NEWTON COUNTY WELLS (a/k/a SILVER CREEK TCE)
JOPLIN, JASPER COUNTY, MISSOURI
CONCLUSIONS
The Newton County TCE site has been classified as a Public Health Hazard. This classification is
based on the following conclusions:
Groundwater and surface water at the site are contaminated with TCE at levels of health concern.
There are completed exposure pathways for chronic exposure to TCE at this site which could lead to adverse health effects.
There are approximately 65 homes in the villages of Silver Creek and Saginaw that are not
on public water. Some of the wells are known to have had TCE contamination in 1995; it is unknown how many of these wells are presently contaminated with TCE.
The latest water well information available was collected in the summer of 1995. It is
possible that the TCE plume has moved since that time, and possibly contaminated more
private wells. TCE levels may also have changed since 1995.
There is considerable new construction in the area; therefore, it is possible that new water wells are being drilled into the contaminated aquifer.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Take necessary actions to remove the current and potential exposure pathways from
groundwater and other environmental media.
Develop and implement a sampling plan to sample the current condition of private water wells.
Continue periodic water sampling in the future to assure residents are not unknowingly drinking contaminated water.
Develop and implement a health education plan to educate the community about the exposure pathways at this site.
When additional information becomes available, it will be thoroughly evaluated, and existing
assessment documents will be updated to reflect any changes. DOH/ATSDR will respond
appropriately to any request for additional information or action.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN
The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the Newton County TCE site contains a description of
actions to be taken by the Missouri Department of Health (DOH), the Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and others. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public
health assessment not only identifies public health hazards, but provides an action plan to mitigate
and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from past, present, and/or future exposures to
hazardous substances at or near the site. Included is a commitment from DOH and/or ATSDR to
follow up on this plan to ensure that it is implemented. The public health actions to be implemented
by DOH, ATSDR and/or cooperators are as follows:
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources began conducting private well sampling at
the site in early March, 1999. Sampling results are not yet available, but will be reviewed by
DOH/ATSDR when made available. Appropriate public health recommendations will be
made at that time, if necessary.
DOH/ATSDR will coordinate with the appropriate environmental agencies to implement the recommendations in this public health assessment.
DOH/ATSDR will develop and implement a health education plan for the Newton County
TCE site.
DOH/ATSDR will provide follow-up to this PHAP as necessary. This follow-up report will be placed in the repositories that contain this public health assessment.
DOH/ATSDR will evaluate any further data that become available about human exposure or contaminants at the site.
PREPARERS OF THE REPORT
Sara Colboth
Environmental Specialist
Missouri Department of Health
Arthur Busch
Environmental Specialist
Missouri Department of Health
Scott Clardy
Environmental Section Chief
Missouri Department of Health
Brian Quinn
Public Information Specialist
Missouri Department of Health
Lorena Anderson
Health Educator
Missouri Department of Health
ATSDR Technical Project Officers
Roberta Erlwein
Environmental Health Scientist
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Dee Williamson
Epidemiologist
Division of Health Studies
Teresa Nastoff
Health Educator
Division of Health Education and Promotion
ATSDR Regional Representative
Denise Jordan-Izaguirre
Senior Regional Representative
EPA Region VII
CERTIFICATION
This Newton County TCE Site Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Missouri Department
of Health under a cooperative agreement with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures existing at the time the health consultation was initiated.
Roberta Erlwein
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC), ATSDR has reviewed this public health assessment and concurs with its findings.
Richard Gillig
Section Chief, SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
REFERENCES
Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Expanded Site Inspection Report, Newton
County Wells, Silver Creek and Saginaw Villages, Missouri. September 23, 1994.
Federal Court Judgement. U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri,
Southwestern Division. Case No. 95-5081-CV-SW-9. September 30, 1998.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ATSDR Public Health Assessment
Guidance Manual. Atlanta: ATSDR, 1993.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Health Consultation: Newton County
Well Site (a.k.a. Silver Creek) Silver Creek Village, Newton County, MO. Atlanta: ATSDR, April 2, 1994
US Census Bureau. 1990 US Census Data, Database C90STF3A. From Internet Database.
June 15, 1998.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for
Trichloroethylene, Update. Atlanta: ATSDR, September 1997.
American Cancer Society. Cancer information database on the Internet (www.cancer.org), 1998.
The National Parkinson Foundation, Inc. Parkinson's Disease information on the Internet (www.parkinson.org/pedu.htm)
