MONROE

COUNTY Newsljetter from the Monroe County Department of HealthReviewed by the Brockport Consultation Group

Inside this issIJle

Environmental Health Education Initiative:A Collaborative Effort1 Environmental Health

Education Initiative

2

This is the first of seven newsletters that will be available every othermonth from January 2001 to January 2002. The Monroe CountyHealth Department will address hazardous waste and health relatedtopics relevant to the former 3M/Dynacolor site and the former G.E.and Black & Decker site located in the Village of Brockport.

Questions & Answers

about contaminants foundat the 3M/Dynacolor andG.E. and Black & Decker

sites(1-

6 Environmental Health:

What is Exposure?

~q ~

:~7 A Close Up Look At:

Trichloroethylene (TCE)

8 Who to Contact for SiteInformation IJ;§~I

N

W+ES

In every issue """ ~~

5 Community Corner-~I~

~1JiIIiIoI South Ave

This educational effort is the result of a grant project, for which theMonroe County Health Department (MCHD) received funding in June2000 from the National Association of City and County HealthOfficials. Since June, the MCHD has been working with severalcommunity members, the Village of Brockport and Town of Clarksongovernments, and state agencies to carry out this project. Themembership of this consultation group includes Kathy Snyder, KenPike, John Lessord, Shawn Lessord, Louise Cardillo, Lynne Gardner,Mayor Mary Ann Thorpe, and Paul Kimball, Supervisor of Clarkson,as well as staff from county and state agencies.

7 Information Sources

8 What's New

8 Glossary of Terms

In following issues...

A closer look at PCBs

More details on SVOCs &

VOCs

The Village of Brockport was chosen for this grant project because ofthe high level of interest demonstrated by residents about the siteactivities at the 3M/Dynacolor and G.E. and Black & Decker sites. andthe effect that the clean-up activities will have on the lives ofresidents. The MCHD decided that there was an interested audiencethat could benefit from additional environmental health education

opportunities.

Monroe County Health Department111 Westfall Road, PO Box 92832Room 976Rochester, New York 14692-8932

January 2001

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS waste site, the NYSDEG establishes clean-upstandards based on the conditions found at the site.These site-specific standards are negotiated with thepotentially responsible parties (in this case 3MGorp., G.E. and Black & Decker) and are alsopresented to the public for their input. To date, theclean up standards for the 3M site or the G.E. sitehave not been established. The clean-up valuesincluded in the tables are guidelines for use as acomparison to the existing levels at the sites.

What contaminants have been found at theformer 3M/Dynacolor and former G.E. andBlack & Decker sites?

Cyanide, lead, cadmium, silver, zinc, and a group ofsemi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) calledpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have beendetected in soils on the former 3M/Dynacolor site.These contaminants have also been detected in soilin the yard of the Scout cabin adjacent to 3M and insoil of residential properties west of 3M on OxfordStreet.

T AGM 4046 and 6 NYCRR 703.5 do not provide ageneral clean-up guideline value for total cyanide orfor the groups of semi-volatile organic compounds(SVOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) asa whole. There are general clean-up guidelinevalues for the specific types of cyanide, as well asdifferent SVOCs and VOCs. The laboratory testsconducted on samples indicated which differentSVOCs and VOCs were present in elevated levels.However, these will be discussed in the followingissues of the newsletter.

Trichloroethylene (TCE), cis-1 ,2-dichloroethylene (abreakdown chemical of TCE), and other volatileorganic compounds (VOCs) have been detected in agroundwater plume that has migrated from theformer G.E. and Black & Decker site under the ErieBarge Canal and underneath the residentialneighborhood north of the canal. Thesecontaminants have been detected in the sump waterand indoor air of some residences north of the canalon Lyman and Barry Streets.

The laboratory tests, which were conducted todetermine if cyanide was present, were unable toidentify different forms of cyanide and only indicatedthat cyanide in general was present. Laboratorytests to identify specific forms of cyanide are notavailable at standard environmental laboratories.There are a few research laboratories that have thecapability of conducting these tests. To date, nofurther laboratory tests have been conducted toidentify the specific forms of cyanide present. It isknown that a form of cyanide called Prussian Blue(Ferric Ferrocyanide) was used at the 3M site forpigment in photo processing. Historical documentsshow that thiocyanates were present in waste waterat the facility at one time but no levels wererecorded.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), semi-volatile

organic compounds (SVOCs) including polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), cyanide, silver, andzinc have been detected in stream sediment andsurface soil samples along Tributary #3 of BrockportCreek. Samples were collected in the above groundor unpiped segments of the tributary between thestorm sewer along State Street to the point whereTributary #3 and Brockport Creek meet in the Townof Clarkson.

What levels of these contaminants havebeen detected?

Table 1 lists the contaminants and the levels thathave been detected in surface 50;1 samples in theyard surrounding the Scout cabin and on residentialproperties along Oxford Street, which borders thenorthwest of the 3M site.

Background samples are samples that are collectedin areas near a hazardous waste site but arebelieved to be unaffected by the site-relatedhazardous waste. These samples are taken tocompare an area's prevailing conditions to theconditions at the site.

The contaminants are reported in parts per million(ppm). One ppm means that there is one part of asubstance for every million parts of the air, water orsoil in which it is measured. For example, 1 ppm is

In this section, information is presented in tablescontaining the following categories: 1) thecontaminants found at the site, 2) the range of levelsdetected, and 3) general clean-up guideline levelsfor soil or groundwater. The values forrecommended soil clean-up objectives wereobtained from the New York State Department ofEnvironmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Technicaland Administrative Guidance Memorandum (T AGM4046). The groundwater quality standards wereobtained from Section 703.5 of Title 6 of the OfficialCompilation of the Codes, Rules and Regulations ofthe State of New York (6 NYCRR). Theseobjectives and standards are general guidelines thatare used by the NYSDEC when establishing clean-up standards for a specific site. For each hazardous

January 2001

about one drop of dye in 18 gallons of water, aboutone inch in 16 miles, or one penny in $10,000.

Table 1 A -Oxford St. Overburden Well SampleResults

There were six surface soil samples collected in theScout cabin yard in May 1999. The detected levelsare recorded on Table 1 as a range of levels. Forexample, the range for lead indicates that, of the sixsamples collected in the Scout yard and analyzedfor lead, the lowest level detected was 103 ppm, thehighest was 524 ppm, and the other four samplesfell in between these levels.

There were fifteen surface soil samples collectedfrom residential properties bordering the northwestof the 3M site. These samples were collected inJune and July 1999. There were three backgroundsurface soil samples collected at the same time.

Table 1- Scout Yard/Oxford St. Soil SampleResults

NO = Not detectedN-A = Not available to date (see discussion on page 2)

The groundwater contamination, originating from theG.E. and Black & Decker site flows in anorth/northwest direction. Several groundwatermonitoring wells were drilled in the residentialneighborhood north of the Erie Barge Canal to findout what levels of contamination existed on Lymanand Barry Streets and to locate the boundaries ofthe contamination. Table 2 lists the contaminantsand the levels that have been detected in thegroundwater samples collected from fouroverburden monitoring wells. These samples werecollected on a quarterly basis throughout 1999. (Nobackground samples were collected.)

The contaminants detected in the groundwater arereported in parts per billion (ppb). One ppb meansthat there is one part of a substance for every billionparts of the air, water, or soil in which it is measured.One ppb is about one drop of dye in 18,000 gallonsof water or about 1 second in 32 years.

ND = Not DetectedSB = Site BackgroundN-A = Not available to date (see discussion on page 2)

.= Background levels for lead vary widely. Average levels in

undeveloped, rural areas may range from 4- 61 ppm. Averagebackground levels in metropolitan or suburban areas or nearhighways are much higher and typically range from 200 -500

ppm. Table 2- Lyman/Barry Sts. Overburden WellSample Results

In addition to surface soil samples, groundwatersamples were collected from residential monitoringwells located along Oxford Street in August 1999.Table 1 A lists the contaminants and the levels(ppm) that have been detected in these samples,which were collected from six overburden monitoringwells. The soil that overlies bedrock is calledoverburden. The depth of the overburden changeswith the topography of the land. Therefore, the sixwells sampled in this area are at different depths.The shallowest well is 3.6 feet deep and the deepestoverburden well is 14 feet.

January 2001 3

Table 3 lists the contaminants and the levels (ppm)that have been detected in five stream sediment andtwo surface soil samples collected from aboveground or unpiped segments of Tributary #3 fromthe canal to just north of East Avenue. Thesesamples were collected in November 1999.

detected in the Scout Yard was from 103 ppm -524ppm, and in the residential surface soil samples therange was 71 ppm -297 ppm. According to theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA), when lead levels equal to or exceeding400 ppm are found in bare surface soils ofresidential property, child occupied facilities or inchild play areas, a response action is advisable.Response actions such as changing use patterns orcreating barriers between children and contaminatedbare soil is recommended to reduce exposure. TheUSEPA defines a child as someone who is under 6years of age.

Table 3- Stream Sediment and Surface SoilSample Results

Cyanide was also detected at elevated levels insome of the surface soil samples collected in theScout yard and on residential properties borderingthe northwest of the 3M site. It is known that a formof cyanide called Prussian Blue was used at the 3Msite for pigment in photo processing. The levels ofcyanide from Prussian Blue would []Q!. be expectedto result in adverse health effects. However, aspreviously stated (pg. 2), it is not certain if othertypes of cyanide were also used at the site.Therefore, depending on the types of cyanidepresent, some of the levels in yard samples maypose a concern.

-ccac

Eca-co

u

r~otal PCBs

N-A1-1161 ND-O.11

1189- 913144 -850127- 67I LlnC

I Nickel 9 -105 I 10 -41NA = Not AnalyzedND = Not DetectedSB = Site BackgroundN-A = Not available to date (see discussion on page 2)

What health risks are associated with thecontaminants present at the detectedlevels?

SVOCs found in surface soil samples are mostly agroup of combustion by-products known aspolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Peoplemay be exposed to PAHs in foods such as grilledmeats or by breathing air emissions from vehicles orburning cigarettes. Long-term exposure to elevatedlevels of PAHs in soil may lead to a slightlyincreased lifetime cancer risk.

The following paragraphs attempt to generallyoutline what health risks may be associated with thecontaminants present at the detected levels in theareas where samples have been collected.However, it is important to understand that healtheffects of exposure to any hazardous substancedepend on whether you have had contact with achemical, the dose, the duration, how you areexposed, personal traits and habits, and whetherother chemicals are present (see pg. 6 fordiscussion on exposure). In addition, most studieson chemical-related health effects are conductedusing laboratory animals and not humans.

Scout Yard and Oxford St. YardsThere were some elevated levels of cadmium,silver and zinc detected in surface soil samplescollected in the yard surrounding the Scout cabinand on residential properties bordering thenorthwest of the 3M site. These chemicals weredetected at levels that are not expected to result inadverse health effects.

Lyman and Barry Sts. Overburden WellsTCE and 1 ,2-cis-dichloroethylene were detected inthe overburden monitoring well samples. TCE doesnot readily dissolve in water and it is heavier so thatit tends to sink in water. It is unlikely that peopleoutside the contamination plume would be exposedto TCE in the groundwater. Some residents withinthe area of the contamination plume have had levelsof TCE detected in water in their basements. Thelevel of groundwater changes, usually with theseasons, so that at times the water level rises highenough to seep into people's basements. Inaddition, TCE may evaporate from sump water andin some residences TCE was detected at low levelsin the indoor air. In these cases, with the permissionof property owners, steps were taken to lessen thepotential for exposure. TheTCE levels detected inthe indoor air of residences on Lyman Street are !J.Q!.expected to result in adverse health effects.Lead was also found at elevated levels in surface

soil samples in this area. The range of lead

January 2001 4

--0 Eq,c..c..

-o:;)c..c -q, c

UEm~wE~;cou~cnu=:c->q,°

Oza:cn

Have these contaminants affec1:ed ourdrinking water?

Tributarv Sediment and Surface SoilThe New York State Department of Health clean-upgoal for PCBs in residential surface soil is 1 ppm.The levels of the PCBs detected in the streamsediment and surface soil samples along thetributary are above this clean-up goal. Long-termexposure to elevated levels of PCBs in sedimentand soil may lead to a slightly increased lifetimecancer risk.

The area where the groundwater contamination ispresent in the Village of Brockport, is served by thecounty water system. The water that residentsreceive in their homes is filtered water from LakeOntario. In addition, the water pipes are underpressure, which prevents groundwater from"seeping" into the pipes. The Village of BrockportDepartment of Public Works conducts leak detectiontests semi-annually.

The SVOCs detected in the sediment and surfacesoil samples along the stream are primarily PAHs.As previously stated, PAHs are a group ofcombustion by-products found in foods such asgrilled meats and in air emissions from vehicles orburning cigarettes. Long-term exposure to elevatedlevels of PAHs in soil may lead to a slightlyincreased lifetime cancer risk.

Have residents been notified that sampleshave been collected on their property?

Before any samples were collected from privateproperties, residents were contacted for theirpermission. In addition, representatives from theNYSDEC, New York State Department of Healthand MCHD have met with residents to explain thelaboratory results.

The levels of silver, zinc and nickel detected inboth sediment and soil samples were generallyelevated in comparison to local background levels.However, contamination at these levels is notexpected to result in adverse health effects.

Community CornierCyanide levels were elevated in some sediment andsoil samples. As stated previously, it is not certain ifother types of cyanide besides Prussian Blue wereused at the 3M site. Therefore, the levels in thesediment and soil samples may pose a concerndepending upon the type of cyanide present.

If you have a health related question regarding the3M/Dynacolor or G.E. and Black & Decker sites thatyou would like the Monroe County HealthDepartment to address, please send it or e-mail it to:

How to minimize your exposure to thesecontami nants?

In order to be exposed you must have contact withthe contaminants. This means you have to touch,breath or ingest a contaminant. During the time ofyear when the ground is snow-covered and frozen,exposure to contaminants in soil and sediment isusually minimal because people are not outsidedigging in the soil or playing near the creek.

Monroe County Health Department111 Westfall Road, Room 976PO Box 92832

Rochester, NY 14692-8932Attn: Karen Paris Tuori(kptuori @ mcls.rochester .Iib.ny.us )

The Monroe County Health Department Staff willchoose 1-2 questions and make every effort torespond in the next newsletter.

You can reduce your exposure by avoiding thestream and areas that it floods. If you do come intocontact with stream sediment or surface soil, rinseoff any exposed clothing or body parts. If soil istracked into the home, then cleaning floors with adamp mop is suggested to help reduce exposure toPCBs.

As a precautionary measure, the Monroe CountyHealth Department recommends keeping childrenfrom playing in the stream and along its banks. Inaddition, children should not play in the Scout yardor dig in surface soils in the areas wherecontaminants have been detected.

.Januarv 2001

pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, convulsions ordeath.

Exposure is contact. No matter how dangerous asubstance or activity, without exposure, it cannotharm you. The following four 'parts' of exposurehelp explain how people are affected by chemicalsand why some people may be more affected thanothers:

Length of Exposure -Short-term exposure is calledacute exposure. Long-term exposure is calledchronic exposure. Either may cause health effects

that are immediate or health effects that occur daysor years later .

Acute exposure is a short period of contact with a

chemical. It may last a few seconds or a few hours.For example, it might take a few minutes to clean

windows with ammonia, use nail polish remover orspray a can of paint. The fumes someone mightinhale during these activities are examples of acute

exposures.

Routes of Exposure -Toxic substances can comeinto contact with or enter the body in three major

ways: breathing, touching and swallowing.

Inhalation (breathing) of gases, vapors, dusts ormists is a common route of exposure. Chemicalscan enter and irritate the nose, air passages andlungs. They can become deposited in the airways orbe absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream.The blood can then carry these substances to therest of the body.

Chronic exposure is continuous or repeated contactwith a toxic substance over a long period of time{months or years). If a chemical is used every dayon the job, the exposure would be chronic. Overtime, some chemicals, such as PCBs and lead, canbuild up in the body and cause long-term healtheffects. Chronic exposures can also occur at home.Some chemicals in household furniture, carpeting orcleaners can be sources of chronic exposure.

Direct contact (touching) with the skin or eyes is alsoa route of exposure. Some substances areabsorbed through the skin and enter thebloodstream. Broken, cut or cracked skin will allowsubstances to enter the body more easily.

Ingestion (swallowing) of food, drink, or othersubstances is another route of exposure. Chemicalsthat get in or on food, cigarettes, utensils or handscan be swallowed. Children are at greater risk ofingesting substances found in dust or soil becausethey often put their fingers or other objects in theirmouths. Lead in paint chips is a good example.Substances can be absorbed into the blood andthen transported to the rest of the body.

Sensitivity- All people are not equally sensitive tochemicals, and are not affected by them in the sameway. There are many reasons for this such asgenetic differences and allergic reactions. People'sbodies vary in their ability to absorb and break downor eliminate certain chemicals due to geneticdifferences. People may become allergic to achemical after being exposed. Then they may reactto very low levels of the chemical and have differentor more serious health effects than nonallergicpeople exposed to the same amount. People whoare allergic to bee venom, for example, have a moreserious reaction to a bee sting than people who arenot allergic.

The route of exposure can determine whether or nota specific toxic substance has an effect. Forexample, breathing or swallowing lead can result inhealth effects, but touching lead is not usuallyharmful because lead is not absorbed particularlywell through the skin.

Amount of Exposure -The amount of a substancethat enters or contacts a person is called the dose.An important factor to consider in evaluating a doseis body weight. If a child is exposed to the sameamount of chemical as an adult, the child (whoweighs less) can be affected more than the adult.The greater the amount of a substance a person isexposed to, the likelihood increases that healtheffects will occur. Large amounts of a relativelyharmless substance can be toxic. For example, twoaspirin tablets can help to relieve a headache, buttaking an entire bottle of aspirin can cause stomach

Factors such as age, illness, diet, alcohol use,pregnancy and medical and nonmedical drug usecan also affect a person's sensitivity to a chemical.Young children are often more sensitive tochemicals for a number of reasons. Their bodiesare still developing and they cannot get rid of somechemicals as well as adults. Also, children absorbgreater amounts of some chemicals (such as lead)into their blood than adults.

(Information courtesy of the New York State Department of

Health)

January 2001 6

I What is Exposure? I

Can TCE Cause Cancer?There have been studies conducted to discover ifTCE causes cancer in humans. Some studies foundevidence that people who were exposed to highlevels of TCE in the workplace for long periods hadan increased rate of cancer. However, these resultsare inconclusive because other chemicals couldhave caused the cancer. The International Agencyfor Research on Cancer has determined that TCE isnot classifiable as to human carcinogenicity.

Trichloroethylene is a nonflammable, colorless liquidwith a somewhat sweet odor and a sweet, burningtaste. It is mainly used as a solvent to removegrease from metal parts but it is also an ingredient inadhesives, paint removers, typewriter correctionfluids, and spot removers.

TCE does not easily dissolve in water, and itremains there for a long time. It may also stick toparticles in water, which will cause it to eventuallysettle to the bottom sediment. It can also quicklyevaporate from surface water and is commonlyfound as a vapor in the air. TCE evaporates lesseasily from the soil, where it may stick to particlesand remain for a long time. TCE does not build upsignificantly in plants and animals.

Determining If You Have Been ExposedRecent exposure to TCE can be detected in yourbreath, blood or urine. The breath test, if it isperformed soon after exposure, can tell if you havebeen exposed to even a small amount of TCE.Exposure to larger amounts is assessed by bloodand urine tests, which can detect TCE and many ofits breakdown products for up to a week afterexposure. However, exposure to other similarchemicals can produce the same breakdownproducts, so their detection is not absolute proof ofexposure to TCE. This test is not available at mostdoctors' offices, but can be done at speciallaboratories that have the right equipment.

How Can You Be Exposed?You may be exposed to TCE in the following ways:.Breathing air contaminated with TCE vapors.Drinking, swimming, or showering in water that

has been contaminated with TCE.Skin contact with TCE contaminated soil

.Skin contact with or breathing vapors whileusing TCE to wash off paint or grease from skinor equipment

(Information courtesy of the Agency for Toxic Substances andDisease Registry)

Health EffectsBreathing large amounts of trichloroethylene maycause impaired heart function, coma, and death.Breathing it for long periods may cause nerve, lung,kidney, and liver damage. Breathing small amountsfor short periods of time may cause headaches, lungirritation, dizziness, poor coordination, and difficulty

concentrating.

Drinking large amounts of TCE for long periods maycause liver and kidney damage, nervous systemeffects, impaired immune system function, andimpaired fetal development in pregnant women,although the extent of some of these effects is notyet clear .

Skin contact with TCE for short periods may causeskin rashes.

January 2001 7

Contaminant -any substance that enters a system(the environment, human body) and is not normallyfound. Contaminants are usually referred to in a"negative " sense such as substances that spoil food

or pollute the environment.

Detection limit -The amount of substance that a

laboratory can reliably measure in a sample of air ,water, soil or other medium.

Organic -Originally coming from plants or animals,and made primarily or carbon and hydrogen.

Organic chemicals are a class of chemical

compounds.

The New York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation continues their investigation for thesource of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)found in Tributary #3 of Brockport Creek. To date,samples of sediment and soil along the tributaryhave been collected between the storm sewer alongState Street to the confluence of Tributary #3 andBrockport Creek in the Town of Clarkson. Thestream clean up will take place after the source ofthe PCBs has been identified because there ispotential to recontaminate the stream if clean upoccurs prior to locating this source. In October, 54truckloads of blue soil (soil contaminated withcyanide) were removed under the parking lot northof the Agri Link building by the 3M Corporation. BarrEngineering, 3M's environmental consultant,conducted indoor air testing for volatile organiccompounds (VOCs) in residences along OxfordStreet.

Plume -an area of chemicals moving away from itssource in a long band or column. A plume, for

example, can be a column of smoke from a chimneyor chemicals moving with groundwater .

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) -An organicchemical that evaporates easily. Petroleumproducts such as kerosene, gasoline and mineralspirits contain VOCs. Chlorinated solvents such asthose used by dry cleaners or contained in paintstrippers are also VOCs.

At the request of the Village of Brockport, the NewYork State Department of Health in conjunction withthe Agency for Toxic Substances and DiseaseRegistry (A TSDR) is preparing a HealthConsultation. This report will outline the existingconditions surrounding the former 3M and G.E.sites, the potential health issues and the potentialexposure of residents from contaminants present. Volatility -The measure of how quickly a

substance evaporates at ordinary temperatures.The air concentration of a highly volatile chemicalcan increase quickly in a closed room.

NYSDEC

.Kelly Cloyd, Ph.D., Project Manager for 3M site

(716) 226-5351Monroe County Health Department

.Joe Albert, Senior Sanitarian

(716) 274-6904Larry Thomas, Project Manager for G.E. site(518) 457-9253

.

Neighborhood Contacts

Linda Vera, Citizen Participation Specialist(716) 226-5324

.

Kathy SnyderJohn LessordLynne GardnerShawn LessordLouise CardilloKen Pike

(716) 637-7391(716) 637-5580(716) 637 -4803(716) 637 -4068(716) 624-8392(716) 395-9080

.

.

.

.

.

.

NYSDOH

.Steve Shost, Research Scientist1-800-458-1158 ext. 27860

Mark Van Deusen, Outreach Coordinator1-800-458-1158 ext. 27830

January 2001 8