ELECTRO-COATINGS, INCORPORATED
CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA
CONCLUSIONS
ATSDR and IDPH have concluded, based on the information reviewed, that the site poses no
public health hazard. Potential exposure pathways have been identified, but exposures can
be avoided if recommendations made in this public health assessment are followed.
Possible exposure to non-site related contamination in Cedar Lake can be avoided if people
adhere to the fishing and swimming advisory issued for the lake.
Possible exposure to site-related contamination through use of groundwater can be avoided if
municipal wells, which may be cross-gradient of the site, are monitored routinely for
contamination. Also, exposure can be avoided of new wells are not drilled in areas west of
the site. If private wells are developed in that area, they should be tested and monitored.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Be sure that warning signs about fishing and swimming in Cedar Lake are clearly visible and legible.
Continue to monitor any municipal wells, located cross-gradient of the site. Consider
institutional controls prohibiting development of private wells in areas west of the site where
contaminated groundwater may migrate. If wells are developed in that area, a monitoring
program for those wells should be instigated.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN
This section contains a description of actions to be taken by ATSDR, IDPH, and other governmental
agencies for the site. The purpose of the public health action plan 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. The public health actions to be implemented for this site are as follows:
A. Actions Undertaken
Closure of a chromium dipping tank in 1976.
Leak prevention / monitoring measures in all chrome plating tanks.
Removal of chromium contaminated soil in 1992.
Placement of the site on the state Registry of Hazardous Waste or Hazardous Substance
Disposal Sites. This action prevents sale or significant change in use of the property without approval by IDNR. Furthermore, notice of this listing was also recorded on the property deed.
Remedial action taken has been monitoring groundwater and includes a contingency plan for groundwater pump-and-discharge to the publicly owned treatment works (POTW), if
indicated or necessary.
B. Actions Planned
Monitoring will continue with a contingency plan for groundwater pump-and-discharge to the publicly owned treatment works (POTW), if indicated or necessary.
New environmental data will be reviewed that may become available to determine if other public health actions are indicated.
ATSDR and IDPH are available to address any community concerns that may arise during
remedial activities at the site.
IDPH will ensure that local authorities, who have input on siting private wells are made aware of the groundwater plume and results of this public health assessment
PREPARER OF REPORT
Charles Barton, Ph.D.
State Toxicologist
Chief, Hazardous Waste Site Health Assessment Program
Iowa Department of Public Health
CERTIFICATION
The Electro-Coatings, Inc., Public Health Assessment has been prepared by the Iowa Department of
Public 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.
Roberta Erlwein
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health assessment and concurs with its findings.
Richard Gillig
Chief, SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
REFERENCES
Preliminary Health Assessment for Electro-Coatings, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Iowa
Department of Public Health, April 16, 1990.
Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, Electro-Coatings, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa;
Shive-Hattery Engineers and Architects, Inc., Iowa City, Iowa, April 1992.
Report on Supplemental VOC Investigations Electro-Coatings NPL Site, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa; Iowa Department of Natural Resources, October, 1992.
Facts About Cedar Lake; Linn County Health Department, May 20, 1992.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for
Tetrachloroethylene (Update). Atlanta: September 1997.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Chromium
(Draft). Atlanta: February 1999.
