The Northwest Pipe and Casing Company site is a public health hazard because of exposure to
PAHs, dibenzofuran, and PCBs in soils at levels that could cause adverse health effects such as
minor skin problems, mild immune depression, minor stomach pains, and vomiting. Due to site
accessibility and surficial contamination by PAHs, human exposure to soil contaminants is
likely. In addition, exposure to PAHs and PCBs in soils at the site could result in a low
increased risk of excess cancer over a lifetime.
Former workers and trespassers on site, and residents could also have been exposed to
benzene, bis/di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, di-n-octylphthalate, methoxychlor, tetrachloroethene,
1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethene, and heavy metals in soils. However, adverse health effects
are unlikely to occur because of exposure to low levels of these contaminants.
There were past worker exposure issues at NWP&C due to coal tar emissions. Historical
records indicate that former workers at the NWP&C site were exposed to coal tar vapors in
ambient and in-door air during pipe coating operations. Past exposure to PAHs and organic
solvents probably occurred through ambient and indoor air in the past and during on-site fires.
However, data and information are not available.
The shallow aquifer on-site is contaminated with PAHs.
Coal tar emissions, buried wastes, contaminated soil, sediments, and runoff water from the site
are potential pathways for human exposure. Drainage ditches carrying surface run-off to local
streams and floods carrying sediment may be contributing to off-site contamination. The food
chain including garden vegetables is also a potential pathway for exposure to environmental
contamination. These pathways are unlikely to result in exposures at levels of health
significance, particularly if proper remedial measures are taken.
There are multiple sources in the area of metals and chlorinated organic compounds.
Data inadequacies include a lack of historical information on worker exposures and ambient
and indoor air during facility operations. Further information on groundwater contamination
including additional background data on metals in groundwater and identification of private well
users is needed. Further soil sampling is needed to determine if residential yards have been
contaminated with PAHs.
Due to the proximity of the industrial parks and other businesses, on and off-site air
monitoring should be conducted during soil disturbing activities. Perimeter air monitoring
should be maintained during remedial or other soil disturbing activities. In addition, the
construction of highway that is likely to run through the site should not begin until tests have
shown that levels of contaminants in on-site soils are not of health concern and physical hazards
have been reduced.
Maintain restricted access to the site so that trespassers do not have easy access to chemical
and physical hazards.
Migration of shallow contaminated groundwater on the NWP&C site should be prevented so
that drinking water is not affected.
SITE/AREA CHARACTERIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Further characterize surface and subsurface contamination on both parcels A and B. Sampling
should be conducted to confirm that buried drums are not present on property owned by
Northwest Development and ODOT (parcel A). Further characterization of contaminants on
ODOT property is needed. Metals analysis of chromium should determine if chromium (VI) is
present. Sampling should determine if NWP&C is contributing to metal contamination or if
other potential sources are contributing to high background levels.
Dioxin/furan analyses should be conducted particularly in areas where PCBs have been found.
Determine the location of private wells within a one-mile radius of the site and the number of
private well users. Determine the extent of groundwater contamination.
Since surface water may be used for drinking water (and possibly livestock watering) and
irrigation, the use of surface water should be determined and further creek sampling conducted.
Due to reports from previous employees, the storm sewers should be considered as an avenue
for migration of contaminants and sampled accordingly.
Further sampling of residential yards for PAH contamination should be considered.
Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Determinations
The data and information developed in the Northwest Pipe and Casing Company preliminary
public health assessment have been evaluated by the HARP for appropriate follow-up with
respect to health actions. Because former workers and trespassers in the community were
probably exposed to hazardous substances, HARP determined that community health education
is needed to assist them in understanding their probable exposure to contaminants on site. If
additional data and information become available, ATSDR will reevaluate this site for any
additional indicated follow-up.
Public Health Action Plan
The purpose of the Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) is to ensure that this public health
assessment not only identifies public health hazards but also provides a plan of action designed
to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances in the environment.
ATSDR evaluated this site for community health education and determined that the intended
audience of former workers and trespassers were unlikely to be reached by this activity,
therefore, no further community health activities are planned. ATSDR will continue to
collaborate with appropriate federal, state, and local agencies to pursue the implementation of the
recommendations outlined in this public health assessment. EPA plans to pursue the private well
survey or site/area characterization recommendation #3.
The final PHAP will be evaluated annually unless additional information warrants more frequent
evaluation.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Preliminary Assessment, Northwest Pipe and
Casing Company. Prepared for US EPA. September 29, 1987.
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Site Inspection Report for Northwest Pipe and
Casing, Clackamas, Oregon, prepared by Ecology and Environment, Inc., December, 1988.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Interoffice memorandum to the file, NW Pipe
and Casing. April 22, 1988.
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Listing Site Inspection Report for Northwest Pipe
and Casing, Clackamas, Oregon, prepared by Ecology and Environment, Inc., June, 1990.
ATSDR Record of Activity, personal communication with EPA, August 29, 1994.
Clackamas County Development Agency. Letter to US EPA, May 23, 1988.
Newspaper article in The Oregonian. Pollutant contaminates 4 sites, 2/6/90.
Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI) file on
Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET). Bethsada, MD: National Library of Medicine.
September, 1991.
ATSDR Record of Activity, personal phone communication with ATSDR Region X, January
29, 1993.
ATSDR Record of Activity, personal phone communication with National Guard at Camp
Withycombe, January 29, 1993.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Search for records of violations- air
quality section of DEQ, interoffice memorandum: January 20, 1977; January 21, 1977; October
14, 1983; April 22, 1988 and DEQ letter to NWP&C, Notice of Violation, September 2, 1983.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic
Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Atlanta: ATSDR, December 1990.
Metz Engineering Company. An Engineering Analysis of Effluents and Emissions from a
Coal Tar Pipe Coating Operation, July 11, 1973.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Benzene.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Annual Report on Carcinogens.
Research Triangle Park, 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
National Institutes of Health. Hazardous Substances Data Bank: Dibenzofuran and
Di-n-octylphthalate. National Library of Medicine, August 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Methoxychlor.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Selected
PCBs. Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for
Tetrachloroethylene. Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Draft Toxicological Profile for
1,1,1-Trichloroethane. Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, December 1990.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for
Trichloroethylene. Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Aluminum.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, July 1992.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Antimony.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1990.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Draft Toxicological Profile for Barium.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, July 1992.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Draft Toxicological Profile for
Beryllium. Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Chromium.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, July 1992.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Cobalt.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, July 1992.
Food and Nutrition Board. National Research Council-National Academy of Sciences.
Recommended Dietary Allowances, 9th ed. 1980.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Copper.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, December 1990.
Derosa CT, Choudhuri,H and Peirano, WB. An integrated Exposure/Pharmacokinetic Based
Approach to the Assessment of Complex Exposures. Toxicology and Industrial Health, Vol. 7,
No. 4, 231-248, 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Manganese.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, July 1992.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for nickel.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, October 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Vanadium.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, July 1992.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Draft Toxicological Profile for Zinc.
Atlanta, Ga: ATSDR, July 1992.
