PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
LANDIA CHEMICAL COMPANY
(a/k/a FLORIDA FAVORITE FERTILIZER)
LAKELAND, POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA
The Landia Chemical Company/Florida Favorite Fertilizer Company hazardous waste site was an indeterminate public health hazard for past exposures. Assessing the probability of illness from past inhalation of contaminated dust or vapors is not possible because of the lack of air monitoring data.
Currently there is no apparent public health hazard for nearby residents. Site access is restricted and there is no current use of the contaminated ground water.
This site may be a public health hazard in the future. If in the future people are exposures to on-site surface soil or ground water they will likely become ill.
1. If, in the future, children accidentally eat (incidental ingestion) small amounts of arsenic-contaminated surface soil from on the site for short or intermediate periods (<365 days), they are likely to suffer vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue, rapid heart rate, fever/chills, sore throat, memory loss, mild loss of feeling in the legs, tingling in the legs, and dark warts on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
If, in the future, adults accidentally eat (incidental ingestion) small amounts of arsenic-contaminated surface soil from on the site for long periods (> 365 days), they are likely to suffer abdominal pain, anemia, enlargement of the liver, tingling in the hands/feet, and thickening/darkening of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. These adults may also suffer skin, liver, lung, bladder, and kidney cancer from arsenic and thyroid/liver cancer from toxaphene.
2. If, in the future, newborn infants (0-3 months old) drink nitrate-contaminated ground water from on or near the site they are likely to suffer methemoglobinemia ("blue baby" syndrome) which is fatal if not treated quickly. The City of Lakeland supplies the site and nearby areas with drinking water.
If, in the future, children drink arsenic-contaminated ground water from on or near the site for a short or intermediate period (<365 days), they are likely to suffer vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue, rapid heart rate, fever/chills, sore throat, memory loss, mild loss of feeling in the legs, tingling in the legs, and dark warts on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
If, in the future, adults drink arsenic-contaminated ground water from on or near the site for long periods (> 365 days), they are likely to suffer abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, enlargement of the liver, tingling in the hands and feet, and thickening/darkening of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. These adults may also suffer skin, liver, lung, bladder, and kidney cancer from arsenic; thyroid/liver cancer from toxaphene; and liver cancer from hexachlorocyclohexane.
3. Estimating the likelihood of illness from inhalation of contaminated dust from the site or vapors from the ditch that receives stormwater runoff from the site is not possible because air monitoring data are nonexistent. Because of their low volatility, it is unlikely that aldrin/dieldrin, chlordane, endosulfan, or hexachlorocyclohexane caused the symptoms reported by residents along the Wayman Street ditch (nausea, headaches, dizziness, and eye and respiratory irritation). It is more likely that these symptoms were caused by the volatile carrier/solvents used to dissolve these pesticides.
About 200 people living near the site may have inhaled this organophosphate pesticide, its carrier/solvent, and/or their breakdown products during the May 1983 fire at Landia. Smoke from most fires can cause difficulty breathing and resulting chest pains. Determining the probability of illness from this exposure is not possible because air monitoring data are nonexistent. Reported symptoms (chest pains and difficulty breathing), however, could have been caused by smoke, azinphos-methyl, its carrier/solvent, and/or their breakdown products.
4. In the future, soil excavation for site cleanup could create pesticide-contaminated dust. If not controlled, people in nearby homes and businesses could be exposed.
5. The geographical extent of off-site ground water contamination has not been determined, especially for soluble contaminants such as nitrate.
6. Off-site surface-soil quality in the neighborhood south of the site has not been adequately tested. The quality of surface soil along the banks of the ditch that drains the site has not been tested.
7. Estimating the likelihood of illness from touching contaminated soil, water, or sediments is not possible because the rate of skin absorption is unknown. Data on sediment contamination in the ditches that receive stormwater runoff from this site are insufficient.
8. One fish sample collected from the Itchepackesassa Creek in 1983 is inadequate to characterize fish contamination in downstream water bodies. Eating the amount of pesticides measured in this one fish sample are not likely, however, to cause illness.
9. Between 1940 and 1987 about 100 workers were exposed to pesticide dust at this site. This report does not estimate either exposure or the possibility of illness for these workers. Worker health and safety are the responsibility of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
1. Ensure that nearby residents do not have access to on-site surface soil. Restrict site access and future land use to prevent long-term exposures to on-site surface soil.
2. Prevent use of contaminated ground water as a public or private drinking water supply. Restrict permits for new wells near ground water contamination. Encourage residents near ground water contamination not to drink from their irrigation wells.
3. Collect at least three 24-hour off-site air samples downwind and analyze for arsenic and site-related pesticides to estimate current residential exposures. Collect these samples during a gentle north wind. Collect one 24-hour upwind, background air sample for comparison.
4. Control dust generation and conduct intensive air monitoring during any future cleanup that would disturb on-site soil and create dust.
5. Determine the geographical extent of off-site ground water contamination.
6. Collect additional off-site surface-soil samples (0-3 inches deep) in the neighborhood south of the site and analyze for site-related chemicals. Collect one surface soil sample from the bank of the ditch draining the site at each individual property for the first 6,000 feet starting at the site boundary. Analyze these samples for site-related chemicals.
7. Collect about 20 additional sediment grab samples from the ditch that drains the site. Collect these sediment samples every 500 feet starting at Olive Street and continuing through the stormwater pond on the north side of Highland Street between Jensen and Lebanon Roads. Analyze for arsenic and site-related pesticides.
8. Collect at least three fish from the pond on the north side of Highland Street between Jensen and Lebanon Roads. Collect fish likely caught for human consumption (bass, brim, perch, etc.) and analyze for arsenic and site-related pesticides.
9. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) should consider a health investigation for former and current workers.
This section describes what ATSDR and/or DOH plan to do at this site. The purpose of a Public Health Action Plan is to reduce any existing health hazards and to prevent any from occurring in the future. ATSDR and/or DOH will do the following:
1. DOH, Bureau of Environmental Toxicology will inform and educate nearby residents about the public health threat at this site. Specifically, DOH will warn nearby residents not to go on the site and not to use contaminated ground water.
2. DOH, Bureau of Environmental Toxicology will collect fish from the stormwater pond on the north side of Highland Street between Jensen and Lebanon Roads and analyze for arsenic and site-related pesticides.
3. DOH, Bureau of Environmental Toxicology will request the Southwest Florida Water Management District to restrict permits for new wells in or near the area of ground water contamination.
4. DOH, Bureau of Environmental Toxicology will forward a copy of this assessment to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to determine if a health investigation of former and current workers is warranted.
5. DOH, Bureau of Environmental Toxicology will continue to work with EPA and DEP to ensure that the site is cleaned up to protect public health.
6. DOH, Bureau of Environmental Toxicology will inform and educate local health care professionals about this site, contaminants of concern, potential illnesses, and medical treatment.
7. DOH, Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology will review area cancer rates contained in the Florida Cancer Data System.
8. When additional information becomes available, the DOH, Bureau of Environmental Toxicology, will evaluate it to determine the public health threat and what additional recommendations, if any, to make.
Florida Department of Health Author
E. Randall Merchant
Bureau of Environmental Toxicology
Division of Environmental Health
The ATSDR Technical Project Team:
Debra Gable
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Betty Phifer
Division of Health Studies
Teresa Nastoff
Division of Health Education and Promotion
The ATSDR Regional Representative:
Bob Safay
Regional Services
Office of the Assistant Administrator
AMA 1989. American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, C.B. Clayman, Editor. Random House, New York.
ATSDR 1992. Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (March). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Public Health Service. Atlanta, GA.
ATSDR 1993. Toxicological Profile for Aldrin/Dieldrin. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR/TP-92/01.
ATSDR 1994a. Toxicological Profile for Chlordane. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR/TP-89/06
ATSDR 1994b. Toxicological Profile for 4,4'-DDT, 4,4'D-DDE, 4,4'-DDD (Update). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR/TP-93/05.
ATSDR 1996a. Toxicological Profile for Hexachlorobenzene (Update). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ATSDR 1996b. Toxicological Profile for Toxaphene (Update). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ATSDR 1997a. Toxicological Profile for Benzene (Update). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ATSDR 1997b. Draft Toxicological Profile for Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-, and Delta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (Update). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ATSDR 1998a. Draft Toxicological Profile for Arsenic (Update). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ATSDR 1998b. Draft Toxicological Profile for Endosulfan (Update). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ATSDR 1998c. Guidance on Including Child Health Issues in Division of Health Assessment and Consultation Documents. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Atlanta, GA. July 2, 1998.
ATSDR 1999. Soil and Water Comparison Values (Expires 6/30/99). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
BBL 1997. Blasland, Bouck & Lee, Inc. Contamination Assessment Report, Landia Chemical Company. OGC #85-0680. January 17, 1997.
CH2MHill 1988. CH2MHill. Contamination Assessment Report for Landia Chemical Company, Lakeland, Florida. FC24093.AO. March 1988.
Delta 1994. Delta Environmental Consultants, Inc. Contamination Assessment Report, Landia Chemical/CFPL Jet-A Fuel Discharge. Delta Project No. B094-020. November 1994.
DEP 1983a. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Warning Notice #53-83-10-381 to Billy G. Mitchell, President Landia Chemical Company. October 19, 1983.
DEP 1983b. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Field Notes on Clean-Up of Landia Drainage Ditch South of Olive Street. Doug Bramlett. November 18, 1983.
DEP 1983c. Florida Department of Environmental Protection Interoffice Memorandum. Landia Chemical Company Neighborhood Water Well Use Survey. Clabe Polk, November 18, 1983.
DEP 1983d. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Southwest District Office, record of conversation. November 16, 1983.
DEP 1983e. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Chemical Analysis Report Form - Pesticides Extractables. TAS#1314, ID#5869, Sampled by Bob Stetler, September 21, 1993.
DEP 1983f. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Chemical Analysis Report Form - Pesticides Extractables. SPAN Lab ID#20378, 20479, and 20480, Sampled by C. Polk, December 23, 1983.
DEP 1986. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. October 2, 1986 Interoffice Memorandum from William H. Colona III, Operations Response, to Clabe Polk, Assistant District Manager, Southwest District.
DEP 1991. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Southwest District Office, record of complaint. June 14, 1991.
DEP 1999. Florida Department of Environmental Protection Central Laboratory. Chemical Analysis Reports. Event Names (ID): SIS-1999-03-19-01 and SIS-1999-03-17-01.
EPA 1983. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Record of Analysis, Landia Chemical, sampled November 14, 1983 by Jim Kopotic, Athens Laboratory.
EPA 1997. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure Factors Handbook, Volumes I, II, and III. EPA/600/P-95/002Fa,b,c.
Florida Legislature 1991. Florida Reapportionment and Redistricting Atlas, the Florida Legislature. Joint Legislative Management Committee, Legislative Information Division, Claude Pepper Building, Room 704, Tallahassee, Florida.
Gerard 1998. June 15, 1998 letter from David W. Gerard, P.E., Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Waste Management, Southwest District Office to Don Guthrie, P.E., Director of Environmental Engineering, Polk County Health Department.
Harry 1985. DER Tracing Landia Chemical's Poisonous Plume. Lakeland Ledger, June 7, 1985. Story by Joseph Harry.
IT 1999. IT Corporation. Olive Street Contamination Study. Task Assignment No. 4A, DEP Contract #WM585. August 1999.
Kamrin 1988. Toxicology - A Primer on Toxicology Principles and Applications. Lewis Publishers. Chelsea MI.
LFD 1983. Lakeland Fire Department, Fire Run #00766 Report, May 12, 1983.
Missimer 1992. Missimer & Associates, Inc. Florida Favorite Fertilizer, Lakeland Facility, Contamination Assessment Report (Petroleum). Project #CEO-467. March 1992.
Mobay 1990. Material Safety Data Sheet for Guthion (azinphos-methyl), Mobay Corporation. In MSDS Reference for Crop Protection Chemicals, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Press, 1990.
NAS 1977. Drinking Water and Health, Volume 1. Safe Drinking Water Committee, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences.
NJDEP 1990. Improving Dialogue with Communities. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ.
OH Materials 1983. Map with Soil, Sediment, and Water Analytical Results, Landia Chemical Corporation, Project 1532. O.H. Materials Co. (Analyses by Environpact of Jacksonville).
PELA 1983. P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates, Lakeland Florida. Report of analysis. Project #448900.
PELA 1984a. P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates, Lakeland Florida. Report of analysis. Project #449500.
PELA 1984b. P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates, Lakeland Florida. Report of analysis. Project #449500/2016
PELA 1984c. P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates, Lakeland Florida. Report of analysis. Project #449500/2449.
PELA 1985. P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates, Lakeland Florida. Report of analysis. Project #448900/2694.
Stedman's 1990. Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 25th Edition, Illustrated. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD.
TTEM 1999. Tetra Tech EM Inc. Trip Report, Landia Chemical Company. TDD No. 04-9906-0023. August 1999.
UF 1991. University of Florida. Toxic Pollutants in Discharges, Ambient Waters, and Bottom Sediments Final Report, December 30, 1991. University of Florida Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences EIES Project #4910451021612. Contract #WM266 with the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation.
ViroGroup 1994. ViroGroup Air-Water-Soil Technology. October 17, 1994 letter from Malcon O. Castor, ViroGroup to Jim Bellar, Florida Favorite Fertilizer regarding sampling at the Florida Favorite-Lakeland Facility.
Figure 2. Monitoring Well Locations
Figure 4. Surface Water/Sediment
Table 1. Maximum Concentrations in On-Site Surface Soils (0-1 Foot Deep)
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/kg) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (mg/kg) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | 530 | 66/115 | 0.04 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Arsenic | 7,186 | 50/105 | 0.5 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | ----------------- | ---- | ----- |
| Benzene | Not detected | 0/86 | 20 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Chlordane (total) | 445 | 91/115 | 0.5 | ATSDR 1999 |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | 2,268 | 82/115 | 2 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | 280 | 2/115 | 100 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 2,448 | 3/10 | 0.4 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers | 2,078 | 44/129 | 0.4 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Nitrate | 4,000 | 0/35 | 80,000 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Sulfate | 36,000 | 0/35 | 500,000 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Toxaphene | 2,000 | 53/129 | 0.6 | ATSDR 1999 |
Source: PELA 1984a, DEP 1986, CH2MHill 1988, BBL 1997, IT 1999,
TTEM 1999
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
* Comparison values used to select chemicals for further scrutiny, not for determining
the possibility of illness.
Table 2. Maximum Concentrations in On-Site
Ground Water (All Depths)
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/L) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (mg/L) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | 0.002 | 10/104 | 0.000002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Arsenic | 1.5 | 49/89 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | ------------ | ---------- | ----- |
| Benzene | 0.02 | 19/120 | 0.001 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Chlordane (total) | 0.006 | 9/104 | 0.00003 | ATSDR 1999 |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | 0.081 | 34/104 | 0.0001 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | 0.02 | 1/104 | 0.02 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.005 | 1/104 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers | 0.57 | 66/104 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Nitrate | 2,100 | 22/83 | 20 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Sulfate | 32,000 | 58/83 | 500 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Toxaphene | 0.06 | 3/104 | 0.00003 | ATSDR 1999 |
Source: PELA 1984a, PELA 1984b, PELA 1984c, CH2MHill 1988,
Missimer 1992, Delta 1994, IT 1999
mg/L = milligrams per liter
* Comparison values used to select chemicals for further scrutiny, not for determining
the possibility of illness.
Table 3. Maximum Concentrations in Off-Site
Surface Soils (0-1 Foot Deep)
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/kg) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (mg/kg) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | 370 | 11/25 | 0.04 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Arsenic | 0.1 | 0/18 | 0.5 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | ---------------------- | -------- | ----- |
| Benzene | Not detected | 0/17 | 20 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Chlordane (total) | 396 | 16/25 | 0.5 | ATSDR 1999 |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | 103 | 14/25 | 2 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | 61 | 0/25 | 100 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Not detected | 0/5 | 0.4 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers | 11 | 9/25 | 0.4 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Nitrate | 8 | 0/17 | 80,000 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Sulfate | 35,000 | 0/17 | 500,000 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Toxaphene | 180 | 10/25 | 0.6 | ATSDR 1999 |
Source: PELA 1984a, BBL 1997, IT 1999, TTEM 1999
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
* Comparison values used to select chemicals for further scrutiny, not for determining
the possibility of illness.
Table 4. Maximum Concentrations in Off-Site
Ground Water (All Depths)
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/L) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (mg/L) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | 0.001 | 4/39 | 0.000002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Arsenic | 0.7 | 11/38 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | ------------------------ | ----- | ----- |
| Benzene | 0.003 | 1/39 | 0.001 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Chlordane (total) | 0.002 | 4/39 | 0.00003 | ATSDR 1999 |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | 0.007 | 4/39 | 0.0001 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | 0.0002 | 0/39 | 0.02 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Not detected | 0/39 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers | 0.028 | 19/39 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Nitrate | 3,700 | 7/38 | 20 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Sulfate | 3,900 | 14/39 | 500 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Toxaphene | 0.04 | 3/39 | 0.00003 | ATSDR 1999 |
Source: PELA 1985, CH2MHill 1988, BBL 1997, IT 1999, DEP 1999
mg/L = milligrams per liter
* Comparison values used to select chemicals for further scrutiny, not for determining
the possibility of illness.
Table 5. Maximum Concentrations in Off-Site
Drainage Ditch Water (Before 11/83)
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/L) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (mg/L) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | 0.01 | 3/15 | 0.000002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Arsenic | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Benzene | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Chlordane (total) | 0.06 | 3/15 | 0.00003 | ATSDR 1999 |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | 0.03 | 3/15 | 0.001 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | 52 | 8/15 | 0.02 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers |
15 | 13/15 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Nitrate | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Sulfate | Not analyzed | ------------------------ | ----- | ----- |
| Toxaphene | 210 | 11/15 | 0.00003 | ATSDR 1999 |
Source: OH Materials 1983, PELA 1983
mg/L = milligrams per liter
Table 6. Maximum Concentrations in Off-Site
Drainage Ditch Water (After 11/83)
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/L) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (mg/L) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | Not detected | 0/15 | 0.000002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Arsenic | Not detected | 0/2 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | ------------------------ | ----- | ----- |
| Benzene | Not detected | 0/15 | 0.001 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Chlordane (total) | Not detected | 0/15 | 0.00003 | ATSDR 1999 |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | Not detected | 0/15 | 0.0001 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | 0.032 | 2/15 | 0.02 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers | 0.001 | 4/15 | 0.00002 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Nitrate | 0.8 | 0/2 | 20 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Sulfate | 130 | 0/2 | 500 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Toxaphene | Not detected | 0/15 | 0.00003 | ATSDR 1999 |
Source: DEP 1983f, UF 1991, IT 1999, DEP 1999
mg/L = milligrams per liter
* Comparison values used to select chemicals for further scrutiny, not for determining
the possibility of illness.
Table 7. Maximum Concentrations in Off-Site
Drainage Ditch Sediments (Before 11/83)
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/kg) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (mg/kg) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | 1.0 | 2/3 | 0.04 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Arsenic | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Benzene | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Chlordane (total) | 3.0 | 2/3 | 0.5 | ATSDR 1999 |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | 0.6 | 0/3 | 2 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | 17 | 0/18 | 100 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers | 0.5 | 1/15 | 0.4 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Nitrate | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Sulfate | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Toxaphene | 460 | 15/18 | 0.6 | ATSDR 1999 |
Source: OH Materials 1983, PELA 1983, EPA 1983
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
* Comparison values used to select chemicals for further scrutiny, not for determining
the possibility of illness.
Table 8. Maximum Concentrations in Off-Site
Drainage Ditch Sediments (After 11/83)
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/kg) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (mg/kg) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | 0.26 | 3/14 | 0.04 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Arsenic | 110 | 4/4 | 0.5 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Benzene | Not detected | 0/3 | 20 | ----- |
| Chlordane (total) | 3.2 | 4/14 | 0.5 | ----- |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | 1.0 | 0/14 | 2 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | 0.2 | 0/14 | 100 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Not detected | 0/3 | 0.4 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers | 0.4 | 0/14 | 0.4 | ATSDR 1999 |
| Nitrate | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Sulfate | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Toxaphene | 27 | 1/14 | 0.6 | ATSDR 1999 |
Source: PELA 1984a, UF 1991, TTEM 1999
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
* Comparison values used to select chemicals for further scrutiny, not for determining
the possibility of illness.
Table 9. Maximum Concentrations in Off-Site
Fish
| Contaminants of Concern | Maximum Concentration (mg/kg) |
# Greater Than Comparison Value/ Total # of Samples | Comparison Value* | |
| (m/kg) | Source | |||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | Not detected | 0/1 | ----- | ----- |
| Arsenic | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Azinphos-methyl | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Benzene | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Chlordane (total) | Not detected | 0/1 | ----- | ----- |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | Not detected | 0/1 | ----- | ----- |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) | Not detected | 0/1 | ----- | ----- |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Not detected | 0/1 | ----- | ----- |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride or BHC) total of all isomers |
0.1 | -/1 | none | ----- |
| Nitrate | Not analyzed | ------------------------ | ----- | ----- |
| Sulfate | Not analyzed | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- |
| Toxaphene | 1.0 | -/1 | none | ----- |
Source: DEP 1983e
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
* Comparison values used to select chemicals for further scrutiny, not for determining
the possibility of illness.
Table 10. Completed Exposure Pathways
| PATHWAY NAME |
EXPOSURE PATHWAY ELEMENTS | TIME | ||||
| SOURCE | ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA | POINT OF EXPOSURE | ROUTE OF EXPOSURE | EXPOSED POPULATION | ||
| Azinphos-methyl Fire | On-site azinphos-methyl fire | Air | Off-site homes | Inhalation | About 200 nearby residents | May 1983 |
| Drainage Ditch Pesticide Vapors | Pesticides in water from ditch draining the site | Air | Off-site homes along drainage ditch | Inhalation | About 100 residents along ditch draining the site | Past (1940 to 1983) |
| Drainage Ditch Water |
Pesticides in water from site-runoff | Ditch water | Ditch draining the site | Skin absorption | About 50 children | Past (1940 to 1983) |
| Drainage Ditch Sediments | Pesticides in sediments of ditch draining the site | Ditch sediments | Ditch draining the site | Skin absorption | About 50 children | Past (1940 to 1983) |
| Fish Consumption | Fish in stormwater ponds and Itchepacke-sassa Creek | Fish | Eating fish from stormwater ponds and Itchepacke-sassa Creek | Ingestion | About 100 people who ate fish from ponds/ Itchepacesassa Creek | Past (1940 to 1983) |
| Incidental Soil Ingestion | Contaminated off-site soils | Soil | Nearby homes & businesses | Ingestion and skin absorption | About 100 people at nearby homes and businesses | Past, present, and future |
Table 11. Potential Exposure Pathways
| PATHWAY NAME |
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY ELEMENTS | TIME | ||||
| SOURCE | ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA | POINT OF EXPOSURE | ROUTE OF EXPOSURE | EXPOSED POPULATION | ||
| Ground Water | Contam-inated On-Site Soil | Ground Water | On- and off-site wells (monitor, irrigation, etc.) | Ingestion and skin absorption | About 150 users of about 60 wells within one mile of the site | Future |
| On-Site Soil | On-Site Surface Soil | Soil | On-site | Incidental ingestion | Depends on future land use changes | Future |
| Contaminated Dust | Contam-inated On-Site Soil | Soil | Nearby homes and businesses | Inhalation | About 100 people at nearby homes and businesses | Future |
Table 12. Estimated Maximum Exposure Dose
(mg/kg/day)
|
On-site |
Off-site |
ATSDR Oral Minimal Risk Level (MRL) | |||||||||
|
child |
adult |
child |
adult |
||||||||
| soil | g.w. | soil | g.w. | soil | g.w. | fish | soil | g.w. | fish | ||
| Aldrin/Dieldrin | 0.007 | 1x10-4 | 7x10-4 | 6x10-5 | 0.005 | 7x10-5 | N.D. | 5x10-4 | 3x10-5 | N.D. | 3x10-5 C* 2x10-3 A* |
| Arsenic | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.01 | 0.04 | 1x10-6 | 0.05 | N.A. | 1x10-7 | 0.02 | N.A. | 3x10-4 C |
| Azinphos-methyl | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | none |
| Benzene | N.D. | 0.001 | N.D. | 6x10-4 | N.D. | 2x10-4 | N.A. | N.D. | 9x10-5 | N.A. | none |
| Chlordane (total) | 0.006 | 4x10-4 | 6x10-4 | 2x10-4 | 0.005 | 1x10-4 | N.D. | 6x10-4 | 6x10-5 | N.D. | 6x10-4 C&I 1x10-3 A |
| DDT/DDE/DDD (total) | 0.03 | 0.005 | 0.003 | 0.002 | 0.001 | 5x10-4 | N.D. | 1x10-4 | 2x10-4 | N.D. | 5x10-4 I&A |
| Endosulfan (I, II, sulfate) |
0.004 | 0.001 | 4x10-4 | 6x10-4 | 8x10-4 | 1x10-4 | N.D. | 9x10-5 | 6x10-6 | N.D. | 2x10-3 C 5x10-3 I |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.03 | 3x10-4 | 0.003 | 1x10-4 | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. | 2x10-5 C 8x10-3 A |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane total all isomers |
0.03 | 0.04 | 0.003 | 0.02 | 1x10-4 | 0.002 | 3x10-5 | 2x10-5 | 8x10-4 | 1x10-5 | 1x10-5 I** 1x10-2 A** |
| Nitrate | 0.05 | 141 | 0.006 | 61 | 1x10-4 | 248 | N.A. | 1x10-5 | 107 | N.A. | none |
| Sulfate | 0.5 | 2,144 | 0.05 | 928 | 0.5 | 261 | N.A. | 0.05 | 113 | N.A. | none |
| Toxaphene | 0.03 | 0.004 | 0.003 | 0.002 | 0.002 | 0.003 | 3x10-4 | 2x10-4 | 0.001 | 1x10-4 | 1x10-3 I 5x10-3 A |
mg/kg/day = milligrams of contaminant per kilogram body weight per day, g.w. = ground water, * Aldrin, ** gamma isomer (Lindane)
N.D. = not detected, N.A. = not analyzed
C = chronic length exposure (> 365 days), I = intermediate length exposure (14-165 days), A = acute length exposure (<14 days)
APPENDIX C. RISK OF ILLNESS, DOSE RESPONSE/THRESHOLD, AND UNCERTAINTY IN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENTS
Risk of Illness
In this health assessment, the risk of illness is the chance that exposure to a hazardous contaminant is associated with a harmful health effect or illness. The risk of illness is not a measure of cause and effect; only an in-depth health study can identify a cause and effect relationship. Instead, we use the risk of illness to decide if a follow-up health study is needed and to identify possible associations.
The greater the exposure to a hazardous contaminant (dose), the greater the risk of illness. The amount of a substance required to harm a person's health (toxicity) also determines the risk of illness. Exposure to a hazardous contaminant above a minimum level increases everyone's risk of illness. Only in unusual circumstances, however, do many people become ill.
Information from human studies provides the strongest evidence that exposure to a hazardous contaminant is related to a particular illness. Some of this evidence comes from doctors reporting an unusual incidence of a specific illness in exposed individuals. More formal studies compare illnesses in people with different levels of exposure. However, human information is very limited for most hazardous contaminants, and scientists must frequently depend upon data from animal studies. Hazardous contaminants associated with harmful health effects in humans are often associated with harmful health effects in other animal species. There are limits, however, in only relying on animal studies. For example, scientists have found some hazardous contaminants are associated with cancer in animals, but lack evidence of a similar association in humans. In addition, humans and animals have differing abilities to protect themselves against low levels of contaminants, and most animal studies test only the possible health effects of high exposure levels. Consequently, the possible effects on humans of low-level exposure to hazardous contaminants are uncertain when information is derived solely from animal experiments.
Dose Response/Thresholds
The focus of toxicological studies in humans or animals is identification of the relationship between exposure to different doses of a specific contaminant and the chance of having a health effect from each exposure level. This dose-response relationship provides a mathematical formula or graph that we use to estimate a person's risk of illness. The actual shape of the dose-response curve requires scientific knowledge of how a hazardous substance affects different cells in the human body. There is one important difference between the dose-response curves used to estimate the risk of noncancerous illnesses and those used to estimate the risk of cancer: the existence of a threshold dose. A threshold dose is the highest exposure dose at which there is no risk of illness. The dose-response curves for noncancerous illnesses include a threshold dose that is greater than zero. Scientists include a threshold dose in these models because the human body can adjust to varying amounts of cell damage without illness. The threshold dose differs for different contaminants and different exposure routes, and we estimate it from information gathered in human and animal studies. In contrast, the dose-response curves used to estimate the risk of cancer assume there is no threshold dose (or, the cancer threshold dose is zero). This assumes a single contaminant molecule may be sufficient to cause a clinical case of cancer. This assumption is very conservative, and many scientists believe a threshold dose greater than zero also exists for the development of cancer.
Uncertainty
All risk assessments, to varying degrees, require the use of assumptions, judgements, and incomplete data. These contribute to the uncertainty of the final risk estimates. Some more important sources of uncertainty in this public health assessment include environmental sampling and analysis, exposure parameter estimates, use of modeled data, and present toxicological knowledge. These uncertainties may cause risk to be overestimated or underestimated to a different extent. Because of the uncertainties described below, this public health assessment does not represent an absolute estimate of risk to persons exposed to chemicals at or near the Landia Chemical Company and Florida Favorite Fertilizer Company site.
Environmental chemistry analysis errors can arise from random errors in the sampling and analytical processes, resulting in either an over- or underestimation of risk. We can control these errors to some extent by increasing the number of samples collected and analyzed, and by sampling the same locations over several different periods. The above actions tend to minimize uncertainty contributed from random sampling errors.
There are two areas of uncertainty related to exposure parameter estimates. The first is the exposure-point concentration estimate. The second is the estimate of the total chemical exposures. In this assessment we used maximum detected concentrations as the exposure point concentration. We believe using the maximum measured value to be appropriate because we cannot be certain of the peak contaminant concentrations, and we cannot statistically predict peak values. Nevertheless, this assumption introduces uncertainty into the risk assessment that may over- or underestimate the actual risk of illness. When selecting parameter values to estimate exposure dose, we used default assumptions and values within the ranges recommended by the ATSDR or the EPA. These default assumptions and values are conservative (health protective) and may contribute to the overestimation of risk of illness. Similarly, we assumed the maximum exposure period occurred regularly for each selected pathway. Both assumptions are likely to contribute to the overestimation of risk of illness.
There are also data gaps and uncertainties in the design, extrapolation, and interpretation of toxicological experimental studies. Data gaps contribute uncertainty because information is either not available or is addressed qualitatively. Moreover, the available information on the interaction among chemicals found at the site, when present, is qualitative (that is, a description instead of a number) and we cannot apply a mathematical formula to estimate the dose. These data gaps may tend to underestimate the actual risk of illness. In addition, there are great uncertainties in extrapolating from high to low doses, and from animal-to-human populations. Extrapolating from animals to humans is uncertain because of the differences in the uptake, metabolism, distribution, and body organ susceptibility between different species. Human populations are also variable because of differences in genetic constitution, diet, home and occupational environment, activity patterns, and other factors. These uncertainties can result in an over- or underestimation of risk of illness. Finally, there are great uncertainties in extrapolating from high to low doses, and controversy in interpreting these results. Because the models used to estimate dose-response relationships in experimental studies are conservative, they tend to overestimate the risk. Techniques used to derive acceptable exposure levels account for such variables by using safety factors. Currently, there is much debate in the scientific community about how much we overestimate the actual risks and what the risk estimates really mean.
APPENDIX D. JULY 8, 1999 CONTAMINATED GROUND WATER ADVISORY
Florida Dept. of Health and Polk County Health Dept. - July 1999
Contaminated Ground Water Advisory
Lakeland's Westgate Neighborhood
The Florida Department of Health advises against any use of ground water from irrigation wells in a 10 block area of Lakeland's Westgate neighborhood. Chemicals from Landia Chemical/Florida Favorite Fertilizer hazardous waste site have contaminated ground water in this area. If irrigation well water is mixed with infant formula, nitrates in the water could cause "blue baby" syndrome. "Blue baby" syndrome can be fatal. Sulfates in the water can also cause diarrhea in children and adults. Homes and businesses in this area are supplied with city water. City Water is not affected and is safe to use. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requiring the owners of this hazardous waste site to conduct more tests to determine the full extent of the ground water contamination.
| For More Information About This Advisory and Public Health, Contact: | |
| Randy Merchant FL Dept. of Health Environmental Toxicology, Bin C22 2020 Capitol Circle, SE Tallahassee, FL 32399-1742 (850) 488-3385 |
Gene Jeffers Polk County Health Department Environmental Engineering 1290 Golfview Avenue Bartow, FL 33830-6740 (941) 533-3398 ext. 135 |
| For More Information About Cleanup at This Hazardous Waste Site, Contact: | |
| Bill Denman U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303-3104 (800) 435-9234 ext. 2-8939 |
David Gerard FL Dept. of Environmental Protection 3804 Coconut Palm Drive Tampa, FL 33619-8318 (813) 744-6100 ext. 420 |
The Landia Chemical Company/Florida Favorite Fertilizer Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Toxicology, under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures existing at the time the health assessment was begun.
Debra Gable
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this health assessment, and concurs with its findings.
Sven E. Rodenbeck
for Richard Gillig
Branch Chief, SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
