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1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

1. The Velsicol Chemical Corporation site currently poses no apparent public health hazard because human exposure to contaminated media is not occurring at levels of health concern. Although past exposure to contaminated tributary sediment suggested a low increased risk of developing cancer over a lifetime, current and future exposure to both contaminated sediment and fish completed pathways should not present any adverse health effects.

2. Members of the community were concerned that chemicals found at the site were acutely toxic to a passerby. However, the data indicated that acute toxicity was unlikely. Another community concern was about the safety of eating contaminated fish from the unnamed tributary. The Public Health Assessment considers that persons who consume or consumed fish from the unnamed tributary should not experience adverse health effects from the three organochlorines detected in the fish sampling. Also, there was community concern about contaminated groundwater migrating into the unnamed tributary. This situation existed prior to remedial activities, but the unnamed tributary's condition has improved and contamination has been contained on-site.

3. Until remediation is complete, institutional controls that prevent future use of on-site contaminated aquifers and restrict site access to the public should be continued. Because there is no indication that human exposure to site contaminants at levels of public health concern is occurring or has occurred in the past, the site is not being considered for follow-up activities at this time. However, the site will be reevaluated by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry if new data suggest that exposure to significant levels of hazardous substances is occurring.

Cease/Reduce Exposure Recommendation

1. Continue institutional controls that prevent future use of on-site contaminated aquifers for drinking water supplies until remediation has reduced contaminant concentrations to below levels of health concern.

2. Continue to restrict site access to only properly protected personnel until remedial activities are completed. On-site remedial workers should be adequately protected with proper training and equipment, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120, and follow appropriate National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.

3. Since there is no indication that exposure to site contaminants is occurring or has occurred in the past at levels of public health concern, this site is not being considered for follow-up health activities at this time. However, the site will be reevaluated by ATSDR and IDPH if new data suggest that exposure to significant levels of hazardous substances is occurring or has occurred in the past.

Health Activities Recommendation Panel Statement

The Health Activities Recommendation Panel has evaluated the data and information developed for the Velsicol Chemical Corporation Public Health Assessment for appropriate follow-up with respect to health actions. The panel determined that although exposure has probably occurred in the past, the contaminant levels and length of exposure are not expected to cause adverse health effects. Accordingly, the site is not being considered for follow-up health actions at this time. However, if data become available suggesting that human exposure is currently occurring or has occurred in the past at levels of public health concern, IDPH and ATSDR will reevaluate this site for any indicated follow-up.

The Public Health Action Plan for the Velsicol Chemical Corporation site contains a description of actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or IDPH at and 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 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. Included is a commitment on the part of ATSDR and IDPH to follow up on this plan to ensure that it is implemented.

Action planned

No public health actions have been identified as necessary at this site at this time. IDPH and ATSDR will coordinate with the state and federal environmental agencies to carry out the recommendations made in this assessment.

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

The Velsicol Chemical Corporation Public Health Assessment 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 public health assessment was begun.

William Greim
Technical Project Officer
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.

Robert C. Williams, P.E., DEE
Director, DHAC, ATSDR

1. 1. EPA. September 1988. Record of Decision for the Velsicol Corporation Site, Marshall, Illinois. Springfield, IL: IL Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Land Pollution Control.

2. Runkel, ED. 1992. Written communication (December 18) from Eric Runkel, Project Manager, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, regarding status of remedial activities at the site. IEPA, Springfield, IL.

3. IDPH. 1991. 1990 Census Population Data for Illinois Counties and Incorporated Places. Springfield, IL: Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Health Statistics, Policy and Planning, Illinois Center for Health Statistics.

4. Weston RF, Inc. February 1988. Remedial Investigation Report, Velsicol Site, Marshall, IL.

5. EPA, September 1988. Draft ROD Decision Summary - Velsicol Chemical Corporation, Marshall, Illinois Site. Springfield, IL: IL Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Land Pollution Control.

6. Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. March 1992. Focused Risk Assessment, Off-Site Unnamed Tributary, Marshall, IL. Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. Chicago, IL. Ref. No. 2624-(6).

7. ATEC Associates, Inc. August 1991. Air Monitoring Summaries of the Velsicol Remedial Action Site. American Testing and Engineering Corporation. Indianapolis, IN.

8. TRI. 1992. Toxic Chemical Release Inventory. National Library of Medicine, Toxicology Data Network (Tox Net). Bethesda, MD. December 1992.

9. Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. February 1992. 1991 Annual Report - Interim Groundwater Monitoring Program, Marshall, IL. Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. Chicago, IL. Ref No. 2841-10(31).

10. Runkel, ED. 1994. Written Communication (September 16) from Eric Runkel, Project Manager, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, regarding status of remedial activities at the site. IEPA, Springfield, Illinois.

ATEC Associates, Inc. August 1991. Air Monitoring Summaries of the Velsicol Remedial Action Site. American Testing and Engineering Corporation. Indianapolis, IN.

ATSDR. January 1989. Health Assessment for Velsicol Chemical Corporation NPL Site, Marshall, Clark County, Illinois. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

ATSDR. October 1992. Draft Toxicological Profile for Chlordane. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

ATSDR. March 1992. Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

ATSDR. December 1990. Toxicological Profile for Hexachlorobenzene. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. DHHS publication No. (PHS) TP-90-17.

Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. February 1992. 1991 Annual Report - Interim Groundwater Monitoring Program, Marshall, IL. Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. Chicago, IL. Ref. No 2841-10(3).

Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. March 1992. Focused Risk Assessment, Off-Site Unnamed Tributary, Marshall, IL. Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. Chicago, IL. Ref. No. 2624-(6).

EPA, September 1988. Draft ROD Decision Summary - Velsicol Chemical Corporation, Marshall, Illinois Site. Springfield, IL: IL Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Land Pollution Control.

EPA. July 1989. Exposure Factors Handbook. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Health Assessment. EPA Document No. 600/8-89/043.

EPA. July 1989. Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Solid Waste and Emergency Response.

EPA. September 1988. Record of Decision for the Velsicol Corporation Site, Marshall, Illinois. Springfield, IL: IL Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Land Pollution Control.

EPA. 1986. Superfund Public Health Evaluation Manual. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response. EPA Document No. 540/1-86/060.

IDPH. 1991. 1990 Census Population Data for Illinois Counties and Incorporated Places. Springfield, IL: Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Health Statistics, Policy and Planning, Illinois Center for Health Statistics.

Runkel, ED. 1992. Written communication (December 18) from Eric Runkel, Project Manager, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, regarding status of remedial activities at the site. IEPA, Springfield, IL.

Runkel, ED. 1994. Written Communication (September 16) from Eric Runkel, Project Manager, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, regarding status of remedial activities at the site. IEPA, Springfield, Illinois.

Shindell S, Winch S. 1986. Mortality of Workers Employed in the Manufacture of Chlordane: An Update. Journal of Occupational Medicine 28:497-501.

TRI. 1992. Toxic Chemical Release Inventory. National Library of Medicine, Toxicology Data Network (Tox Net). Bethesda, MD. December 1992.

Wester RC, Maibach HI, Sedik L, et al. Percutaneous Absorption of [¹⁴C] Chlordane From Soil. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 35:269-277.

Weston RF, Inc. February 1988. Remedial Investigation Report, Velsicol Site, Marshall, IL.

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