HEALTH CONSULTATION
LIVINGSTON LANDFILL
PONTIAC, LIVINGSTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) requested that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) review and evaluate residential groundwater sample results collected near the Livingston Landfill in Livingston County, Illinois. This health consultation evaluates the groundwater samples collected from residential wells and on-site monitoring wells.
BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF ISSUES
Livingston Landfill is near Pontiac, Illinois, just north of Interstate 55 and west of Illinois Route 23 (Attachment 1). In the past, area residents have expressed concerns about poor landfilling operations. Concerns included
The site was originally called the Pontiac Landfill, but more recently has been known as the Livingston County Landfill. Development began in 1979 and landfill operations began in mid-1980. The landfill consists of two primary units: Parcel ABC Unit, and Parcel D Unit (Attachment 2).
Parcel ABC Unit lies south of Rowe Road and includes the original landfill. Of these three subunits, Parcel C was used as a borrow area while A and B were used for waste disposal. The permitted waste boundary of ABC comprises approximately 115 acres. The capacity of Parcel ABC Unit was projected to allow it to remain open until about 2008; however, it filled much earlier, and closure began before the end of 2000. Reportedly, this unit could be expanded vertically in the future [1].
Parcel D Unit is an entirely new, active development north of Rowe Road with a permitted waste boundary of about 139 acres. Its life expectancy is estimated at 14 to 18 years. The design life of both ABC and D units also includes a 30-year, post-closure care and monitoring period [1].
The oldest portion of the site, called the Old Fill Area, does not have an engineered liner. In 1991, the Old Fill Area was capped with 2 feet of clay and 1 foot of vegetation-supporting soil. The construction of new disposal cells contained liners and a leachate drainage system [1].
Groundwater appears to flow southwesterly from the site toward Wolf Creek. Drainage near Parcel ABC is south to Wolf Creek and north to an unnamed tributary of Wolf Creek near Parcel D [1]. In April 1999, IDPH mailed letters to the residents giving a health interpretation of their private water sample results. One private well sample had contaminants at levels that could possibly cause adverse health effects. IDPH recommended that these residents not use their well water for drinking or cooking. These same residents were offered follow-up well water sampling by Illinois EPA, but declined.
In January 2001, Illinois EPA collected groundwater samples from the landfill monitoring wells. The sample results will be discussed later in the document.
Site Visit
IDPH staff accompanied Illinois EPA during the January 25, 2002 groundwater follow-up inspection. To determine their condition, the reinspection of groundwater monitoring wells was conducted at the ABC Unit.
The landfill units appeared to be well maintained. No litter or odors were observed or encountered. Agricultural land surrounds the landfill units. The landfill has gated entrances with an 8-foot tall, chain-link fence around the perimeter. The surface of the ABC Unit is covered with soil and some vegetation. Wolf Creek borders the southeast portion of the ABC Unit. No landfilling activities were being conducted. A gas-to-energy facility is immediately west of the ABC Unit. North of Rowe Road, active landfilling was being conducted in the D Unit. Water trucks were observed controlling dusts from vehicle traffic at this unit. About 20 homes were observed within 1 mile of the landfill units.
Chemicals of Interest
IDPH compared the maximum level of each chemical detected during environmental sampling with appropriate screening comparison values to select chemicals for further evaluation for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects. Chemicals exceeding comparison values were selected for further evaluation. A detailed discussion of each of the comparison values used is found in Attachment 3.
Comparison values are used to screen for contaminants that should be evaluated further--they do not represent thresholds of toxicity. Though some of these chemicals might exist at levels greater than comparison values, the contaminants can only affect someone who is exposed and only if that exposure results in high enough doses for adverse effects to occur. The amount of the contaminant, as well as the duration and route of exposure, and the health status of exposed individuals, are important factors in determining the potential for adverse health effects.
Based on the groundwater monitoring well data from January 2001, arsenic and iron were the only two inorganic compounds found at levels greater than comparison values. No organic chemicals exceeded comparison values.
Private well water data showed iron, manganese, cadmium, and lead at levels greater than comparison values. Although iron exceeded comparison values, these guidelines are based on aesthetic qualities and would not be expected to cause adverse health effects.
To determine whether nearby residents are exposed to chemicals migrating from a site, IDPH evaluates the environmental and human components that could lead to exposure. A chemical of interest can affect people if they are exposed to sufficient levels for a sufficient period. A source of contamination, transport of the contaminant in the media of concern, a point of contact, a route of exposure, and an exposed population must all be present for an exposure to occur. Exposure pathways are either completed or potential. Completed pathways have all five components while potential pathways lack one or more of the components.
Private Wells
Residents living near the landfill who use private wells as their potable water source could be exposed to chemicals in that water, primarily through ingestion (drinking the well water). Elevated levels of lead and cadmium were found in one private well.
Lead was also found, at a level of 200 parts per billion (ppb) [2]. Its presence is most likely the result of corrosion from the lead plumbing materials throughout the distribution system rather than site-related. Potential sources of lead corrosion by-products can include
Cadmium was found at a level of 6 ppb [2]. Cadmium also does not appear to be site-related, and could also result from the pipes in the household water distribution system. Although this level exceeds the current drinking water standard (5 ppb), no adverse health effects would be expected.
Manganese was found at a level of 1,000 ppb [2]. USEPA has set a secondary maximum contaminant level of 50 ppb based on staining and discoloration of materials. Children drinking water containing more than 500 ppb manganese may experience adverse neurological effects. Because manganese was not found in on-site monitoring wells, it is probably not a site related contaminant.
Based on the private well data available, no one is being exposed to site-related contaminants at levels that could cause adverse health effects. However, exposure to lead from household plumbing materials could cause adverse health effects. Residents have been advised to use an alternate water supply for drinking and cooking.
Monitoring Wells
Fourteen on-site monitoring wells were sampled, and elevated levels of arsenic were found in eight of them[3]. In June 1999 elevated levels of arsenic were also detected in a non-community school water supply [4]. The school is east of the landfill and upgradient from the water flow around the site. This suggests arsenic levels in the area are naturally occurring rather than related to contamination originating from the landfill. No arsenic was detected in private wells, and no one is drinking water from the monitoring wells.
Lead
Lead can cause a variety of adverse health effects in humans. It can affect almost every organ and system in the body. Exposure to lead poses the greatest risk to children under 6 years of age and to developing fetuses. Exposure to elevated levels of lead can cause premature births, decreased birth weight, decreased mental ability in the infant, learning difficulties and reduced growth [5].
In adults, lead can cause headaches, fatigue, slow reaction time, and weakness in fingers, wrists, or ankles. Lead can also damage the blood-forming system and can cause anemia, but at levels much higher than found at this site [5].
IDPH does not anticipate children will be exposed to site-related contaminants. Though not site-related, elevated levels of lead and cadmium were present in a private well. Children are especially susceptible to impaired neurological development from lead exposure. In April 1999, IDPH advised residents with elevated levels of lead in their well water not to use that water.
Currently, based on the limited well water sampling data from January 2001, IDPH concludes that Livingston Landfill poses no apparent public health hazard from exposure to groundwater near the landfill. Although elevated levels of lead and cadmium were found in a private water supply, the source is most likely from corrosion of the water distribution system containing lead plumbing materials rather than site-related.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN
IDPH recommends that nearby residents with elevated lead levels in their well water not drink that water. In April 1999, IDPH advised these residents to: (1) not use their well water for drinking or cooking and (2) resample their water wells to confirm results.
If future environmental data suggest that landfill contaminants have migrated off site, IDPH will re-evaluate the site.
Cary Ware
Environmental Health Specialist
Illinois Department of Public Health
This Livingston Landfill health consultation was prepared by the Illinois 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 health consultation was begun.
W. Allen Robison
Technical Project Officer
Superfund Site Assessment Branch (SAAB)
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC)
ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this health consultation and concurs with its findings.
Sven E. Rodenbeck
for Roberta Erlwein
Chief, State Programs Section
SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
ATTACHMENT 2: GAS/GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELL LOCATIONS
ATTACHMENT 3: COMPARISON VALUES USED IN SCREENING CONTAMINANTS FOR FURTHER EVALUATION
Environmental media evaluation guides (EMEGs) are developed for chemicals on the basis of their toxicity, frequency of occurrence at National Priorities List (NPL) sites, and potential for human exposure. They are derived to protect the most sensitive populations and are not action levels, but rather comparison values. They do not consider carcinogenic effects, chemical interactions, multiple route exposure, or other media-specific routes of exposure. They are very conservative concentration values designed to protect sensitive members of the population.
Reference dose media evaluation guides (RMEGs) are another type of comparison value derived to protect the most sensitive populations. They do not consider carcinogenic effects, chemical interactions, multiple route exposure, or other media-specific routes of exposure They are also very conservative concentration values designed to protect sensitive members of the population.
Cancer risk evaluation guides (CREGs) are estimated contaminant concentrations that are based on a probability of 1 excess cancer in 1 million persons exposed to a chemical over a lifetime. These are also very conservative values designed to protect sensitive members of the population.
Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) have been established by USEPA for public water supplies to reduce the chances of adverse health effects from contaminated drinking water. These standards are well below levels for which health effects have been observed and take into account the financial feasibility of achieving specific contaminant levels. These are enforceable limits that public water supplies must meet.
USEPA has established lifetime health advisories for drinking water (LTHAs). LTHAs are the concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse noncarcinogenic effects over a lifetime of exposure. These are conservative values which incorporate a margin of safety.
