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1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

HEALTH CONSULTATION

TOWN OF PINES GROUNDWATER PLUME
TOWN OF PINES, PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA

BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF ISSUES

On April 18, 2002, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Region V, requested that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) assist in evaluating whether groundwater contamination impacting residential water wells in the Town of Pines, Indiana poses an immediate health threat to residents.

In April 2000, a Town of Pines resident contacted the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and reported concern for the quality of her well water. Sampling of this residential well in May of 2000 revealed elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene. Subsequent testing (June 2000) of this and several other surrounding residential wells indicated that VOCs as well as some metals were also elevated in residential wells. Elevations were noted for a different set of metals than previously identified in samples collected in September 2000. Further sampling of residential wells in November 2000, July 2001, and September 2001 continued to reveal elevated levels of metals. Since April 2000, approximately 55 residential wells in the Town of Pines, and 13 landfill monitoring wells have been sampled. In all cases, residential wells exceeding US EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for particular contaminants were provided with a treatment system appropriate for the contaminant of concern to reduce or eliminate exposure to contaminants in groundwater [1,2].

There are several potential sources for metals and VOC contamination in area groundwater. The community is located in the vicinity of three landfills. More than 100 homes lie north of these landfills, all of which utilize private wells for drinking water. Chemical analytical data suggest that the residential area that has been sampled is down gradient from the Yard 520 landfill. Yard 520 is an active restricted waste facility and is adjacent to and south-southwest of the impacted residential area. The Pines Landfill and Lawrence Dump occupy property to the south and southeast of the impacted residential area. The Pines Landfill and Lawrence Dump are abandoned. Additionally, there is some evidence that suggests fly ash from power plant processes was deposited as fill in multiple areas in the community, including roads, driveways, and yards. However, the extent of the contamination in the groundwater has not been fully determined [1,2].

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA

Appendix B contains summary tables of data collected by IDEM during the sampling events mentioned briefly above. These data were collected in an attempt to characterize and determine the extent of contamination in the groundwater plume beneath the Town of Pines. Overall, the groundwater characterization thus far indicates elevated concentrations of a number of metals, and more intermittently, concentrations of VOCs [3].

USEPA has provided treatment for those homes that contained elevated VOCs, which appears to have been effective in reducing the VOC levels in the drinking water. However, the treatment systems have not been effective in removing the high concentrations of metals in the water. Therefore, ATSDR has focused this assessment on the metals detected in the wells. ATSDR screened concentrations of compounds against ATSDR and US EPA health-based guidelines. Contaminants that consistently exceeded these guidelines and also appear to be elevated in the greatest number of wells include manganese, boron, and arsenic. These were selected for further evaluation as contaminants of concern (COCs). Lead was also chosen for further evaluation because its effects on the neurological development in children are well established in scientific literature, and contaminant concentrations in a small number of well samples exceeded applicable guidelines that are considered protective of public health. However, elevated levels of lead were inconsistently detected and could be related to variability in sampling methodology.

DISCUSSION

In evaluating this site, the ATSDR Strike Team focused on the US EPA request to address the urgency of providing an alternate water supply to area residents. The team based their response on the data and site conditions provided by IDEM and US EPA. During the past two years, 55 wells of the 100 homes located in the area of concern have been sampled. Many of these wells have unacceptably elevated levels of multiple contaminants that might present a threat to residents and children in the area [3].

The area has not been fully characterized and the plume has not been defined. Contaminant concentrations have fluctuated throughout the two years of sampling--likely due to groundwater flow dynamics. For example, the concentrations of manganese collected a year apart may be different by as much as 8,000 parts per billion (ppb) at the same address [3]. This variability precludes accurately predicting areas that are likely to be the most impacted. Because current data are not complete in characterizing the extent of the contaminant plume in groundwater, selectively choosing homes for an alternate water supply will not be protective of public health. Providing an alternate water supply for the entire impacted area is more appropriate.

POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS AND CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN (COCs)

As mentioned previously, ATSDR screened contaminant concentrations detected in wells against health-based guidelines derived by ATSDR and US EPA. In the absence of a guideline for one agency, the guideline for the other was used. When both agencies derived a guideline for the contaminant, the most conservative was chosen for screening the data. The contaminants of concern (COCs) that were identified during this process include: arsenic, boron, lead, and manganese.

To determine estimated exposures of residents to COCs, ATSDR calculated exposure doses and compared them to the applicable dose guidelines. In this case, ATSDR used Minimum Risk Levels (MRLs derived by ATSDR) and Reference Doses (RfDs derived by US EPA). Both MRLs and RfDs are estimates of daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk over a specified duration of exposure. To be protective of public health, ATSDR calculated doses using conservative assumptions in its calculations. To protect residents, given the uncertainty of groundwater flow and the seemingly dynamic nature of contaminant concentration throughout the plume, it was assumed residents are exposed to the highest measured concentration detected in the wells. Exposure estimates were made for both adults and children. Adults were assumed to weigh 70 kilograms (approximately 155 pounds) and children 10 kg (25 pounds). It was also assumed that adults drink 2 liters of water a day, and children drink 1 liter of water a day. Since many of the individuals in this community are longtime residents, it was assumed that exposures could be chronic.

Doses were calculated for each contaminant of concern using the following equation:

Where:

This calculation was performed for each contaminant of concern, and a brief description of potential health implications follows.

Arsenic

Arsenic levels in residential wells ranged from below detection limits to 1,180 ppb. Since this level was the maximum detected concentration, it was selected for the exposure dose calculation:

Both the oral chronic MRL and RfD for non-cancer effects from arsenic exposure are 0.0003 mg/kg/day. The residential well where 1,180 ppb of arsenic was detected has an exposure dose 112 times the MRL and RfD for adults, and nearly 400 times the MRL and RfD for children.

Both the MRL and RfD for chronic exposure are based on effects on the skin resulting from ingestion of arsenic. The supporting studies used to derive these comparison values are from Tseng et al. (1968) and Tseng (1977). These studies document significant dermal effects including blackfoot, hyperpigmentation, and keratosis, experienced by a large number of Taiwanese farmers exposed to levels of 170 µg/L of arsenic in water (170 is the Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level, or LOAEL). Levels between 1-17 µg/L were not observed to cause these effects (called the No Observed Adverse Effect Level, or NOAEL) [4,5,6,7].

Although most Town of Pines residential wells had concentrations near the NOAEL, several exceeded the LOAEL for these effects. ATSDR was notified that the homes with wells containing the highest concentrations of arsenic were given carbon filters to lower arsenic levels in water, and were effective in doing so. However, it is possible that other residents could be exposed to these levels of arsenic with a change of groundwater flow or contaminant concentrations.

It is important to note that arsenic has also been associated with other health outcomes other than dermal disease and lesions. Dermal endpoints are the most sensitive effects for humans, however, and thus were chosen for the derivation of MRLs and RfDs. Arsenic has been associated with cancer and gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological effects, in addition to dermal effects. Also, it should be noted that to derive the oral arsenic MRL, an uncertainty factor of 3 was applied to the NOAEL of 0.0008 mg/kg/day for human variability.

ATSDR concludes that potential elevations such as those observed in the residential wells constitute a threat to human health.

Boron

Boron was detected above health-based guidelines in almost every well sample in the data ATSDR reviewed, with levels as high as 14,400 ppb. It should be noted that concentrations in monitoring wells at Yard 520 (one of the three landfills) were approximately twice this level. Using 14,400 ppb to calculate doses:

The ATSDR MRL for intermediate (14 to 365 days) exposure is 0.01 mg/kg/day. The US EPA oral RfD (0.09 mg/kg/day) is a chronic lifetime exposure, but is less conservative than the MRL. To be more protective of human health, the MRL was used for comparison. The daily dose estimated from the highest concentration of boron is 41 times the MRL for adults and 144 times the MRL for children.

The oral MRL is based solely on findings in animal studies. The investigations reported prenatal developmental effects such as reduced fetal body weight or minor skeletal changes. The lowest observed effect level (LOAEL) in these studies is 13.6 mg/kg/day for fetal rats exposed during gestation days 0-17 and 0-20 [8]. The intermediate MRL was derived using an uncertainty factor of 1,000 (10 for use of a LOAEL, 10 for extrapolation from animals to humans and 10 for human variability) [9].

The doses calculated from the maximum detection of boron in the residential wells sampled exceed the MRL. ATSDR concludes that boron could pose a threat to human health.

Manganese

Manganese concentrations in residential wells were detected in higher concentrations than any other contaminant. The highest concentration detected in residential wells was 15,100 ppb. This level was used in dose calculations for residents:

Because ATSDR does not have an oral MRL for manganese, the US EPA oral RfD of 0.047 mg/kg/day was used for comparison. The doses observed from the highest concentrations of manganese were 9 times the oral RfD for adults and 32 times the oral RfD for children.

The oral RfD is based on human data. The RfD for manganese is equal to the average daily intake of manganese in the diet (10 mg/day) that is considered adequate and safe. However, the RfD was derived using intake assumptions for adults in the calculations, not for children. This level was based on a composite of data from the World Health Organization, the National Research Council's National Academy of Sciences, and research on nutrition [10-12].

Several human studies have associated manganese exposure in drinking water with neurological effects. Kondakis et al. (1989) reported decreased scores on neurological testing in a community exposed to 1.6-2.3 mg/L of manganese compared to 0.08-0.25 mg/L in another community. The study had limitations that included not being able to differentiate effects from dietary intake of manganese and the amount of water consumed [13].

Another human study by Kawamura et al. (1941) reported the effects of humans ingesting large amounts of manganese in drinking water. The source of the manganese was 400 dry-cell batteries buried near a drinking water well, resulting in high levels of zinc and manganese in groundwater. Twenty-five cases of manganese poisoning were reported, with symptoms including lethargy, increased muscle tonus, tremors, and mental disturbances. The most severe symptoms were observed in the elderly. The water was not analyzed immediately during the outbreak, but approximately 1 month later, when it was estimated that the levels had decreased by about 50%. The measured levels averaged 14 mg/L, but it is believed the initial levels were as high as 28 mg/L. Please see the ATSDR toxicological profile for arsenic for further discussion of these and other relevant studies [14-16].

Because wells tested in the Town of Pines had levels equivalent to those in these studies, ATSDR concludes that manganese could pose a threat to human health.

Lead

The highest concentration of lead in the wells sampled was 199 ppb, at a single residence in July 2001, with a 44.9 ppb reading in the duplicate sample. Resampling of that well in September, 2001 showed a much lower result (6.6 ppb).

No MRL or RfD exists for lead. However, ATSDR has chosen to review pertinent data given the sensitivity of children to lead as they develop neurologically. As a worst case estimate of exposure to lead for this residence, the doses of lead for adults and children for the highest detected concentration are calculated as follows:

Due to the severe neurological effects of lead, exposure to lead from all sources is a general concern for children. Exposure to lead can be estimated by lead levels found in the bloodstream. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established a blood lead action level of 10 µg/dL for children [17]. Exposure to lead can occur through many sources, particularly soil, dust, lead-based paint, and drinking water. Many studies document the potential health threat of exposure to lead in drinking water. US EPA has established a drinking water action level for lead of 0.015 mg/L. For comparison to the dose estimates calculated above, exposure at the EPA action level would be a dose of 0.00043 mg/kg/day for adults, and 0.0015 mg/kg/day for children. The doses calculated for site-specific exposure for individuals who could be exposed to the highest concentration detected in the Town of Pines would exceed these doses. Additionally, the scientific literature reports LOAELs for some endpoints at or near the site specific dose calculated above.

Intermediate exposure to lead in water can elevate blood lead levels. In studies of exposure to monkeys, doses of between 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg/day of lead in drinking water have been shown to increase the blood lead levels to between 30 and 53 µg/dL, and the levels of lead in humans as high as 40 µg/dL [18-21]. Under conditions of exposure to background levels of lead from other sources, even relatively short term exposure to the maximum detected concentration in water would be expected to elevate the blood lead levels in a child above 10 ug/dL. Considering the current recommendations for limiting blood lead levels in children to less than 10 µg/dL, ATSDR concludes that exposure to the highest lead concentrations in residential wells present a potential threat to human health in this community [22,23].

Combined Effects

The contaminants of concern in this consultation (arsenic, boron, manganese, and lead) can antagonize the absorption of other essential minerals in the gastrointestinal tract. It is known that as people age, it becomes more difficult to metabolize manganese. Calcium and iron compete for absorption with manganese. Therefore individuals deficient in either calcium or iron, or both, may be deficient because they cannot adequately metabolize and remove manganese. As a result, the impact of exposure to these and other metals, as well as many VOCs, might be underestimated due to the uncertainty associated with assessing the combined impact of this complex mixture. Generally, ATSDR assumes there is an additive risk to a target organ with a group or mixture of contributing contaminants. For example, many of the compounds detected in residential wells in the Town of Pines can affect the neurological system, such as aluminum, boron, lead, manganese, napthalene, toluene, and xylene. Thus, even chemicals present at lower levels that were NOT selected as a COC in this investigation may be of concern in this community because they may add to the toxicity of the identified COCs. Efforts to reduce exposure to these chemicals should target all contaminants in the groundwater. This is particularly applicable to the selection of an appropriate water treatment (e.g. water filtration).

ATSDR'S CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE

ATSDR recognizes that in communities faced with contamination of air, water, soil, or food, the unique vulnerabilities of infants and children demand special emphasis. As part of its Child Health Initiative, ATSDR is committed to evaluating the health impact of environmental contamination on children. The groundwater in the Town of Pines poses a significant threat to children's health because they could be, or are currently being exposed to potentially high levels of metals in residential drinking water.

Physical Hazards: ATSDR has not evaluated any physical hazards at this site.

EPA Information Request: Do current levels of contaminants in residential wells pose a threat to human health?

Yes, current levels of contaminants, in some instances, may pose a threat to adults and children living in the area. ATSDR suggests an alternate water supply for impacted residential wells, and the investigation of a long-term solution to water quality problems.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Contaminated groundwater has significantly impacted the drinking water supply for many residents. Because the groundwater plume has not been fully characterized, it is uncertain how many additional residential wells could be impacted by the plume in the future.



2. Significant fluctuations in contaminant concentrations have occurred in individual homes during the two years that sampling was conducted. Therefore, filters at the taps of selected individual homes are not adequate to provide long-term protection of drinking water for all residents of the Town of Pines.



3. Residential wells in the Town of Pines contain detected elevated levels of metals and VOCs. The extent of contamination is unknown.



4. Levels of arsenic, boron, manganese, and lead have been detected in residential wells at levels similar or equal to those associated with adverse health effects noted in scientific literature.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Provide bottled water to Town of Pines residents where sampling indicates elevated levels of metals and VOCs. (IDEM or US EPA)



2. Investigate an alternate water supply as a long-term solution. (PRPs, IDEM, or USEPA)



3. Conduct further sampling of the area to characterize the location of the plume, as well as the source of the plume. Provide bottled water to residents as needed during the plume investigation.



4. Provide an alternate long-term water source: 1) to eliminate exposure to contaminants that are known to cause health effects at the levels detected and 2) to eliminate the uncertainty of risk from additive effects of exposure to these contaminants.

PREPARERS OF REPORT

Michelle A. Colledge
Environmental Health Scientist
Office of Regional Operations, Region 5
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Reviewed By:

REFERENCES

1. IDEM. Summary of Site Activities. Provided to ATSDR 4/18/2002. Site Investigation Section, Indiana Department of Environmental Management.



2. IDEM. Integrated Assessment. Sections 2-4. Site Investigation Section, Indiana Department of Environmental Management. September 2001.



3. IDEM. Data Package of Significant Findings. Provided to ATSDR 4/18/02. Site Investigation Section, Indiana Department of Environmental Management.



4. Tseng, WP. 1977. Effects and dose-response relationships of skin cancer and blackfoot disease with arsenic. Environ. Health Perspect. 19: 109-119.



5. Tseng, WP, HM Chu, SW How, JM Fong, CS Lin and S Yeh. 1968. Prevalence of skin cancer in an endemic area of chronic arsenicism in Taiwan. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 40: 453-463.



6. EPA. 2002. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Arsenic. http://www.epa.gov/IRIS .



7. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2000. Arsenic, Toxicological Profile. Department of Health and Human Services.



8. Heindel JJ, CJ Price, CA Field, et al. 1991. Developmental toxicity of boric acid in mice and rats. Fund Appl Toxicol. 1992 Feb;18(2):266-77.



9. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2000. Boron, Toxicological Profile. Department of Health and Human Services.



10. Freeland-Graves, JH, CW Bales and F Behmardi. 1987. Manganese requirements of humans. In: Nutritional Bioavailability of Manganese, C Kies, ed. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. p. 90-104.



11. NRC (National Research Council). 1989. Recommended Dietary Allowances, 10th ed. Food and Nutrition Board, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, DC. p. 230-235.



12. WHO (World Health Organization). 1973. Trace Elements in Human Nutrition: Manganese. Report of a WHO Expert Committee. Technical Report Service, 532, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland. p. 34-36.



13. Kondakis, XG, N Makris, M Leotsinidis, M Prinou and T Papapetropoulos. 1989. Possible health effects of high manganese concentration in drinking water. Arch. Environ. Health. 44(3): 175-178.



14. Kawamura, R, H Ikuta, S Fukuzumi, et al. 1941. Intoxication by manganese in well water. Kitasato Arch. Exp. Med. 18: 145-169.



15. EPA. 2002. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Manganese. http://www.epa.gov/IRIS .



16. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2000. Manganese, Toxicological Profile. Department of Health and Human Services.



17. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1991. Preventing lead poisoning in young children. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control.



18. Gilbert SG, DC Rice. 1987. Low-level lifetime lead exposure produces behavioral toxicity (spatial discrimination reversal) in adult monkeys. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 91:484-490.



19. Hilderbrand DC, VWT Der R. Griffin, et al. 1973. Effect of lead acetate on reproduction. Am J Obstet Gynecol 115:1058-1065.



20. Rice DC. 1985b. Chronic low-lead exposure from birth produces deficits in discrimination reversal in monkeys. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 77:201-210.



21. Stuik EJ. 1974. Biological response of male and female volunteers to inorganic lead. Int Arch Arbeitsmed 33:83-97.



22. EPA. 2002. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Lead. http://www.epa.gov/IRIS .



23. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2000. Lead, Toxicological Profile. Department of Health and Human Services.

APPENDIX A: AREA MAPS

Map 1. Sampling Locations and Detected Concentrations of Benzene, MTBE, and Arsenic

Map 2. Sampling Locations and Detected Concentrations of Lead (Pb)

Map 3. Sample Location Map A

Map 4. Sample Location Map B

Map 5. Groundwater Sample: Location Map C

APPENDIX B: SUMMARY DATA TABLES

Table 1. September 2000 Data

September 2000 Sampling Results- Metals and Organic Compounds in Groundwater (µg/L)
Type of Compound	Compound	Range of detected concentrations	Average concentration	Number of samples with detected concentrations
Metal	Aluminum	106.0-1700.0	341.5	8
	Arsenic	17.2-1180.0	161.4	16
	Barium	34.0-355.0	116.3	26
	Copper	3.0-436.0	58.8	16
	Iron	150.0-17,000.0	3594.0	14
	Magnesium	1680.0-109,000.0	32,506.4	28
	Manganese	42.9-3970.0	733.5	26
	Nickel	12.3	12.3	1
	Sodium	1,020,000.0	1,020,000.0	1
	Vanadium	44.0	44.0	1
	Zinc	432.0-1320.0	876.0	2
Organics	Benzene	7.6-180.0	75.0	15
	Ethyl benzene	71.0-78.0	74.5	2
	Hexachlorobutadiene	0.74-9.6	5.2	2
	Isopropyl benzene	2.9-9.6	5.1	3
	Isopropyl toluene	0.53	0.53	1
	Methylene chloride	0.75	0.75	1
	MTBE	1.4-8.7	5.3	3
	Napthalene	2.6-3.1	2.9	2
	n-Propylbenzene	13.0-15.0	14.0	2
	sec-Butyl benzene	0.98-1.1	1.04	2
	Toluene	1.2-1.6	1.4	2
	1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene	0.56-88.0	55.5	3
	1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene	1.1-6.6	3.0	3
	o-Xylene	31.0-37.0	34.0	2
	m,p-Xylene	100.0-110.0	105.0	2

Table 2. November 2000 Data

November 2000 Sampling Results- Metals and Organic Compounds In Groundwater (µg/L)
Compound	Range of detection	Average concentration	Number of samples with detected concentrations
Antimony	0.3	0.3	1
Arsenic	860	860.0	1
Copper	3.4-170	67.5	15
Iron	7.0-12,000	4569.0	3
Lead	0.22-10	5.54	20
Manganese	34-8200	1.62	29
Nickel	0.07-44	10.9	6
Sodium	140-890	309.0	19
Zinc	41-750	11.9	6

Table 3. July 2001 Data

July 2001 Sampling Results- Metals in Groundwater (µg/L)
Compound	Range of detection	Average Concentration	Number of samples with detected concentrations
Barium	159-375	266.8	4
Benzene	0.23-0.93	0.68	4
Boron	170-13,100	2,519.4	24
Copper	157	157.0	1
Isopropyl benzene	1.5-1.5	1.5	3
Lead	19.5-199	68.5	5
Magnesium	4,310-91,000	23,390.8	24
Manganese	446-15,100	4,475.5	22
Napthalene	0.53	0.53	1
Phosphorous	39.3-135	122.25	4
Selenium	10.7-18.8	15.2	3
Tin	64.9	64.9	1
Toluene	0.16-1.2	0.5	5
Vanadium	15.8	15.8	1

Table 4. September 2001 Groundwater Sampling; Residential and Landfill Samples

September 2001 Sampling of Residential and Landfill Water Wells (µg/L)
Metal	Range of residential concentrations	Range of landfill concentrations	Residential average concentration	Landfill average concentrations	Number of residential samples with detected concentrations	Number of landfill samples with detected concentrations
Aluminum	96.7-163	99.8-15,100	124.7	1,305	4	20
Arsenic	N/A	6.6-202	N/A	60.9	0	7
Barium	98.7-101	99.5-332	99.6	175.7	4	19
Boron	1,120-14,400	1020-28,800	5,629.1	14,049	11	15
Chromium	N/A	0.5-24.9	N/A	1.35	0	8
Copper	13.2-184	0.4-163	49.3	81.7	15	2
Iron	N/A	14,500	N/A	14,500	0	1
Lead	6.6-19.2	14.7	12.4	14.7	3	1
Magnesium	53,600	571-103,000	53,600	65,564.3	1	12
Manganese	369-9740	532-1,290	4066.4	736.4	21	12
Molybdenum	102-929	10.1-4,910	522	1166.6	4	6
Nickel	3.7-100	3.6-4,390	13.9	287.7	18	18
Selenium	N/A	9.3-10.8	N/A	10.1	0	3
Strontium	1.5-3,400	7.1-3,200	431	1266.3	34	21
Tin	6.5-33.7	7.5	14.1	7.5	4	1
Zinc	493.0-644	N/A	568.5	N/A	2	0

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