HEALTH CONSULTATION
Technical Document Review
Fruit Valley Neighborhood Indoor Air Evaluation Work Plan
CADET MANUFACTURING COMPANY
VANCOUVER, CLARK COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF ISSUES
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) conducted this health consultation in response to a request from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) to review the Fruit Valley Neighborhood Indoor Air Evaluation Work Plan prepared by Cadet Manufacturing Company (Cadet).1 DOH prepares health consultations under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Cadet is located at 2500 W. Fourth Plain Boulevard in a mixed industrial, commercial, and residential area of Vancouver, Clark County, Washington (Figure 1). Historic releases of chlorinated solvents from the facility have resulted in elevated concentrations of trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE) and other chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soil gas and groundwater below the facility and portions of the adjacent Fruit Valley Neighborhood (FVN). The highest concentrations of VOCs in soil gas and groundwater were found below the Cadet facility.2 These elevated concentrations suggest that residual levels or pools of chlorinated solvents may exist beneath the building. Significantly lower concentrations of VOCs were observed in soil gas and groundwater in the FVN.2
When VOCs volatilize from the groundwater, they can move through the soil column and into indoor air where people may be exposed to them. Based on predictive modeling conducted by DOH, the VOCs detected in the soil gas and groundwater below the FVN may pose a slight health risk if the chemicals migrate into indoor air.2
Cadet will be collecting indoor air samples to determine whether VOCs are migrating into buildings in the FVN. This data will be used to evaluate the risk posed to building occupants. Their work plan, the focus of this health consultation, describes how they intend to conduct this investigation.
The proposed indoor air evaluation work plan describes background information, project objectives, sampling and analytical procedures, and data quality objectives that will be used by Cadet to evaluate indoor air quality at a school, day care facility, homes, and businesses in the FVN in January 2002. The following items summarize DOH's questions and concerns regarding that plan:
For example, the data are proposed to be used to evaluate contaminant fate and transport as well as the potential risks posed by the indoor air contaminants.1 The Cadet facility and the FVN, however, are underlain by a VOC plume whose composition may change in the future as result of plume movement and degradation. Degradation of the plume could result in the creation of daughter products that pose more of a health risk to the FVN in the future than the chemicals currently detected. These types of issues should be considered and addressed in the work plan to ensure that an appropriate sampling strategy is planned for this site. Sampling strategies should consider the need for future sampling.
Residual levels or pools of chlorinated solvent appear to be located below the Cadet building based on elevated levels of these contaminants observed in soil gas and groundwater samples collected below the building.2 These residual levels or pools of chemicals are another potential source of indoor air contaminants for the FVN. Buildings along Wiegel Avenue and those adjacent to utility lines would have the greatest potential to be affected by these residual levels or pools. A map showing all subsurface utility locations at and adjacent to the Cadet facility should be developed to support sampling locations.
It appears that Cadet will be conducting indoor air sampling at all homes with basements and slab-on-grade construction that are potentially affected by the migration of subsurface VOCs. Homes constructed directly on the ground surface, if they exist, should also be sampled. It is unknown whether the homes with crawl spaces that are proposed to be sampled represent potentially worst case conditions. Additional information should be provided to support the selection of homes with crawl spaces.
The Fruit Valley Neighborhood is a residential neighborhood where children potentially could be exposed to chlorinated VOCs through the indoor air pathway. Children can be uniquely vulnerable to the hazardous effects of environmental contaminants. When compared to adults, pound for pound of body weight, children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air. These facts lead to an increased exposure to contaminants in various environmental media. Additionally, the fetus is highly sensitive to many chemicals, particularly with respect to potential impacts on childhood development. For these reasons, it is important to consider the specific impacts that contaminants may have on children, as well as other sensitive populations.
The chlorinated VOC contaminated groundwater located in the vicinity of the Fruit Valley Neighborhood (FVN) and the residual levels or pools of chlorinated solvents detected at the Cadet facility pose an indeterminate health risk to the FVN. Indoor air sampling, if conducted appropriately, can be used to evaluate potential risks.
RECOMMENDATIONS/PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN
Barbara Trejo
Washington State Department of Health
Office of Environmental Health Assessments
Site Assessment Section
WADOH Designated Reviewer
Rob Duff, Manager
Site Assessment Section
Washington State Department of Health
Office of Environmental Health Assessments
ATSDR Designated Reviewer
Debra Gable
Technical Project Officer
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
This Health Consultation was prepared by the Washington State Department of 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 health consultation was begun.
Debra Gable
Technical Project Officer,
SPS, SSAB, DHAC
ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health consultation and concurs with the findings.
Gail D. Godfrey
for Richard Gillig
Branch Chief,
SSAB, DHAC
ATSDR
