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Home My WebLink AboutNCD980602163_19810203_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_Request for PCB Information-OCR#, / Pi!!3 ,, ~ fo ' JAMES ■. HUNT, JR. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES Division of Health Services HUGH H. TILSON, M.D. GOVERNOR SARAH T. MORROW, M.D., M.P.H. SECRlr:TARY P. 0. Box 2091 Raleigh 27602 February 3, 1981 MEMORANDUM TO: June Milby FROM: Public Information Office Dr. Martin P. Hines Chief Epidemiology ·Section SUBJECT: Telephone Request for PCB Information (1) Attached is a copy of a 11 flyer11 that was distributed on August 15, 1978 house-to-house to all citizens living on roads where PCB's were dumped. (2) On August 18, 1978 twenty individuals were tested for PCB blood levels. Approximately 12 of these individuals lived along the roads where the spills had occurred and eight were considered to be a control group living quite a distance from the spill areas. None of these individuals showed any significant levels of PCB. On May 25, 1979 an attempt was made to again collect blood samples on these same individuals but only eight could be located; again, the levels of PCB DIRECTOR were insignificant. These specimens were sent to the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences in the Research Triangle which contracted with a private laboratory to have the specimens run. (3) A copy of a laboratory report on the S. W. Johnson well in Four Oaks is attached along with a copy of the correspondence to Mr. Sullivan, Sanitarian with the Johnston County Health Department. We do not have any record in our files that a second specimen was collected and examined, but in light of the essentially negative results of the first test, we would consider this to be sufficient. MPH/hk Attachments JAW•e a. HUNT, J •. -···-OIi STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES Dlvlidon of lltt1lth s~rolcea .IACOII ICOOM&N, M.D., M.~.M. aAIIAH T. MOIUtOW. W.D., M.P'.H. eaca•u••Y P. 0. Box 2091 Ral•l1:h 27e02 TO: North Cdrolina Citizens Living on Roads Where PCBs Were Dumped IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON PCBs DtllCCTo• There has been much concern recently about the criminal dumping of PCBs (polychlor1nated biphenyls) along North Carolina's roads. The purpose of this 111e1110rJndu111 is to present the fac'ts about this situation from a health standpoint. IIIAT ARE PCBs? : PCBs are a group or class of chemicals which have been used widely in 1ndustry since the early 194O's. These oily liquids have served as agents in electrical equip111ent and in many other industrial situations. They do not tend to break down very easily over time. Unfortunately, they have found their way into the environment down through the years so thdt fish, wildlife, domestic animals and many humans now carry very small an~unts of PCBs in thier bodies. · To complicate matters, PCBs are usually mixed with other chemicals before being used in industry. During use, there is some breakdown of these chemicals (including the PCBs) similar to ~h1:,.changes that occur in motor oil in an automobile with use. WHAT AR£ THEIR EFFECTS ON .HUMANS 7 : There is no i 11J11ed i ate threat to the hea 1th ·of any-one fiving in the area of these PCB spills. In the few situations where humans have been poisoned by these chemicals, the chemicals were taken into the body either by swallowing large amounts or by getting large amounts on the skin over a period of time, as in people working in factories using PCBs to manufacture electrical equipment. The other chemicals besides PCBs in the oily substance spilled on the roadway •ight cause minor temporary irritations to eyes and throat, and might cause nausea in those smelling these chemicals i11J11ediately after the spill. These are temporary symptoms that should disappear in a day or two. They do not cause permanent ill effects. JS IT DANGEROUS TO WALK WHERE PCBs HAVE BEEN SPILLED? : While there is likely no danger frooioccasionally waffing through these oily spill areas (either barefoot or in shoes), because of the small exposure that would occur, we believe it is wise to avoid these areas unl~ss it is absolutely necessary. If you walk through one of these areas and note an oily substance on your feet or shoes, it should be washed off with soap and water. Contaminated clothing should not be worn until thoroughly washed. To dSSure people that the risk of exposure is negligible, the Division of Health Services is conductin9 a small study of PCB levels in selected individuals who have had the heaviest exposure to these spills . A!!__~_~J.L_LS....,_...Y_EGETABLE §.A_RDENS, LIVESTOCK AND PETS LIKELY TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH PCBs? : PCBs, likr. other oils, are only slightly soluble in water. Also, they are tightly bound to soil particles wh<'re they are deposited and thus do not move great distances in the soi I quickly. It is extreniely unlikely that residues from these spills will find their way into wells. However, we are checking well water for PCBs where wells are located within just a few feet of the spills. So far results on this testing hdve been negative. Livestock should not be allowed to graze on the spill areas. Some of the grass growing by the roadways is contaminated with PCBs. Pets should also be kept out of these areas. PCBs from these spills would be unlikely to contaminate pastures or gardens unless there was inr11edi,1te run-off at the time of the spill before soaking into th,~ qround or heavy erosion. If this has occurred, do not allow animals to graze in these areas, and do not eat vegetables from contaminated areas . RCM[MBER (1) There is no iumediate danger to anyone's health . . (2) Avoid, as 111ud1 as possible, walking in the spill areas. ( 3) If you do lee 1 you have had PCB exposure to any part of your body, wash with soap ~nd water as soon as possible. (4) If you feel you have had unusual excessive exposure to PCBs, contact your County Health Deparbnent. .. / ' ., ,.~. JAMES B. HUNT. JR, OOYll•NOII STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES Division of Health Services JACOB KOOMEN, M.D., M.P.H. D111acTOII SARAH T. MORROW. M.D •• M.P.H. a&elllffAflY P. 0. Box 2091 : Raleigh 27602 / 1877 , One Hundred lears of Public llc:ilth in North Carolina October 2, 1978 Mr. Larry Sullivan, Sanitarian Johnston County Health Department 618 N. Eighth Street Smithfield, North Caro_lin?,. 27577 Dear Larry: Enclosed is the laboratory report on the S. W, Johnson' well, Route 3, Four Oaks. '1977 / As I related by phone, there is a slight PCB -residue indicated but less than the 1. 0 part per billion we consider as an action level. I understand that this is an open dug well located some 35 feet from the spill and that a pipeline burst and washed surface dirt into the well. I believe that the negligible residue we now find is from physical translocation of PCB contaminated dust and that future examination will show a decreasing or negative content. Please re- sample the well in about two weeks and let us see what is happening. WAW:ng Enclosure Sincerely, • ., ~i.M//~ W. A. Williams Pesticide Epilcmiologist Pesticide Program . \ NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES ~-, ... __ NAME OF SANITARIAN SUBMITTING SAMPLE -~~S-_-i::,::;-~,;~----~·~'~.,:_r~/~-;·•-1...__-"-______________ _ DATE SAMPLE. TAKEN 9/o/?Y I I]\ TIME -TYPE OF SAMPLE \0 c,Cx::Q...._..\_ SOURCE OF SAMPL-E--, -", '--}-()_a;;;.. . ./_P-i"'r---'"----------------------- _;:,,,...;..,.,.:.:;.;..;.:..;:;__=---------------------------r ,~ •:SUSPECTED CONTAMINATION L--V --+--=;.___;;:;.__--::::::------:---r.------;,,---------- FOR LABORATORY USE ONLY ji_:N 2 1978 SAMPLE KIT SENT ____________ _ SAMPLE WEIGHT ---~t...,,rrbtJ~""-· ,-~----- RESIDUES FOUND b. c. d. e. REMARKS: " '1 I 2,,6 I ~3 (..v"--11 t .• T& ... ,• -1-•· (, DHS Form 1858 Rev. (1-75) Laboratory .,,; : ,.., SAMPLE RECEIVED 1(1/l g ----~..;...;....;_;_~-------- ~ -SAMPLE NUMBER f-J--3-..,./-_______ .....:..,I;;;,:> _____ _ QUANTITY (CONCENTRATIONY/~ a. 0.JO-CJ.2. S- b. c. d. .: .. t o .u-...,,,.: <) 1.. -1