitative volatile Total Organic Carbon (TOG) analysis which determined the extent of removal. A total of 3,200 tons of waste material and contaminated soil was removed from this area and transported to a hazardous waste disposal site in South Carolina. When this site was first reviewed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in 1984, an additional area of contamination was identified at the site: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Site III. This site has since been incorporated into the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility at Sodyeco and is regulated under the permit issued for that facility. This Assessment will only address the CERCLA areas identified in the August 1987, Remedial Investigation Report. B. Site Visit ATSDR Regional Representative Cody Jackson has visited the Sodyeco site. The information on which this Assessment is based was obtained from interviews with Mr. Jackson and from the documents (1-3) forwarded to ATSDR Headquarters from the responsible party, Sandoz Chemicals Company. III. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND PHYSICAL HAZARDS A. On-Site Contamination Table. I lists the Contaminants of Concern at the Sodyeco Site and the concentrations at which they are found in each Area (A, B, C, D, E) and environmental media. B. Off-Site Contamination Sampling conducted before and during the Remedial Investigation did not indicate any movement of contaminants in sufficient amounts to be detected off the Sodyeco property. Samples of off-site wells, Long Creek, and the Catawba River confirmed this evaluation. C. Physical Hazards There are not-any physical hazards at this site, except those normally found at a manufacturing facility. IV. DEMOGRAPHICS Twenty to thirty residences located are within one-quarter mile radius of the plant, on the same side of the river. These residents are dependent upon local groundwater for drinking water. The City of Page 2 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 11 Chemical Area A Chlorobenzene o-Dichlorobenzene Area B Xylene Chlorobenzene Tetrachloroethylene o-Dichlorobenzene Area C Chlorobenzene Ethylbenzene o-Dichlorobenzene Xylene -Trichloroethylene Tetrachloroethylene Area D Chlorobenzene Ethylbenzene o-Dichlorobenzene Xylene Tetrachlot!>_ethylene Area E :.-. :.. . ~==•-:-: •r'•-. ~---~ Chlorobenzene o-Dichlorobenzene Xylene S0DYEC0 SITE, CERCLA Table I Contaminants of Concern Soil Range in ppb 7.9 27 11 5.8 6.7 6.1 7.4 22 220 85 6 6800 1,700,000 18,000,000 15,000,000 190 15,000 45 23,000-6,000,000 340 27,000 Page 3 Groundwater Range in ppb 45 -720 15 29 -650 320 4400 64 2500 160 22 54 72 -1400 14,000 -15,000 590 -2300 1700 -4800 510 780 200 56 20,000 36,000 470 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I )I I Mount Holly, 1980 census population of 4,530, is directly across the river from Sodyeco. Thr·ee and one half miles down river from the site is the City of Belmont (1980 census population of 4,607). Both cities obtain their drinking water form the river. The river intake for Mount Holly is up river from the Sodyeco site. Sandoz Chemical Corp. is the major employer in the area. The number of employees and the shift schedule at the plant are unknown. Employees commute daily· from Mount Holly and Belmont. V. EVALUATION A. Site Characterization 1. Environmental Media The investigation at the Sodyeco Site located five areas of contamination. The information provided to ATSDR did not characterize the full extent of the contaminants on site. However the information is probably sufficient to conduct remediation of the site. The soil borings conducted at Area A were no closer than 200 feet down gradient of the landfill. Soil sampling·was not conducted at the boundaries of the landfill. This information would have provided· additional information on the extent of contamination in and around the manufacturing buil_dings located next to the landfill. The information available for Areas A and B does not indicate the depth of the landfills or their relationship to the local groundwater table. Information was not provided on the borings conducted around the fresh water pond in area D (Boring# B-1, 3, 5, 6, 7, & 8). Without this information the full extent of soil contamination within Area D can not be determined. The field screening procedure used on the soil samples may have adversely affected the laboratory results. Every soil sample was screened by an HNu after the sample was heated in a water bath. If the HNu did not register any volatile compound, the sample was not sent in for laboratory analysis. No QA\QC data was provided on the effectiveness''of this method and the samples were not split before heating. This.procedure could have driven off some of the volatile contaminants from the sample thereby lowering the analytical results. Page 4 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Hydrogeological information for the two active wells on site was not provide·d. Therefore, it can not be determined if these wells could become contaminated in the future. The groundwater monitoring methodology did not determine the total extent of contamination. It is not possible to accurately determine the breadth of groundwater contamination and its relationship to the two active on-site wells without further monitoring data. 2. Land Use and Demographics Because the Sodyeco/Sandoz Chemical Corporation plant is active, use of the site for the manufacture of specialty chemicals will likely continue within the foreseeable future. Sandoz Chemicals owns the property on both sides of State Highway 27 and will likely continue to control use of the land (a gasoline store, a convenience store and an upholstery shop are currently located on this land). The site is located in the outskirts of Charlotte; thus increased urbanization of the area will likely occur. This will probably bring more residences and increased commercial/light industrial activities to the area. Numbers of permanent and transient (worker) residents will likely increase. 3. Quality Assurance and Quality Control As discussed above, QA/QC information was screening procedure used on soil samples. presented in Appendix E of the RI (1) for on the samples. B. Environmental Pathways not provided for the field However, QA/QC data were chemical analyses performed Due to their differing chemical properties, the contaminants are likely to migrate through the environment as discussed below: When released into the environment, chlorobenzene will have a moderate affinity for soil (depending on organic content) and will readily volatilize into the air from both soil and water. Chlorobenzene does not bioconcentrate to any great extent and it is relatively soluble in water (~90 mg/1). For these reasons, chlorobenzene may be expected to leach· from soil, readily enter the groundwater and be quite mobile in the eriv£ronment. Multiple exposure pathways are possible whether A;-·i,;·o-· chlorobenzene is contaminating air, soil or water media. A low vapor pressure and a high octanol-water partition coefficient means that o-dichlorobenzene will not volatilize as readily as chlorobenzene and it will adhere to soils and sediments to ·a greater extent. As would be expected, the potential for o-dichlorobcnzene to bioaccumulate is greater than chlorobenzene. Aqueous solubility is Page 5 •• I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I still relatively high (137 mg/1) for this organic chemical and it is expected to be mobile in the environment. Multiple exposure pathways are possible whether o-dichlorobenzene is contaminating air, soil or water media. In addition, exposure may occur via ingestion of contaminated game animals, In the environment ethyl benzene will readily volatilize from all media. It will sorb onto organic soils, but will readily leach through sandy soils. Multiple exposure pathways are possible whether ethyl benzene is contaminating air, soil or water media. Tetrachloroethylene (also called perchloroethylene or PCE) will readily volatilize from all media. It does not sorb strongly onto soil and therefore will readily leach. Aqueous solubility (150 mg/1) is relatively high for an organic chemical. Multiple exposure pathways are possible whether PCE is contaminating air, soil or water media. However the potential for bioconcentration and thus exposure via ingestion of con~aminated game animals is low. In the environment, trichloroethylene will readily volatilize from all media. It does not sorb strongly onto soil and will readily leach. Aqueous solubility is low (1.11 mg/1). Multiple exposure pathways ·will occur whether trichloroethylene is contaminating air, soil or water. The potential for bioconcentration and thus exposure via contaminated game animals is low. Trichloroethylene is readily taken up via dermal, ingestion and inhalation pathways. Xylene will readily volatilize from all environmental media. It does not sorb strongly onto soil and will readily leach. Xylene is very mobile in the environment and multiple exposure pathways will occur, whether xylene is contaminating air, soil or water. The potential for bioconcentration and thus exposure via contaminated game animals is low. The contaminants at Sodyeco are located in the soil and/or groundwater. Surface water samples from Long Creek and the Catawba River were not contaminated. Sediment contaminant concentrations were in the low part per billion range and are not necessarily attributable to the Sodyeco site. This sediment contamination is not of public health concern. Due to the nature of the site (manufacturing), access is controlled and no food chain crops are grown on site. Occupational air monitoring of the manufacturing buildings does not indic~~~ any migration of contaminants into the work areas. Air quality:monitoring with an HNu was conducted during soil sampling activities and did not attest to any air quality problems. Page 6 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The groundwater can be found approximately ten feet below each of the contaminated areas, except Area D where groundwater is only one foot below the surface. The unconfined aquifer at this site drains towards and is hydraulically connected to either Long Creek or the Catawba River. Long Creek drains into the Catawba River just south of Sodyeco. Groundwater contamination has occurred at each area and is moving towards Long Creek and/or the Catawba River. There are only two wells presently being used at the site; however, neither appears to be in the direct path of the contaminant plumes. None of these wells are presently being used for potable water. The well at the gasoline station supplies water to a minnow bait tank; while the well at the upholstery shop is only used for sanitary purposes. The information provided is not sufficient to determine if the capture zone of the wells will draw the contamination from Areas A, C, D, or E. Wells were used extensively on site for potable water until the groundwater contamination was discovered in some of these wells during September, 1980. All existing private wells are located across Long Creek or the Catawba River and are not hydraulically connected to the site. Soil contamination has occurred in Areas A, B, C, and D. Area E only· has groundwater contamination associated with it. The contamination at Areas A and B occurs at a minimum three feet below ground and are at least two orders of magnitude lower than that found at Areas C and D. The landfill at Area A is presently covered by asphalt pavement or buildings. The Area B landfill is covered with gravel and used as a truck staging area. Soil contamination in Area C predominately occurs eighteen feet underground and in very high concentrations (i.e., o-Dichlorobenzene 18,000,000 ppb). The current surface conditions at this Area is the result of the regrading and planting of grass after the trenches were excavated in 1981 and 1983. Area D has soil contamination within two feet of the surface and is contaminated with o-Dichlorobenzene, upwards of 6,000,000 ppb. Presently the area is used for a fuel oil storage tank and a lined freshwater pond. Any ground not capped by the tank or pond is covered with grass. C. Human Exposure Pathways A building and asphalt parking lot currently cover the waste landfill in Area A; therefore, direct contact and inhalation exposures are not of concern. The asphalt cover should reduce the infiltration of ground water. There is no known human exposure to Area A contaminants via groundwater. A drainage pipe collects effluent water from Area a. The effluent water consists of influent originating from outside of CERCLA Area A, "infiltration" from Area A and the discharge from several surface drains in the plant area. The effluent is pumped to the Sodyeco waste water treatment plant; thus there is no human exposure to Area A contaminants via surface water. Page 7 I I I I I I .I I I I I I I I I I I I I Cover material placed over wastes in Area B was uncontaminated; therefore direct contact and inhalation exposures are not of concern. There is no known human exposure to Area B contaminants via groundwater. Any potential contribution of Area B to surface water contamination appears to be in low part per billion concentrations that do not pose a threat to human health. Gover material placed over wastes in Area C was uncontaminated; therefore direct contact and inhalation exposures are not of concern. Appropriate dermal and respiratory protection will be required for workers remediating this area as extensive soil contamination exists. There is no known human exposure to Area C contamirlants via groundwater. However, groundwater discharge from Area C is believed to be responsible for trichloroethylene (5-330 ug/1), chlorobenzene (7-110 ug/1) and o-dichlorobenzene (18 ug/1) contamination of Tributary A. Volatilization and dilution appear to rapidly reduce contaminant ·concentrations below detection limits in Long Creek, thereby eliminating human exposure via a surface water ingestion pathway. However, volatilization and direct contact may represent exposure pathways on a very localized basis. Tributary A is an intermittent stream located within the plant. No data have been presented that indicate that surficial soils in Area ~ are contaminated. However, soil contaminant concentrations at a depth of two feet and greater are quite high (chlorobenzene 190-15,000 ug/kg; o-dichlorobenzene 23,000-6,000,000 ug/kg; xylene 340-27,000 ug/kg). Groundwater is heavily contaminated (chlorobenzene 14,000-15,000 ug/1; ethylbenzene 590-2300 ug/1; xylene 1700-4800 ug/1) and is found at a depth of 0.5 to 4.5 feet. Workers carrying out remedial activities will require dermal and respiratory protection. At present, there is no known human exposure to Area D contaminants via groundwater. No surface water is reported to originate on or flow across Area D (other than episodic precipitation runoff). Groundwater is reported to discharge to the Catawba River where contaminants are diluted and volatilized to concentrations below analytical detection limits. No waste is believed to have been disposed in Area E. Contamination is located primarily in the intermediate and deep aquifer zones. There is no known human exposure to Area E contaminants via groundwater. No soil or surface water contamination is present in Area E: therefore there are no direct contact or inhalation exposure pathways. The source of anthracene, fluorene and phenanthrene contamination of sediments samples from Tributary B (which receives surface water runoff from Area E) is unknown. For fluorene and phenanthrene, upstream sediment samples had greater concentrations (fluorene 2.5 up/kg; phenanthrene 72 ug/kg) than downstream sediment Page 8 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I samples (fluorene 2.0 ug/kg; phenanthrene 14 ug/kg). Fluorene and phenanthrene were also detected in an external sediment blank at 2.1 and 1.8 ug/kg, respectively. The presence of these chemicals in the sediments represents direct contact and inhalation exposure pathways. VI. Public Health Implications Contaminants of Concern The Contaminants of Concern listed in Table 1 are all volatile organic chemicals. There is no evidence that human exposure to these chemicals is presently occurring at the Sodyeco Site. For this reason, there is presently no unacceptable public health risk assoc1ated with the site. Future exposure to contaminants at the site is a public health concern because of the reasons discussed below. Chlorobenzene -Chlorobenzene is an irritant to the upper respiratory tract and a central nervous system depressant. The liver is the primary site of chlorobenzene toxicity. Hepatotoxicity is believed to result from cytochrome P-450 dependent conversion of chlorobenzene to an epoxide with subsequent reaction with cellular macromolecules (4). No data are available on the mutagenicity or teratogenicity of chlorobenzene. Inconclusive evidence exists that .chlorobenzene is carcinogenic in rats (5). The U.S. EPA has established a Risk Reference Dose (RRfD) for chlorobenzene of 43 ug/kg/day. Concentrations of chlorobenzene in the soil and groundwater at the site may present a health threat from long term exposure. However, exposure has not occurred since there is no identified human point of contact with this contaminant at the Sodyeco site. o-Dichlorobenzene -In rabbits, o-dichlorobenzene is metabolized to 3,4-dichlorophenol and primarily excreted in the urine as conjugates of glucuronic and sulfuric acids (6). Elimination of o-dichlorobenzene and its metabolites has been reported to take up to six days (6). There are no positive data indicating that o-dichlorobenzene is carcinogenic or mutagenic (7). There are no data on the teratogenicity of o-dichlorobenzene (7). The U.S. EPA has established an RRfD for o-dichlorobenzene of 89 ug/kg/day. Although concentrations of o-dichlorobenzene in soil and groundwater may present a health risk from long-term exposure, exposure has not occurred since there is no identified human point of contact with this contaminant at the Sodyeco site. Ethyl benzene -In man, ethyl benzene is metabolized primarily to mandelic acid (64%} and phenylglyoxylic acid (25%) and excreted in the urine (8). At a concentration of 100 parts per million, inhalation exposure did not result in adverse human health effects (8). Liver and kidney effects were observed in rats exposed orally to Page 9 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ethylbenzene in olive oil for six months (9). Doses of 408 and 680 mg/kg/day caused increases in liver and kidney weights and cloudiness and swelling of hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelium. Doses of 13.6 and 136 mg/kg/day produced no effects. Ethylene benzene was not found to be teratogenic to rats and rabbits with 1000 parts per million inhalation exposure for six to seven hours a day during days one to nineteen and one to twenty four, respectively (10). The EPA Health Advisory for ethyl benzene reports that it is not mutagenic and reports that no data are available on its carcinogenic potential (11). The U.S. EPA has established a lifetime Health Advisory of 680 ug/1 for a 70 kg adult ingesting 2 liters of water per day. Ethyl benzene concentrations in groundwater in Area Dare such that an adult could receive a dose that would exceed the Health Advisory concentration. However, exposure has not occurred since there is no identified human point of contact with this contaminant at the Sodyeco site. Because there is a lack of animal evidence of the carcinogenicity of ethylbenzene, an assessment of carcinogenic risk is not possible at this time. Tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene or PCE) -PCE is readily absorbed through the lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract. It is a central nervous system depressant and inhalation of greater than 100 parts per million results in minor neurological dysfunction. Humans have limited abilities to metabolize PCE and most systemically absorbed PCE is expired unmetabolized. A small portion of the PCE absorbed in the body is metabolized to trichloroacetic acid and chloride and slowly excreted. Metabolism of PCE may enhance its toxicity. Formation of PCE epoxide or other subsequent cytotoxic products is believed to account for toxicity potentiation. However, PCE is one of the least hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic of the algal halides and residual organ damage is not commonly observed in humans who have been exposed to large quantities of the compound. The carcinogenic potential of PCE is unknown; results of studies with rats and mice are contradictory (12). PCE was not found to be mutagenic in a study using the bacterium Escherichia coli (13). There is no evidence that PCE is teratogenic. The U.S. EPA has established a lifetime Health Advisory for PCE of 10 ug/1. Concentrations of PCE in groundwater in Area Care such that an adult could receive a dose that would greatly exceed the Health Advisory concent5ation and therefore be· subject to a cancer risk far in excess of 10· . However, exposure has not occurred, because there is no identified human point of contact with this contaminant at the Sodyeco site. Trichloroethylene -It is a central nervous system depressant and clinical symptoms of exposure include gastric distress, narcosis and cardiac abnormalities. Like tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene has a limited capacity for residual tissue damage. Unlike tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene is readily metabolized in the Page 10 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I human body. Elimination of metabolites from the body is slow, however, because the metabolites readily bind to proteins. Results of studies designed to evaluate the carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of trichloroethylene are inconclusive. Controversy exists over whether the carcinogenic and mutagenic effects observed for trichloroethylene result from trichloroethylene conversion to trichloro-epoxide via mixed function oxidase enzymes or are attributable to contaminants in trichloroethylene formulations (14). Trichloroethylene has been reported to be an experimental teratogen (15). The U.S. EPA has established a Drinking Water Equivalent Level (DWEL) of 260 ug/1. The DWEL is the lifetime exposure level, assuming 100% exposure from the drinking water medium, at which no adverse noncarcinogenic health effects would be expected to occur. Concentrations·of trichloroethylene in the groundwater in Area Care such that the Health Advisory concentration would not be exceeded for an adult (assuming average body weight of 70 kg and a daily ingestion of two liters of groundwater). Calculation of a lifetime Health Advisory by multiplying the DWEL by its putative relative source contribution (RSC) to total diet results in a Health Advisory number of 52 ug/1. The upper range of trichloroethylene concentrations found in Area C was 54 ug/1. Using these calculations, there would be concern for public health with respect to trichloroethylene exposure via groundwater ingestion, except that there is no identified point of exposure. Xylenes -In the human, xylenes are primarily eliminated (greater than 95%) from the body in the urine in the form of methylhippuric acids (16,17). Xylenes are transformed to toxic metabolites at the endoplasmic reticulum of the liver, brain, kidneys and lungs. Such transformations are believed to explain toxic manifestations in the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, liver and kidneys (18). The carcinogenic potential of xylenes are being evaluated. There are no data on the mutagenicity of xylenes. Xylenes have been shown to be responsible for developmental defects in chicken embryos (19). The U.S. EPA has established a lifetime Health Advisory for xylenes of 400 ug/1. Ingestion of groundwater from Areas D and E would result in a dose in excess of this Health Advisory concentration. However, exposure has not occurred since there is no identified human point of contact with this contaminant at the Sodyeco site. Because there is a lack of animal evidence of the carcinogenicity of xylenes, an assessment of carcinogenic risk is not possible at this time. Groundwater Contamination Extensive groundwater contamination has occurred at the Sodyeco site. However, based on information contained in the RI for the site (1), there presently appears to be no human exposure to contaminants via Page 11 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I the groundwater. Human exposure could occur if groundwater use patterns change or if remedial actions at the site do not control or reduce groundwater contamination. If wells are installed in contaminated aquifers or if a contaminant plume migrates into an area where wells are in use, human exposure to contaminants could occur through ingestion, inhalation and dermal routes. While there appears to be no current human exposure to groundwater contaminants, measures should be taken .to ensure that future exposure does not occur in the event of further contaminant migration or changes in groundwater usage. Care should also be taken to protect workers from exposure to groundwater contaminants during remedial activities. Soil Contamination The data presented in the RI indicate that there is no surficial soil contamination at any of the five CERCI.A sites. The soil contamination that exists in Areas A-D is covered with a minimum of two feet o.f uncontaminated soil. Thus, there appears to be no current human exposure to soil contaminants. However, care should be taken to protect workers from exposure to soil contaminants during remedial activities or, if contaminated soil remains in place after remediation, during future excavations. Air Contamination Many of the contaminants at the Sodeyco site will readily volatilize from all environmental media. Although the concentrations of contaminants in the soils at the site are quite high, the contaminated soils are covered with uncontaminated soil and volatilization from soils should not be a problem if undisturbed. The concentrations of contaminants in surface water and sediments in the CERCI.A areas ·are low enough so that contaminant concentrations in the air should not be of concern except during remedial activities. Handling of contaminated groundwater and soil during remediation will possibly generate amounts of vapors and/or dusts that may be of concern. Surface Water and Sediment Contamination Contamination of surface water and sediment occurs on a localized basis at the site and concentrations are typically in the low part per billion range. There are two areas of note. The sources of contamination for these two areas do not appear to be the CERCI.A disposal areas. The first area is the surface water influent to Area A. Dermal or inhalation exposure to contaminants in this water is possible. The other area is Tributary E which receives surface water runoff from Area E. However, the concentrations of PAHs in the sediments of this tributary are in the low part per billion range and should not be of concern. Page 12 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Based on the information provided in the RI for the Sodyeco site, there appears to be no current human exposure to site contaminants. However, the vertical and horizontal extent of groundwater contaminant plumes on the site have not been completely characterized and the monitoring wells located along the periphery of the property are inadequate to detect all off-property migration of contaminants. Dilution by Long Creek and the Catawba River appears to keep contaminant concentrations in surface waters below detection limits. While current exposure to contaminants is not of concern, future exposure may occur if wastes are left in place and remedial measures fail to prevent contaminant migration. For these reasons, control/monitoring of future groundwater use and monitoring of currently used wells in the immediate vicinity are recommended. 2. The human health implications of the five CERCLA .sites on the Sodyeco property have been evaluated independent of whatever human health risks the RCRA waste management areas on the property may pose. An effort should be made to determine if the cumulative impact of both CERCLA and RCRA areas pose an unacceptable risk to human health. 3. The remediation outlined in the Record of Decision should increase protection of the public health and reduce future public health risks, by removing and treating the contamination found on-site. 4. Workers carrying out remedial activities will require dermal and respiratory protection. VIII. PREPARERS OF REPORT Environmental Reviewer: Health Effects Reviewer: Regional Representative: Typist: Sven E. Rodenbeck, P.E., Environmental Health Engineer, Environmental Engineering Branch Mike Allred, Ph.D., Environmental Health Specialist, Health Sciences Branch Cody Jackson, Public Health Advisor, Field Operations Branch Lorraine P. Adams, Secretary, Environmental Engineering Branch Page 13 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I VIII. REFERENCES 1. Remedial Investigation, Sodyeco Site, Mt. Holly, North Carolina. August 1987. Prepared by Engineering-Science, Atlanta, Georgia and Law Engineering Testing Company, Charlotte, North Carolina. 2. Feasibility Study, Sodyeco Site, Mt. Holly, North Carolina, July 1987. Prepared by Engineering-Science, Atlanta, Georgia and Law Engineering Testing Company, Charlotte, North Carolina. 3. Enforcement Record of Decision, Remedial Alternative Selection, Sodyeco Site, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Nbrth Carolina, October, 1987. 4. Britteho, E. and I. Brandt. 1984. Lung 162(2):79-88. 5. Drinking Water and Health, Vol. 5. 1983. Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, D. C. pp.18-22. 6. U. S. EPA. Ambient Water Quality Criteria Document: 0-dichlorobenzene. EPA 440/5-80-039. pp.Cl5-16. 7. Drinking Water and Health, Vol. 5. 1983. Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, D. C. pp.22-25. 8. Bardodej, Z. and E. Bardedjova. 1970. Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. Jour. 206. 9. Wolf, M.A. 1956. Arch. Ind. Health 14:387-398. 10. Hardin, B. D., et al. 1981. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health. 7(Supplement 4):66-75. 11. U. S. EPA. 1987. Health Advisory for Ethylbenzene. Office of Drinking Water, March 1987. 12. Drinking Water and Health, Vol. 3. 1980. Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, D. C. pp.134-142. 13. Greim, H., et al. 1975. Biochem. Pharmacol. 24:2013-2017. 14. Drinking Water and Health, Vol. 3. 1980. Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, D. c. pp.155-166. 15. Sax, N. I. and R. J. Lewis. 1987. Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York. p.829. Page 14 I I I I • - 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I 16. Sedivec, V. and J. Flek. 1976. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 37:205-217. 17. Engstrom, K., et al. 1977. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 39:181-189. 18. Popov, T, Inanova-Chemishanska, L. 1980. Khig Zdaveopaz 23(5):474-478. 19. Kucera, J. 1968. J. Pediatrics 72:857-859 . 20. ATSDR File. Page 15 ------------------- • ; AREA A .___ I I CERCLA AREAS AT THE SODYECO SITE LEGEND . .. ,c .. tl~-~,ur Lil CEACLA Area '-·) (""'-· ' •nt.1uor MNf Source: Remedial Investigation Report, August, 1987 I ' I ' '