FEDERAL CREOSOTE
MANVILLE, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the information reviewed, the NJDHSS and the ATSDR conclude the following:
Past and present exposures to surface soil represent no apparent public health hazard, as levels
of PAHs and other contaminants measured are not likely to result in adverse health effects
under realistic exposure scenarios. Through meetings and conversations between residents
and ATSDR regional staff, residents have not indicated that they have had skin irritations or
other dermal effects expected from creosote exposure; therefore, the NJDHSS concludes that
exposures likely to produce acute effects have not occurred in the past. However, this
conclusion does not rule out the need to continue remedial activities.
Exposure to sub-surface soil does not pose a public health hazard as long as the sub-surface
soil is not disturbed through digging or other activities. The NJDHSS and the ATSDR
recognize that source material (creosote) and its components (including PAHs) remain in
residential sub-surface soil. Sub-surface contamination at this site may pose a long-term
public health hazard to those residents living above or adjacent to the former canals or lagoons
if soil at levels of 2 feet below ground surface is disturbed.
Exposure to site contaminants through ingestion of garden produce represents no apparent
public health hazard, as produce is unlikely to take up PAHs from soil at levels of health
concern.
Exposure to site contaminants in groundwater represents an indeterminate public health
hazard, and may pose a future public health hazard if it remains unremediated and the public
supply wells, presently not impacted by the site, become affected. This pathway will be further
examined after the USEPA completes its monitoring.
The ATSDR and the NJDHSS conclude that the USEPA plan to relocate residents is
appropriate in order to remove source material from the site.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The NJDHSS and ATSDR recommend that the USEPA continue its remedial plans to remove source
material from the site. The ATSDR, the USEPA, and the NJDHSS should continue to ensure that
community concerns are addressed, particularly as they relate to temporary or permanent relocation of
residents. During remedial activities, the USEPA should take suitable precautions to minimize release
of dusts and airborne contamination to surrounding residences (whether or not they are occupied).
The USEPA should also continue its delineation of groundwater contamination to ensure that public
water supplies remain unaffected by the site.
Residents should continue to avoid exposure to sub-surface soil, particularly in areas near the former
lagoons and canals.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN
The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the Federal Creosote site contains a description of the
actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or NJDHSS at or in the vicinity of the site subsequent to the
completion of this Public Health Assessment. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this 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/NJDHSS to follow up on this plan to
ensure that it is implemented. The public health actions to be implemented by ATSDR/NJDHSS are
as follows:
A. Public Health Actions Taken
The ATSDR has developed indoor air guidelines for residential exposure to coal tar creosote-related contaminants.
The ATSDR has reviewed surface and subsurface soil data within the context of human
exposure pathways.
The ATSDR has discussed specific medical concerns with residents. It has also ensured that
issues relating to the community's level of stress were addressed early in the site evaluation process.
The ATSDR has met and continues to meet regularly (at least bi-monthly) with residents, in
both public and private forums, to discuss community concerns and the outcomes of the health consultations.
The ATSDR has conducted 2 stress management workshops specifically for those residents
who will be permanently relocated from their homes.
B. Public Health Actions Planned
The ATSDR and NJDHSS will continue to evaluate site data for its relevance to public health,
and inform the community of these evaluations.
The NJDHSS will assess the need for, and provide as necessary, health care provider
education related to this site.
The ATSDR should continue to ensure that the community's level of stress is monitored as
families are permanently or temporarily relocated during the USEPA's remediation of
individual properties.
The NJDHSS and ATSDR will evaluate potential exposures to groundwater as data becomes
available from the USEPA.
NJDHSS will place this health assessment in area repositories, and will provide copies to
persons who request it.
ATSDR will reevaluate and expand the Public Health Action Plan when needed. New
environmental, toxicological, health outcome data, or the results of implementing the above proposed actions, may determine the need for additional actions at this site.
ATSDR CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE
ATSDR's Child Health Initiative recognizes that the unique vulnerabilities of infants and children
demand special emphasis in communities faced with contamination in their environment. Children are
at greater risk than adults from certain kinds of exposures to hazardous substances emitted from waste
sites. They are more likely to be exposed because they play outdoors and they often bring food into
contaminated areas. They are shorter than adults, which means they breathe dust, soil, and heavy
vapors closer to the ground. Children are also smaller, resulting in higher doses of chemical exposure
per body weight. The developing body systems of the growing child can sustain permanent damage if
toxic exposures occur during critical growth stages. Children depend completely on adults for risk
identification and management decisions, housing decisions, and access to medical care. The
NJDHSS and the ATSDR evaluated the likelihood of children living on or near the Federal Creosote
site being exposed to contaminants at levels of public health concern. Children may be exposed to
contaminants that may pose a long-term risk to health if they have exposure to sub-surface soil. This
is because children are more likely than adults to have contact with and ingest soil. Eliminating
children's exposure to contaminated soil, either temporarily through barriers or permanently through
removal of soil or dissociation of the household, is prudent and protective of children's health.
CERTIFICATION
This Public Health Assessment was prepared by the New Jersey Department of
Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) 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.
Gregory V. Ulirsch
Technical Project Officer
Superfund Site Assessment Branch (SSAB)
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC)
ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this
Public Health Assessment and concurs with its findings.
Richard Gillig
Acting Chief, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
Site Team/Authors
Preparer of Report:
Sharon L. Kubiak
Program Specialist 1; Health Assessment Project
Consumer and Environmental Health Services
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
ATSDR Regional Representative:
Thomas Mignone
Regional Representative; Region II
Regional Operations
Office of the Assistant Administrator
ATSDR Technical Project Officer:
Gregory V. Ulirsch
Environmental Health Engineer
Superfund Site Assessment Branch (SSAB)
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Any questions concerning this document should be directed to:
James Pasqualo
Health Assessment Project Manager
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
Consumer and Environmental Health Services
PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
REFERENCES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Health Consultation, Federal Creosote
Site, Manville, NJ; May 1, 1997
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Health Consultation, Federal Creosote
Site, Manville, NJ; May 15, 1997
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Health Consultation, Federal Creosote
Site, Manville, NJ; January 16, 1998
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Health Consultation, Federal Creosote
Site, Manville, NJ; April 24, 1998
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Health Consultation, Federal Creosote
Site, Manville, NJ; February 11, 1999
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for Creosote
(Update); August 1996
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Update, August 1995
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for Lead (Draft
Update); February 1998
US Environmental Protection Agency, Summary Report: Indoor Air Monitoring at Federal
Creosote Site; September 9, 1997.
US Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund Proposed Plan: Federal Creosote Site,
Manville, New Jersey; April 1999
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Soil Cleanup Criteria (Rev. 5/3/99)
US Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund Program Proposed Plan: Federal Creosote
Site; April 2000
