Hazardous waste sites United States

National Conference on Management of Uncontrolled Waste Sites," United States Environmental Protection Agency/ Hazardous Waste Material Control Research Institute, October 28, 1981, pp. 86, 87. 

In the past the presence of hazardous substances in soils was not a major public concern. In spite of the large number of documented hazardous waste sites in the United States, relatively few sites liave been cleaned up widi specific redevelopment in mind. Remedial actions usually are undertaken to contain or remove chemical contaminants little or no consideration is given to the ultimate use of the site. If land reuse is decided before the cleanup there may be an opportunity to tailor the cleanup acti ities to best suit the site rcde elopment. 

Endosulfan has been identified in at least 164 of the 1,577 hazardous waste sites that have been proposed for inclusion on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL) (HazDat 2000). However, the number of sites evaluated for endosulfan is not known. The frequency of these sites can be seen in Figure 5-1. Of these sites, 87 are located in the United States, one is located in Guam, and one is located in the Virgin Islands (not shown). 

Staples et al. (1985) reported that acrylonitrile was not present at detectable concentrations in 352 sediment samples collected from lake and river bottoms across the United States. Preliminary data from the contract Laboratory Program (CLP) Statistical Database (CLPSD 1988) indicated that acrylonitrile was detected in soils at 3 of 862 hazardous waste sites (including NPL and other sites) being investigated under Superfund. The median concentration of five samples was 120 pg/kg. 

Exposure Levels in Humans. Metabolism of endrin in humans is relatively rapid compared with other organochlorine pesticides. Thus, levels in human blood and tissue may not be reliable estimates of exposure except after very high occupational exposures or acute poisonings (Runhaar et al. 1985). Endrin was not found in adipose tissue samples of the general U.S. population (Stanley 1986), or in adipose breast tissue from breast cancer patients in the United States (Djordjevic et al. 1994). Endrin has been detected in the milk of lactating women (Alawi et al. 1992 Bordet et al. 1993 Dewailly et al. 1993), but no data from the United States could be located. Data on the concentrations of endrin in breast milk from U.S. women would be useful. No information was found on levels of endrin, endrin aldehyde, or endrin ketone in blood and other tissues of people near hazardous waste sites. This information is necessary for assessing the need to conduct health studies on these populations. 

Reliable monitoring data for the levels of cyanide and thiocyanate in contaminated media at hazardous waste sites are needed so that the information obtained on levels of cyanide and thiocyanate in the environment can be used in combination with the known body burdens of cyanide and thiocyanate to assess the potential risk of adverse health effects in populations living in the vicinity of hazardous waste sites. Also, there is a need for data relating to exposure levels of cassava eaters in the United States. 

Mirex has been identified in at least 7 of the 1,408 hazardous waste sites on the NPL (HazDat 1994). However, the number of Sites within the United States can be seen in Figure 5-1. 

Exposure Levels in Humans. No data on disulfoton levels in various human tissues and body fluids of a control population, populations near hazardous waste sites, or occupationally exposed groups in the United States are available. The levels of disulfoton metabolites (DEP [0.05 ppm], DETP [0.04 ppm], DEPTh [0.008 ppm], dimethyl phosphate [0.04 ppm], dimethyl thiophosphate [0.180 ppm], and dimethyl phosphorothiolate [0.004 ppm]) in the urine of disulfoton formulators have been measured (Brokopp et al. 1981). Data on the levels of disulfoton and its metabolites in body tissues and fluids are needed to estimate the extent of exposure to disulfoton. 

Phenol has been detected in surface waters, rainwater, sediments, drinking water, groundwater, industrial effluents, urban runoff, and at hazardous waste sites. Background levels of phenol from relatively pristine sites can be as high as 1 ppb for unpolluted groundwater and have been reported to range from 0.01 to 1 ppb in unpolluted rivers (Thurman 1985). Phenol has been detected in Lake Huron water at 3-24 ppb (Konasewich et al. 1978) and industrial rivers in the United States at 0-5 ppb (Sheldon and... 

Soil fumigation is the primary use of bromomethane in the United States, accounting for approximately 65% of total consumption (EPA 1989c lARC 1986). Based on reported production for 1984 (43 million pounds), this would be about 28 million pounds/year. However, as discussed in Section 5.3.1, most bromomethane will tend to evaporate from the soil within 1-2 days, so soil contamination is normally not persistent. No industrial releases of bromomethane to soil were reported for 1987 (TRI 1989 see Table 5-1), and bromomethane has not been detected in soils or sediments at 455 hazardous waste sites, including 99 NPL sites (CLPSD 1989). 

Heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide have been identified in at least 129 and 87 sites of the 1,300 NPL hazardous waste sites, respectively (HAZDAT 1992) however, the total number of sites evaluated for these compounds is not known. Of the identified sites, 1 site for heptachlor and 2 sites for heptachlor epoxide are located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (not shown). The frequency of these sites within the United States can be seen in Figures 5-1 and 5-2. 

Exposure of the general population to 2-hexanone is not likely to be high. However, persons living near hazardous waste sites or wood pulping, coal-gasification, or oil-shale processing plants may be exposed to 2-hexanone in contaminated environmental media. In the past, occupational exposures to 2-hexanone resulted from its manufacture and use. However, since 2-hexanone is not currently manufactured or used commercially in the United States, occupational exposures related to these activities are no longer of special concern. 

Although hexachlorobutadiene is not very soluble in water, small amounts may be found in some public drinking water (less than 1 part hexachlorobutadiene per billion parts water [ppb]). It may also be found in underground water near hazardous waste sites. Hexachlorobutadiene has no agricultural or food chemical uses in the United States. 

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