PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
HITEMAN LEATHER
WEST WINFIELD, HERKIMER COUNTY, NEW YORK
The Hiteman Leather site is a former commercial tannery at 173 South Street (New York State Route 51) in the Village of West Winfield, Herkimer County. The village is about 20 miles south of Utica and 100 miles west of Albany, New York. Historical records indicate that various tanneries operated at the site from 1820 until 1968. Also, the site was used by a machine shop, a tire recapping company and a cookie company. Process waste from the facility was discharged to a series of unlined waste lagoons. Untreated effluent from the lagoons was allowed to flow into the Unadilla River and an on-site wetlands. The solids which settled and accumulated in the lagoons were periodically excavated and deposited in other areas on the site. The waste lagoons were allowed to drain and were filled with soil. However, visibly stained soils and analytical data indicate that significant levels of chromium, antimony and arsenic remain in soil. Low level groundwater, surface water and sediment contamination with chromium is also documented.
The Unadilla River, which borders the site, is a popular recreation site. An upstream waterfall and town park (less than 0.25 miles away) encourage use of the river near the site. The banks of the Unadilla River were stabilized to reduce erosion from the site and reduce contaminant migration. The physical hazards related to former structurally unsafe buildings were reduced when the buildings were removed; however, some debris remain on-site. The perimeter site fence appears to be effectively restricting access to on-site contaminants. The area surrounding the site and the village are served by public drinking water that is obtained from groundwater wells. While not likely to be affected by site contaminants, public water was sampled in 1997 and the water did not contain site-related contaminants. The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) requires that the public water supply wells be sampled for metals every three years. The closest private well is 500 feet across the Unadilla River from the site. This well was sampled in 1986, 1990 and 1999 and was not contaminated. A cemetery that is adjacent to the site has a well that was damaged in 1991 and has not been used since. If the well is reactivated, NYS DOH staff will sample the water for site-related compounds.
Nearby residents expressed concern about possible exposure to contaminated surface soil, groundwater, sediments, surface water and fish in the Unadilla River and about on-site physical hazards. This public health assessment was made available for public review in July 2000, and a summary of these comments and NYS DOH responses are presented in Appendix D. On-site contamination and physical hazards are addressed by the existing access restrictions which minimize potential exposure. Off-site contamination, including the Unadella River, is below health comparison values.
Based on the information reviewed and the current site conditions, there are no known significant exposures. Thus, the site is categorized as no apparent public health hazard (Appendix C). Although there are currently no completed exposure pathways of public health concern at this site, exposures in the future are possible, should contaminants at the site be made available for human exposure without remediation. The potential migration of on-site contamination to the Unadilla River and sediments should continue to be monitored. In the absence of site remediation, site access restrictions must be maintained and controls on future use implemented.
Under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) will evaluate the public health significance of the Hiteman Leather site in this document. More specifically, ATSDR and NYS DOH will determine whether health effects are possible and will recommend actions to reduce or prevent possible health effects. The ATSDR is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is authorized by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, to conduct public health assessments at hazardous waste sites proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL). The Hiteman Leather site was proposed to the NPL in September 1998 and was placed on the NPL in 1999.
A. Site Description and History
The Hiteman Leather site is on 173 South Street (NYS Route 51) in the Village of West Winfield (Figure 1). Various tanneries operated at the site from about 1820 to 1968. Also, the site was used by a machine shop, a tire recapping company and a cookie company. The site covers over 14 acres. It is bordered to the south by the Unadilla River, to the west by the West Winfield Cemetery, to the north by several private residences and small businesses and to the east by South Street. The site includes a two acre wetland, a section of the Unadilla River and a large open area. The open area was occupied by several storage and production buildings as well as three waste water lagoons. There currently is no surficial evidence of the former lagoons. The buildings were demolished under the guidance of United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in 1996 and 1998. A sketch of the site is included as Figure 2.
The waste stream generated at the facility mirrored changes in technology. The vegetable-based tanning solutions originally used were replaced by acid solution, mineral based (chromium salts) products. The chemical processing changes lessened the time required for leather tanning, but created the wastes which are now the focus of this report.
The waste waters generated by the facility were discharged to two unlined lagoons. The solids were allowed to settle and the untreated liquids were allowed to overflow into the adjacent Unadilla River and onsite wetlands. Periodically, the solids were excavated and used as fill around the banks of the lagoons. In 1959, there was a large fish kill in the Unadilla River adjacent to the facility. An investigation determined that the event was caused by an overflow from the waste lagoons. Thus, a third lagoon was built to increase the waste water retention times.
NYS DOH staff visited the site on several occasions. A site visit in March of 1999 confirmed that a perimeter fence was in place and effectively deterring site trespass. Staff also witnessed that the unsafe on-site structures had been demolished, but that some debris remained. A single fisherman was in the waterfalls area of Unadilla River, approximately 0.2 miles upstream of the site. In December 1999, staff collected a water sample from the nearest private well.
C. Demographics, Land Use and Natural Resources
Demographics
The NYS DOH estimated from the 1990 Census (US Bureau of the Census 1991) that 975 people live within one mile of the site. This population is 99.5% white. The percent of persons of Hispanic origin is less than 1%. Based on the 1990 census, 8.1% of the population is under 6 years of age, 21.7% is 6-19 years of age, 53.1% is 20-64 years of age, and 17.1% is 65 years or older. In 1990 there were 183 females of reproductive age (ages 15-44) in the area. The median household income for the area was $27,338 in 1989, with 8.9% of the population living below the poverty level (US Bureau of the Census 1992). The following chart compares these demographics with statewide averages. There are several schools and a senior housing complex in the area.
| New York State | Area within 1 mile of site | |
|
Age Distribution Race Distribution Ethnicity Distribution 1989 Median Income % Below Poverty Level |
8.3% 18.4% 60.2% 13.1% 74.4% 15.9% 3.9% 5.8%
$32,965 13.0% |
8.1% 21.7% 53.1% 17.1%
$27,338 8.9% |
Land Use
The site is in a semi-rural area of Herkimer County. The site and neighboring properties are zoned for industrial, commercial and residential uses. About 150 homes are within l/2 mile of the site. The Unadilla River is on the southern border of the site. A village park is less than l/2 mile to the east.
Natural Resources
The Unadilla River is used for fishing, swimming and wading. People fish and wade in the river upstream and adjacent to the site. Groundwater is used by the Village of West Winfield's public water supply. Their supply wells are about 0.3 miles upgradient (northeast) of the site. A groundwater well previously used for irrigation in the neighboring West Winfield Cemetery has been damaged and unused since 1991. The nearest private well is 500 feet across the Unadilla River from the site and is unlikely to be affected by the site because of the groundwater separation provided by the river.
Local residents expressed concerns about the following:
The discussion which follows addresses these community concerns. Also, the public was invited to review this public health assessment during the public comment period in July 2000. A summary of the comments and NYS DOH responses are included as Appendix D.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND OTHER HAZARDS
The environmental data in this section were gathered during several investigations, primarily in 1992 (SAIC Engineering, Inc. 1992) and in 1994 and 1996 (US EPA 1999). The primary contaminant of concern (chromium) was identified in surface soils, subsurface soils, groundwater, surface water and river sediments. However, samples were analyzed for other chemicals potentially related to former site uses, including solvents and metals. Antimony and arsenic were also elevated in on-site surface soil. Chromium was primarily found in the trivalent form. This form is generally less toxic than the hexavalent form. The following sections summarize the results of the investigations on the Hiteman Leather site.
Surface and Subsurface Soils
Total chromium levels in on-site surface soils, identified in the Remedial Investigation (RI/FS) (SAIC Engineering, Inc. 1992), ranged from non-detect to about 120,000 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). Soil samples which were analyzed for total chromium and hexavalent chromium show that the primary contaminant is trivalent chromium; hexavalent chromium is less than 0.1 percent of total chromium. The highest level of trivalent chromium was detected in soils near the wetlands. According to the proposed remedial action plan, chromium contamination above 200 mg/kg was generally limited to the upper six feet of soil. In general, chromium levels in soils decreased with depth.
In November 1994, 32 surface soil samples were collected in the wetlands and lagoon areas of the site (historically the most contaminated areas). The samples were taken from soil at zero to six inches below ground surface after the removal of any surface vegetation. The samples were analyzed via portable x-ray fluorescence, and a portion of these samples were sent to a laboratory for confirmatory analysis. Total chromium levels in these surface soil samples ranged from 8 to 103,000 mg/kg. Also during this sampling, antimony was detected in surface soil at levels up to 1880 mg/kg and arsenic was detected at levels up to 96 mg/kg. These levels of chromium, arsenic and antimony were detected in the most highly contaminated areas and are above background and health comparison values.
The US EPA collected 210 soil samples in June 1996 to delineate the extent of chromium contamination at the site. The US EPA soil samples contained chromium to a depth of ten feet below grade at concentrations as high as 75,000 mg/kg. The highest concentrations of chromium were in soils near the former lagoon area. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) analyses performed on 17 of the 210 soil samples did not find chromium at levels above the hazardous substance regulatory limits. Hexavalent chromium was detected in 5 out of 25 soil boring samples analyzed for metals. Hexavalent chromium ranged from 0.10 to 1.9 mg/kg (average: 0.58 mg/kg) and total chromium ranged from 17.9 to 44,800 mg/kg (average: 2,230 mg/kg). In all cases hexavalent chromium was less than 0.1 percent of total chromium.
Groundwater
The highest level of chromium in unfiltered groundwater samples was 14,600 micrograms per liter (mcg/L), a value that exceeds the NYS DOH drinking water standard of 100 mcg/L. However, filtered groundwater samples collected at the same time did not contain chromium levels above drinking water standards and only 2 of the 21 filtered groundwater samples collected by the US EPA in 1996 contained chromium (at levels below the public drinking water standard). Antimony and arsenic were not detected at levels above health comparison values in the water samples. On-site groundwater is unlikely to affect existing private wells because they are not in the direction of groundwater flow or are separated by the Unadilla River. Exposure to on-site groundwater is possible should wells be installed and untreated water used on-site.
Surface Soil
No off-site surface soil samples were collected during the site investigations. However, on-site surface soil sampling defined the extent of soil contamination, none of which extended to the site boundaries. Also, any contamination that might have resulted from stormwater runoff wouldmove into the river, where sampling was done. No off-site wetlands are affected by the site.
Groundwater
Public drinking water in the Village of West Winfield is supplied by wells that are about 1500 feet northeast of the site, in the opposite direction of groundwater flow. These wells were last sampled in 1997 and have not been affected by the Hiteman Leather site. NYS DOH requires sampling for metals analysis every three years. The area surrounding the site is supplied by this public water supply. The closest private well is across the Unadilla River, about 500 feet south of the site. The Unadilla River is a groundwater divide, so this well is unlikely to be affected by the site. This well was sampled in 1986, 1990 and 1999, and was not contaminated. No further sampling of this well is planned unless new information warrants additional sampling. A cemetery that is adjacent to the site has a well that was damaged in 1991 and has not been used since. If the well is reactivated, NYS DOH staff will sample the water for site-related compounds.
Surface Water
The data in the RI/FS (SAIC Engineering Inc., 1992) do not indicate significant surface water contamination. Chromium was detected at 33 mcg/L in one out of three unfiltered surface water samples collected by the US EPA in 1996. This surface water sample was collected from the Unadilla River near the wetland area.
Sediments
Contamination in the river sediments may be associated with past disposal activities and/or contaminant migration from the Hiteman site. The highest level of chromium (6,900 mg/kg) in the sediment was in a river sediment sample collected along the northern bank of the Unadilla River, near the contaminated wetland sediments and soils. Downstream sediment samples had lower concentrations of chromium (20 to 135 mg/kg). In addition, flooding and erosion could increase contamination of surface water and river sediments.
Fish
A recent study found that about one fourth of crayfish sampled had detectable levels of chromium, with a maximum of 6.1 mg/kg. Hexavalent chromium in biological systems is reduced to trivalent chromium in the bodies of animals (ATSDR 1998), therefore, any chromium in fish or shellfish is likely to be in the less toxic trivalent form. The maximum level does not exceed public health comparison values for chromium in fish and shellfish. This pathway is eliminated from further consideration.
Some demolition debris remains on-site from the 1998 building razing. This debris would be a hazard to site trespassers if access restrictions are not maintained.
This section of the public health assessment (PHA) identifies potential and completed exposure pathways associated with past, present and future use of the site. An exposure pathway is the process by which an individual may be exposed to contaminants originating from a site. An exposure pathway has five elements: (1) a contaminant source; (2) environmental media and transport mechanisms; (3) a point of exposure; (4) a route of exposure; and (5) a receptor population.
The source of contamination is the source of contaminant release in the environment (any waste disposal area or point of discharge); if the original source is unknown, it is the environmental media (soil, air, biota, water) which are contaminated at the point of exposure. Environmental media and transport mechanisms carry contaminants from the source to points where people may be exposed. The exposure point is a location where actual or potential human contact with a contaminated medium may occur. The route of exposure is the manner in which a contaminant actually enters or contacts the body (i.e., ingestion, inhalation, dermal absorption). The receptor population is the persons who are exposed or may be exposed to contaminants at a point of exposure.
Two types of exposure pathways are evaluated in the PHA; a completed exposure pathway exists when the criteria for all five elements of an exposure pathway are documented; a potential exposure pathway exists when the criteria for any one of the five elements comprising and exposure pathway is not met. An exposure pathway is considered to be eliminated when any one of the five elements comprising an exposure pathway has not existed in the past, does not exist in the present, and will never exist in the future.
A. Completed Exposure Pathways
There are no current completed exposure pathways related to site contaminants. A fence precludes access to areas of contamination. Private and public drinking water wells are not believed to be in areas potentially affected by contamination and sampling has confirmed that they are not contaminated.
B. Potential Exposure Pathways
Surface Soils
The extent to which past exposures to contaminated soils on-site may have occurred is unknown. Workers and trespassers at the site, prior to the installation of the site perimeter fencing in December 1994, were potentially exposed to contaminants in on-site soils via incidental ingestion, direct contact and inhalation of soil particulates. Although the site is now fenced and access is limited, the fence needs to be maintained to continue to restrict access in the future. Future exposures to contaminants in on-site soil may occur if the site is not remediated and access is not restricted.
Sediments
Exposure to chromium contamination in sediments may occur by dermal contact and incidental ingestion during recreational activities such as wading or fishing. Chromium up to 6,900 mg/kg in sediments are below health comparison values, since little of the chromium is in the hexavalent form, and will not be further discussed. However, if additional site contaminants are allowed to migrate this potential pathway may become a greater health concern. The banks of the Unadilla River were stabilized under the direction of US EPA, which should reduce erosion and contaminant migration into the river.
Groundwater
Although chromium was found in unfiltered water samples, it was not detected at levels above health comparison values in filtered water samples. This suggests that chromium in the samples from the monitoring wells is in suspended sediments, not in the groundwater itself. However, because there are no current exposures and there are no potential exposures in the direction of groundwater flow, this potential exposure pathway is eliminated from further consideration.
Surface Water
Like the river sediments, current contaminant levels are below health comparison values. However, if additional contamination is allowed to migrate off-site, this exposure pathway may need to be re-evaluated.
To evaluate the potential health risk from contaminants of concern associated with the Hiteman Leather site, the NYS DOH assessed the risk for cancer and noncancer health effects. The risk of health effects depends primarily on contaminant concentration, exposure route, exposure frequency and duration. Additional information on the NYS DOH assessment of the toxicological implications for this site is in Appendix B. Although there are currently no completed exposure pathways at this site, we evaluated potential exposures in the past in surface soils and the potential for exposure in the future, should contaminants at the site be made available for human contact without remediation.
Chromium was detected in on-site surface soil at levels as high as 120,000 mg/kg. The extent to which workers or trespassers at the site were exposed to contaminants in surface soil prior to the installation of the site perimeter fencing (December, 1994) is unknown. The primary toxic effects associated with ingestion of large amounts of chromium are kidney damage, birth defects and adverse effects on the reproductive system (ATSDR, 1998). In general, trivalent chromium is less toxic than hexavalent chromium. Although the risks of noncarcinogenic effects from incidental ingestion of chromium-contaminated surface soil are not completely understood, the existing data suggest they would be minimal for both on-site workers and trespassers who may have been exposed in the past or may be exposed in the future to trivalent chromium (the predominant form of chromium at the site). Toxicological data are inadequate to assess the carcinogenic potential of trivalent chromium (US EPA 1999). Dermal exposure to high levels of hexavalent or trivalent chromium has resulted in allergic reactions, particularly to people who are very sensitive to chromium. These allergic reactions are characterized by redness and swelling of the skin (ATSDR, 1998). The existing data obtained from the Hiteman Leather site suggest that dermal exposure to chromium-contaminated on-site soil could cause allergic skin reactions in some workers and trespassers.
Workers and trespassers may have been exposed in the past to elevated levels of antimony in surface soil. The primary health effects associated with exposure to high amounts of antimony are disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract (such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and ulcers), altered electrocardiogram (heart) readings, and increased blood pressure (ATSDR, 1992). The existing data suggest that past exposure to the highest levels of antimony found in soils (1880 mg/kg) would pose a low increased risk for noncarcinogenic health effects to trespassers or workers. Toxicological data are inadequate to assess the carcinogenic potential of antimony (ATSDR, 1992).
Arsenic is a known human carcinogen (ATSDR, 1993). Studies of people exposed to high levels of arsenic in drinking water in foreign countries provide evidence of an association between arsenic ingestion and skin cancer. Currently, there is a debate within the scientific community about US EPA's quantitative estimates of risk (ATSDR 1993). The existing data suggest that chronic exposure in the past to the highest levels of arsenic found in surface soils (78 mg/kg) would pose a low increased risk to trespassers or on-site workers. Noncarcinogenic risks for arsenic would be minimal.
There are currently no known exposures to chromium, antimony or arsenic in soil at the Hiteman Leather site. However, the potential for increased risk of adverse health effects exists for people that may be exposed in the future, should site conditions change so that soils becomes available for human contact.
There are currently no significant exposures to the community living near the site. For this reason, the NYS DOH has not evaluated health outcome data specifically for the site and there are no community health studies planned at this time. However, the NYS DOH maintains several health outcome databases, which could be used to generate site-specific data if warranted in the future. These databases include the cancer registry, the congenital malformations registry, the occupational lung disease registry, vital records (birth and death certificates) and hospital discharge data information.
The ATSDR Child Health initiative emphasizes the ongoing examination of relevant child health issues in all of the agency's activities, including its mandated public health assessment activities. The ATSDR and NYS DOH considers children when we evaluate exposure pathways and potential health effects from environmental contaminants. We recognize that children are of special concern because of their greater potential for exposure from play and other behavior patterns. Children sometimes differ from adults in their susceptibility to hazardous chemicals, but whether there is a difference depends on the chemical. Children may be more or less susceptible than adults to health effects, and the relationship may change with developmental age.
The Hiteman Leather site is near recreational waters, a public park and a residential neighborhood. A perimeter fence prevent children from access to on-site contamination. Potential exposures to site contaminants off-site were evaluated further in earlier sections.
On-site workers and trespassers may have been exposed to site contaminants in the past; the existing data suggest the risk for noncarcinogenic health effects would be low for exposure to antimony and minimal for arsenic in soils. Also, the risk for carcinogenic health effects would be low for exposure to arsenic in soil. Toxicological data are inadequate to assess the carcinogenic potential of trivalent chromium and antimony. However, dermal exposure to chromium-contaminated on-site soil may have caused allergic skin reactions in some workers and trespassers.The extent to which workers or trespassers at the site were exposed to contaminants in surface soil prior to the installation of the site perimeter fencing is unknown. Therefore, the site presented an indeterminate public health hazard in the past. Contaminants in soil at the site could present a public health concern if the site is not remediated and land use changes to make contaminants available for human exposure. A fence around the site hasreduced the potential for current and future exposures. Therefore, based on ATSDR Public Health Hazard Classification (Appendix C), the Hiteman Leather site presents no apparent public health hazard.
Actions Completed During the Public Health Assessment Process:
Public Health Actions Planned
This Public Health Assessment was prepared by the New York State Department of 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 begun.
Gregory V. Ulirsch
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.
Richard Gillig
Chief, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
New York State Department of Health
Gregory A. Rys
Public Health Specialist
Bureau of Environmental Exposure Investigation
Donald W.R. Miles
ATSDR Grant Coordinator
Bureau of Environmental Exposure Investigation
Thomas B. Johnson, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Bureau of Toxic Substance Assessment
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Regional Representative
Arthur Block
Regional Operations
Office of the Assistant Administrator
Technical Project Officer
Greg Ulirsch
Technical Project Officer
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). 1992. Toxicological Profile for Antimony. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. ATSDR/TP-91/02.
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). 1993. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service.
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). 1998. Toxicological Profile for Chromium (Draft Update). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service.
GHR Engineering Associates, Inc. 1989. Draft First Phase Remedial Investigation Summary Report, Hiteman Leather Company Site, West Winfield, New York. December 21.
NYS Department of Health (NYS DOH). 1997. Health Consultation, Hiteman Leather, West Winfield, Herkimer County, New York. June 2.
SAIC Engineering, Inc. 1992. Remedial Investigation Report, Hiteman Leather Company Site, West Winfield, New York.
US Bureau of the Census. 1991. 1990 Census of the population and housing summary tape file 1B. US Department of Commerce.
US Bureau of the Census. 1992. 1990 Census of the population and housing summary tape file 3A, CD-ROM. US Department of Commerce.
United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1999a. From website: www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/nar1523.htm
United States Environmental Protection Agency 1999b. On-line Integrated Risk Information System: http://www.epa.gov/ngispgm3/iris/subst-fl.htm.
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