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1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

1. Currently, the site poses an indeterminate public health hazard because the data do not indicate that people are being exposed to levels of contamination that would be expected to cause adverse health effects. However, data are not available on off-site surface soils and ambient air to which people are exposed.

2. The site did pose a public health hazard in the past to individuals who drank contaminated groundwater from their private wells. The off-site groundwater is contaminated, but is not now used for drinking purposes. The neighborhood surrounding the site is supplied water from the municipal water system and is not exposed to the contaminated groundwater unless they use private wells for domestic purposes.

3. A health follow-up study conducted by the MCHD and the ISDH did not reveal any health conditions of the surrounding neighborhood to be different from a similar neighborhood in Marion County.

4. The off-site groundwater is contaminated with chemicals such as TCE and benzene at levels of health concern. There are several industries in the vicinity which use the groundwater for industrial purposes. Workers could be exposed to volatilized site-related contaminants in groundwater.

5. The on-site surface soil and groundwater are contaminated. On-site workers are at risk of exposure if they are not informed on the proper handling of toxic chemicals and the appropriate use of protective equipment.

6. Existing ATSDR Toxicological Profiles for ammonia, arsenic, benzene, pyridine, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, 1,2-dichloromethane, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, cresol and, lead lack a chronic MRL, which would allow a better assessment of the site's public health implications.

When indicated by public health needs, and as resources permit, the evaluation of additional relevant health outcome data and community health concerns, if available, is recommended.

It is recommended that:

1. Remedial actions be taken to collect off-site surface soil samples at depths of 3 inches or less.

2. Remedial actions be taken to prevent any further migration of the plume from the site.

3. In addition, actions should be taken to protect industrial workers from exposure to volatilized chemicals.

4. Actions should be taken to prevent the use of groundwater for drinking and other domestic purposes by neighboring residents and/or industries.

5. Provide on-site workers with adequate protective equipment and training in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120, and follow appropriate National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.

6. Monitor the site and its perimeter ambient air for the presence and transport of contaminants of concern.

7. Consider whether substance-specific applied research should be conducted to identify a chronic MRL for ingestion exposure to ammonia, arsenic, benzene, pyridine, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, 1,2-dichloromethane, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, cresol, and lead.

Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Statement

In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 as amended, ATSDR and the state have evaluated the Reilly Tar and Chemical site for appropriate health follow-up activities. Although there are indications that exposure to hazardous substances has occurred in the past, the duration and levels of exposure are not expected to cause adverse health effects. Because some exposure may still be occurring via ambient air or surface soil and since there are reports of transitory health effects from exposure to ammonia in the ambient air, HARP recommends consideration of personal air monitoring correlated with ambient air monitoring. No other follow-up actions are indicated at this time. If data become available that suggest human exposure is occurring, additional follow-up activities will be considered.

Public Health Actions

Based on the recommendations made in this health assessment, the following public health actions have been or will be undertaken.

Actions Undertaken

The ISDH is working closely with staff from Reilly Industries through the Neighborhood Information Committee (NIC) to educate the community on health effects arising from exposure to air emissions from all industries in the general vicinity of Reilly Industries.

Actions Planned

1. The ISDH will cooperate with the appropriate state and federal agencies to pursue the implementation of personal air monitoring of a representative group of individuals potentially affected by site-related air emissions.

2. The ISDH will work jointly with EPA and IDEM to pursue the implementation of the following recommendations:
   • additional sampling of surface soils collected at depths of 3 inches or less;

   • actions are taken to prevent the use of groundwater for drinking and other domestic purposes by community members; and

   • actions are taken to protect industrial workers from exposure to volatilized chemicals.

Mr. Garry L. Mills
Environmental Manager
Environmental Epidemiology Section
Indiana State Department of Health

Ms. Dollis M. Wright
Toxicologist
Environmental Epidemiology Section
Indiana State Department of Health

ATSDR Regional Representative:

Ms. Louise Fabinski
EPA Region V

ATSDR Technical Project Officer:

Mr. William Greim
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment & Consultation

The Reilly Tar & Chemical Corporation Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Indiana State 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 begun.

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

ATSDR. January 1989. Preliminary Health Assessment for Reilly Tar & Chemical Corporation. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. December 1989. Toxicological Profile for 1,2-Dichloroethane. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. December 1990. Toxicological Profile for Ammonia. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. February 1991. Draft Toxicological Profile for Pyridine. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. October 1991. Draft Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. October 1991. Draft Toxicological Profile for Benzene. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. October 1991. Draft Toxicological Profile for Lead. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. October 1991. Toxicological Profile for Trichloroethylene. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. October 1991. Draft Toxicological Profile for Vinyl Chloride. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

ATSDR. July 1992. Toxicological Profile for Cresol. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia.

Bennington, M. and Steele, G. Oak Park Health Study. Marion County Health Department and Indiana State Board of Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, June 1986.

EPA. 1983. U.S. Cancer Mortality Rates and Trends, 1950-1979. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Cancer Institute.

EPA. 1983. Hazard Ranking System. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. Chicago, Illinois. August 12, 1983.

EPA. 1991. CERCLA Revised RI Report and RCRA Final RFI Phase III Release Characterization Report (for the Facility SWMU), Volume II. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. Chicago, Illinois. April 1991.

EPA. 1991. Fact Sheet, Remedial Investigation Completed at the Reilly Tar Superfund Site, Indianapolis, Indiana. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V, Chicago, Illinois. August 1991.

EPA. 1991. Feasibility Study Report. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V, Chicago, Illinois. November 1991.

EPA. 1991. Final CERCLA RI Report and RCRA RFI Phase III Release Characterization Report (for the Facility SWMU), Volumes I & III. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V, Chicago, Illinois. August 1991.

HSDB. 1992. Hazardous Substance Data Bank. National Library of Medicine, National Toxicology Information Program, Bethesda, MD. February 1992.

HSDB. 1992. Hazardous Substance Data Bank. National Library of Medicine, National Toxicology Information Program, Bethesda, MD. June 1992.

ISDH. 1992. Memorandum regarding January 23, 1992 public meeting. Indiana State Department of Health, Indianapolis, Indiana. January 24, 1992.

NAS. 1977. Drinking Water and Health. National Academy of Sciences.

Sittig. 1979. Hazardous and Toxic Effects of Industrial Chemicals. Noyes Data Corporation.

Sittig. 1981. Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals. Noyes Publications.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345
Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348 

Department of Health and Human Services