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PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

NORTH PENN-AREA 1
SOUDERTON, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA




CONCLUSIONS

Based upon the information reviewed, PADOH concludes that this site represents an indeterminate public health hazard. Available data indicate that the North Penn Water Authority (NPWA) has been contaminated with PCE, TCE, and DCE. Limited residential well data indicate private well contamination with TCE, DCE, and PCE. The estimated duration and the levels of exposure to these chemicals are not likely to cause any significant adverse health effects. However, the quality assurance and quality control of the sampling data were inadequate. The hydrogeology of the site and surrounding area has not been determined. Nothing is known at the present time about groundwater flow direction at the site or about the influence of local pumping. There are insufficient data on the vertical and horizontal extent and nature of contamination at the site as well as rates of movement of either groundwater or contaminants. No environmental data exist for surface water, soil, sediment, and air; therefore, possible exposures through contact with these media cannot be evaluated.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Cease/Reduce Exposure Recommendations

As recommended in the 1988 Preliminary Health Assessment, conduct a detailed well survey in the area, along with sampling, to determine if anyone is currently ingesting contaminated groundwater at or above health concern levels. Provide alternative water supplies for those residences with water supplies contaminated above health concern levels.

Site Characterization Recommendations

  1. Investigate the North Penn Water Authority (NPWA) by determining pump rates, blending of wells and the impact of individual wells on receptor populations.

  2. Collect sufficient groundwater samples to define the extent of contamination (horizontal and vertical) in the study area and increase the number of contaminants for testing.

  3. Investigate surface water, soil, sediment, and air pathways to determine if there is any public health risk from contact with these environmental media.

Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Recommendations

The data and information developed in the North Penn Area 1 Public Health Assessment have been evaluated for appropriate follow-up actions. The ATSDR Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) determined that no follow-up public health actions are necessary. ATSDR will reevaluate this site and conduct appropriate public health actions, if new data become available that indicate a need to do so.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the North Penn Area 1 site contains a description of actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or the Pennsylvania State Department of Health (PADOH) at and in the vicinity of the site subsequent to the completion of this public health assessment. For those actions already taken at the site, please see the Background section of this public health assessment. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment not only identifies public health hazards, but provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. Included, is a commitment on the part of ATSDR and PADOH to follow-up on this plan to ensure that it is implemented. The public health actions to be implemented by ATSDR and PADOH are as follows:

  1. PADOH will review the findings of the North Penn Area 1 Phase II Remedial Investigation Report. This report should better characterize the site by defining the extent of contamination and determining if there is any public health risk from surface water, soil, sediment and air pathways.

  2. As other information become available on the status of recommendations made in this public health assessment, ATSDR and PADOH will evaluate that information to determine if conditions have changed at the site and if other follow-up actions are necessary.

ATSDR will reevaluate and expand the Public Health Action Plan when needed. New environmental or toxicological data may determine the need for additional actions at the site.

PREPARERS OF REPORT

Thomas Hartman
Statistician
Pennsylvania Department of Health

Kandiah Sivarajah, Ph.D.
State Toxicologist and Project Director
Pennsylvania Department of Health

ATSDR Regional Representative:

Charles Walters
Public Health Advisor
EPA Region III
Office of Assistant Administrator

ATSDR Technical Project Officer:

Gail D. Godfrey
Technical Project Officer
Remedial Program Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation



CERTIFICATION

The North Penn Area 1 Public Health Assessment has been prepared by the Pennsylvania 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 initiated.

Gail D. Godfrey
Technical Project Officer, SPS, RPB, DHAC

The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health assessment and concurs with its findings.

Robert C. Williams, PE, DEE
Director, DHAC, ATSDR



REFERENCES

  1. North Penn Area 1, Phase II RI/FS - Work Plan, Work Assignment No. 03-3LW8.0, Contract No. 68-W8-0090, December, 1989.

  2. North Penn Area 1, Phase II RI/FS, Sampling and Analyses Plan, Contract No. 68-W8-0090, October, 1991.

  3. 1990 Pennsylvania Industrial Directory, U.S. Department of Commerce, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

  4. 1990 Municipal Population, Pennsylvania, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, January, 1991.

  5. Summary of General Population Characteristics 1990, Census of Population and Housing, 1990; Summary Tape File 1A, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, June, 1991.

  6. Public Schools, Summary of Enrollments, 1990-1991, Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1991.

  7. Public Schools, Elementary Enrollments, 1990-1991, Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1991.

  8. Public Schools, Secondary Enrollments, 1990-1991, High School Graduates, 1989-1990, Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1991.

  9. Nursing Home Director, State Health Data Center, Pennsylvania Department of Health, December, 1990.

  10. Directory of Pennsylvania Hospitals, State Health Data Center, Pennsylvania Department of Health, December, 1990.

  11. National Priorities List Sites: Pennsylvania. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Office of Program Managements, Washington, D.C. 20460. EPA/540/4-90/038, September, 1990.

  12. Telephone Conversation with Patrick M. McManus, Regional Program Manager, Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, December, 1991.

  13. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for Trichloroethene, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, October, 1989.

  14. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for Tetrachloroethene, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, January, 1990.

  15. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for 1,1-Dichloroethene, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, December, 1989.

  16. Pennsylvania Vital Statistics File, State Health Data Center, Pennsylvania Department of Health, 1991.

  17. Bailor J.C. III, Ederer F. Significance Factors for the Ratio of a Poisson Variable to its Expectation, Biometrics; 20:639-643, 1964.




APPENDIX A.

FIGURES

Figure 1
Figure 1.

Figure 2
Figure 2.

Figure 3
Figure 3.

Figure 4
Figure 4.




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