After reviewing available information, ATSDR has concluded that the New Hampshire
Plating Company facility is a public health hazard. This conclusion is based on evidence
of past exposure to substances at concentrations that could cause illness or injury. Children
playing on site were exposed to cadmium by ingesting contaminated surface water, sludge
or soil at levels of public health concern. In addition, workers at the New Hampshire
Plating Company were exposed to cadmium, chromium and nickel by ingestion and
inhalation of contaminated dust and other small particles inside the facility. It is possible
that illness or injury resulted from exposure to these contaminants, although no adverse
health effects have been documented.
Dermal contact with and incidental ingestion of off-site surface water and sediment from
the Merrimack River and Horseshoe Pond do not represent a public health hazard.
Ingestion of largemouth bass from Horseshoe Pond represents a public health hazard due to
elevated levels of mercury in these fish accumulated from sources unrelated to the site.
Children who played on the site in the past probably ingested surface water, soil, and/or
sludge contaminated with cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, tin, zinc, cyanide,
carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane
(1,1,1-TCA), and trichloroethene (TCE). Based on the estimated exposures to these
chemicals, only cadmium levels represented a public health hazard for children playing
on-site. Ingestion of cadmium at the estimated doses could lead to illness or injury.
Young children are particularly sensitive to cadmium. Cadmium exposure can cause mild
kidney damage, including the presence of protein in the urine. The toxic effects of
elevated cadmium exposure have been shown to persist following elimination of that
exposure.
Children at the Former Avanti Day Care Center were probably exposed to both cyanide
and cadmium during removal activities at the site. However, the estimated exposure doses
were not at levels that would be expected to cause illness or injury.
NHPC workers were exposed to cadmium, chromium, zinc, nickel, and tin. The
exposure period may have been as long as 20 years. Past exposures to zinc and tin are not
expected to cause illness or injury. Workers, especially those who smoke, are likely to
have experienced (and continue to experience) illness or injury from cadmium exposure,
including protein in the urine and abnormal kidney function. People who smoke are at
greatest risk of severe kidney damage. In addition, cadmium is classified as a probable
carcinogen by the inhalation route. There is no evidence that cadmium is a carcinogen by
the ingestion route.
Although the estimated doses of chromium ingestion exceeded the health guideline used
for comparison, the doses are not great enough to cause illness or injury, except in the
chromium-sensitive population. In that population, dermatitis is expected. Although
chromium inhalation can cause cancer, there are not enough data to determine whether
chromium ingestion causes cancer. Levels of nickel detected in dust samples are not
expected to cause non-carcinogenic health effects. However, inhalation of nickel dust by
NHPC workers in the past may have posed an increased risk for lung cancer.
Residents who use water from a private well were exposed to several VOCs by way of
inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. Although no non-carcinogenic adverse health
effects are anticipated, chronic exposure to these VOCs in drinking water at the detected
levels does pose a slight increase in carcinogenic risk.
Many residents and local officials have expressed concerns about the NHPC site. Those
concerns are summarized and addressed in the Public Health Implications section of this
public health assessment.
The potential exposure of Litchfield residents to contaminated bedrock groundwater is
indeterminate. The potential exists for contaminants originating at the site to migrate via
bedrock groundwater to nearby wells across the Merrimack River. The RI/FS did not
provide information to eliminate this pathway.
Data inadequacies discovered during preparation of this public health assessment include
the following:
Insufficient data exist on the quality of drinking water from the private well on
Daniel Webster Highway. The two-time sampling of that water was not sufficient to
determine the public health significance of long-term use of the well as a source of
drinking water. Additional sampling of the water from this private well is needed.
This well is thought to be impacted by contaminants not related to the site.
Insufficient data and information are available on the hydrogeologic relationship
between the bedrock aquifer and the Merrimack River; that is, data are needed to
determine if the Merrimack River acts as a hydrologic divide for the bedrock aquifer.
Furthermore, additional characterization of direction and extent of contaminant
migration in the bedrock aquifer is needed. See the Pathways Analysis section for
details of how these data needs relate to potential exposure pathways at the site.
Protect persons on and off site from exposure to dusts or vapors that may be released
during remediation.
Implement optimal dust control measures during remediation.
Implement institutional controls to prevent use of the contaminated aquifer for drinking
water. Institutional controls are needed until remediation has reduced contaminant
concentrations below levels of health concern.
NHDPHS has recommended not to use the water from the one off-site private well,
located on Daniel Webster Highway, for drinking water purposes and to minimize
showering.
Site Characterization
Collect additional water samples from the private well (on Daniel Webster Highway)
that contained low levels of contamination (not site-related). Several samples from this
well (drawn during seasonal variations in groundwater levels) should be analyzed to
determine actual exposure levels and to better characterize the public health significance of
long-term use of this well for drinking water.
Obtain data and information on the hydrogeologic relationship between the bedrock
aquifer and the Merrimack River; that is, determine if the Merrimack River acts as a
hydrologic divide for the bedrock aquifer. Furthermore, additional characterization of
direction and extent of contaminant migration in the bedrock aquifer is needed.
Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Recommendations
The data and information in the public health assessment for the New Hampshire Plating
Company site, Merrimack, New Hampshire, have been evaluated by ATSDR's Health Activities
Recommendation Panel (HARP) for appropriate follow-up with respect to health activities.
Although children who once played on site and the former NHPC workers were probably
exposed at levels of public health concern; HARP determined that follow-up health studies are
not indicated at this time because the exposed population cannot be identified and there are no
documented current exposures. HARP has referred the New Hampshire Plating Company site to
the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) for possible health follow-up of exposed former NHPC
workers. In addition, HARP determined that additional community health education be
considered after public comments on the assessment are evaluated. If additional data or
information become available, ATSDR will re-evaluate this site for any indicated follow-up.
The purpose of the Public Health Action Plan (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.
Actions taken by ATSDR:
ATSDR referred the New Hampshire Plating Company site to the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) for possible health follow-up of exposed former NHPC workers.
Actions taken by EPA:
Groundwater, surface water, and sediment sampling of the Merrimack River.
Surface water, sediment and biota (fish) sampling of Horseshoe Pond.
Maintenance of site security, including the NHPC building.
Demolition and removal of the NHPC building and the removal of the underground
storage tank located below the building.
Actions taken by NHDPHS:
NHDPHS evaluated the health significance of surface water, sediment and fish sampling
obtained from Horseshoe Pond in a Health Consultation prepared in cooperation with
ATSDR (see Appendix D-5).
NHDPHS has issued a Fish Ingestion Advisory for Largemouth Bass taken from
Horseshoe Pond due to elevated levels of mercury.
NHDPHS has recommended that the private well on Daniel Webster Highway not be
used for drinking and that use of this water for showering be minimized.
This health assessment was released to the public for comment. These comments were
received by NHDPHS and have been addressed in this health assessment.
Actions planned by NHDPHS and ATSDR:
NHDPHS/ATSDR will provide copies of the final public health assessment to those who
are concerned about the site. No formal community health education activity is planned by
NHDPHS/ATSDR at this time; however, any person who would like to discuss the health
implications of this site should contact either Robert Duff, NHDPHAS, at (603) 271-4664
or Gregory Ulirsch, ATSDR, at (404) 639-0628.
NHDPHS/ATSDR will evaluate the potential for contaminant migration in groundwater
to private drinking water wells across the Merrimack River in Litchfield when the
necessary data becomes available.
ATSDR will provide an annual follow-up to this PHAP, outlining the actions completed and
those in progress. This report will be placed in repositories that contain copies of this health
assessment, and will be provided to persons who request it.
ATSDR will re-evaluate and expand the Public Health Action Plan when needed. New
environmental, toxicological, or health outcome data, or the results of implementing the above
proposed actions may determine the need for additional actions at this site.
The Public Health Assessment for the New Hamphire Plating Corporation site was prepared by
the New Hampshire Department of Public Health Services 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
initiated.
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.
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