PCBs in the floodplain and sediments adjacent to the Kohler Company Landfill pose a public
health hazard due to PCBs entering the food chain. These compounds are present in fish and
ducks at potentially hazardous concentrations and may be consumed by nearby residents. PCBs
are present in waste and unfiltered groundwater at the site. Whether PCBs in waste at the site
may have affected the adjacent floodplain and river in the past is unknown. A significant source
of PCBs exists upstream of the landfill site.
Contaminants in landfill waste, leachate, and groundwater associated with the Kohler Landfill
poses no apparent public health hazard at present because volatile organic compounds
discharging in groundwater to the Sheboygan River are not expected to be at levels likely affect
the health of people who swim or fish in the river.
The Kohler Landfill poses an indeterminate public health hazard in the future because, if it is
left unremediated, contaminants in groundwater might flow across the Sheboygan River to
nearby private wells. While all current indications are that groundwater from the site is flowing
into the river, the physical characteristics of the dolomite are such that groundwater flow cannot
be predicted conclusively.
Continue efforts to extend public comprehension and compliance with the state health
advisory on consuming sport-caught fish from the area.
Groundwater from the dolomite aquifer on the side of the Sheboygan River opposite from the
landfill should be sampled regularly to check whether groundwater contamination has flowed
under the river. If chemicals of concern do flow under the river, drinking water from residences
within one-half mile of the site should be analyzed for the chemicals of concern. Detection
limits should be as close as possible to Wisconsin groundwater standards.
Leachate and runoff water should be analyzed for PCBs.
A. Need for Follow-up Health Activities
ATSDR's Health Activities Recommendation Panel and the Wisconsin Division of Health
evaluated the information on this site to determine the need for additional research or education
about health related concerns. Such activities could include conducting further studies on cases
of disease near the site or providing community members with additional information about the
health effects of exposure to toxic chemicals associated with the site.
People who eat resident species of fish from the Sheboygan River are exposed to PCBs that
accumulated in the fish. People who frequently may be consuming resident species could have
an increased cancer risk, and children of women who frequently ate resident species of fish may
have shown neurobehavioral effects of exposure to PCBs. Therefore, ATSDR and the division
recommend a survey of the extent to which anglers who fish the river and their family members
are exposed to PCBs. If the survey indicates that there may be high levels of exposure to PCBs
in river fish, then a study of biological indicators of exposure in sport fish consumers would be
appropriate.
B. Public Health Action
The Division of Health, in cooperation with ATSDR, will conduct the following activities to
respond to the recommendations of this assessment:
Conduct a survey of Sheboygan River anglers in order to assess the extent to which they and
their families may be exposed to PCBs in sport-caught fish.
Provide additional public health education as new information on public health concerns
becomes available. Division staff will attend future meetings related to the site to record and
respond to public health concerns.
Continue to cooperate with the Sheboygan County Human Services' Division of Public Health
in distributing information about fish contaminants to area residents who are likely to rely on
sport caught fish as a source of nutrition.
Continue to offer educational opportunities to health professionals regarding the health effects
of exposure to PCBs.
The Kohler Company has proposed to continue sampling monitoring wells across the Sheboygan
River as part of its closure activities for the landfill.
PREPARERS OF REPORT
Jay Goldring, Ph.D.Research Scientist-Toxicologist
Division of Health
Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services
Kenneth Bro, Ph.D.
Environmental Engineer
Division of Health
Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services
ATSDR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Louise Fabinski, Region V
Regional Operations, Office of the Assistant Administrator
TECHNICAL PROJECT OFFICER
William Greim
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment & Consultation
The Kohler Company Landfill Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Wisconsin
Division 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.
William Greim
Technical Project Officer
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has
reviewed this public health assessment, and concurs with its findings.
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