Hazardous Waste Site Proximity

Hazardous waste sites, aetive Probably fewer titan 100 eaneers amiuiilly estimates sensitive to assumptions regarding proximity of future wells to waste sites. 

In addition to individuals who are occupationally exposed to endosulfan (see Section 5.5), there are several groups within the general population that have potentially high exposures (higher than background levels) to endosulfan. These populations include individuals living in proximity to sites where endosulfan was produced or sites where endosulfan was disposed of, and individuals living near one of the 162 NPL hazardous waste sites where endosulfan has been detected in some environmental media (HazDat 2000). 

As discussed in Section 2.2.1, most human exposure to 1,4-dichlorobenzene results from inhalation of vapors due to home use of mothballs and deodorizer blocks that contain this chemical. Exposure resulting from all other sources, including proximity to hazardous waste sites, is considered to be low. 

Individuals living in proximity to hazardous waste sites may also be exposed to 1,4-dichlorobenzene by contaminated groundwater. If residential wells are the primary source of drinking water, this may pose a risk to human health by consumption of contaminated water and by increased inhalation of and dermal contact with 1,4-dichlorobenzene during showering and bathing. 1,4-Dichlorobenzene has been detected... 

Proximal tubule epithelial degeneration is the major renal change observed in humans after inhalation exposure to organotin compounds. Similar changes have been observed in animals following inhalation, oral, and dermal exposure to organotins. As with the hepatic changes, the possibility that tin compounds may cause renal effects at hazardous waste sites must be considered. 

In addition, residence in close proximity to hazardous waste sites containing POPs has shown to be a risk factor for several cancers (Ozonoff et al., 1994), low birth weights (Baibergenova et al., 2003), and congenital... 

Geshwind, S.A., Stolwijk, J.A., Bracken, M., Fitzgerald, E., Stark, A., Olsen, C., Melius, J., 1992. Risk of congenital malformations associated with proximity to hazardous waste sites. Am. J. Epidemiol. 135, 1197-1207. 

Individuals living in proximity to production or disposal sites. Individuals living in the vicinity of former or current production sites where CDDs are released as by-products, (such as incinerators, coal-fired electric generating facilities, other waste disposal facilities, and hazardous waste sites) may be exposed to CDDs from several exposure pathways. CDDs have been detected in soil at 94 of the 126 sites where they have been detected in some environmental media (HazDat 1998). 

Lastly, individuals living near incinerator or hazardous waste sites may inhale vapors or particulates contaminated with CDDs from ambient outdoor air. This, however, would be a relatively minor exposure pathway as only about 50% of all particles are of inhalable size (<10 m) (Fries and Paustenbach 1990 Paustenbach et al. 1992). These authors concluded that since uptake of 2,3,7,8-TCDD from foods will be approximately 500-1,000-fold greater than that due to inhalation, that inhalation exposure was a relatively insignificant exposure pathway even for individuals living in proximity to an incinerator. 

The primary pathways for TCDD exposure appear to be inhalation and ingestion. Eating meat, fish, and dairy products makes up more than 90% of the intake of dioxins. Close proximity to an uncontrolled hazardous waste site or working in industries involved in producing pesticides containing dioxins can be sources of inhalation exposure for the general public and workers alike. Skin exposure can occur through contact with contaminated soils. 

Croen LA, Shaw GM, Sanbonmatsu L, et al. Maternal residential proximity to hazardous waste sites and risk for selected congenial malformations. Epidemiology 1997 8(4) 347 54. 

Malik S, Schecter A, Caughy M, Fixler DE. Effect of proximity to hazardous waste sites on the development of congenital heart disease. Arch Environ Health 2004 59(4) 177 81. 

Superfund sites are sites that emit numerous neurotoxins into the air and water environments. Love Canal studies have shown nervous system effects that can be attributed to living near a toxic waste site. I36 Elevated neural tube defects in offspring were identified with mothers residing proximate to hazardous waste sites. I49 50 It has also been shown that people residing close to industrial facilities that emit solvents or metals have offspring with increased CNS defects J51l... 

Hazardous waste sites release mixtures of solvents into the air and heavy metals, pesticides, and other organic compounds into surface and ground-waters. Several studies in different geographic settings have tied maternal residential proximity to increased teratogenic risks. These studies include the following ... 

A study in New York state found increased risk for congenital malformations in children whose mothers lived near hazardous waste sites during pregnancy. I39l A second New York study found elevated risks for CNS defects to be associated residential proximity to hazardous waste sites that emit organic solvents or metals. I40... 

Living in close proximity to hazardous waste sites and drinking water contaminated by leachates from these sites has been associated with numerous health problems, many of which have been discussed previously... 

Data from studies of adult humans occupationally exposed to coal tar creosote indicate that cancer is likely to be the most severe adverse effect of coal tar exposure, although there is also evidence of skin and eye irritation (see Chapter 2 and Section 3.2 for more details). Studies of animals after inhalation, oral, or dermal exposure to coal tar creosote confirm cancer as a likely outcome of coal tar exposure and suggest that there may also be adverse effects to the lungs, liver, spleen, thymus, skin, and eyes (see Chapter 2 and Section 3.2 for more details). However, the concentrations of coal tar used in animal studies are higher than could be expected from proximity to a hazardous waste site and so it is not clear how relevant some of these systemic effects are to children. Children exposed to creosote will probably have a longer... 

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