National Priority List site

Rodenbeck SE. 1997. An evaluation of the relationship between maternal exposure to trichloroethylene in drinking water and birth weight at the Tucson International Airport area national priorities list site, Pima County, Arizona. Dissertation, Tulane University. 

ATSDR. 1989. Health assessment for Velsicol Chemical Corporation NPL (National Priorities List) Site, Marshall, Clark County, Illinois, Region 5. Atlanta, GA Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. CERCLIS No. ILD000814673. 

Perc spills have led to groundwater and soil contamination. Of 1190 National Priorities List sites in the United States, nearly two-thirds (771) have perchloroethylene contamination (ATSDR, 1995). Even filters and lint from perc machines must be disposed of as hazardous waste. In addition, ever-increasing taxes and regulations on the use of perchlor-othethylene reflect the growing public concern over continued use of this solvent. 

Hexachlorobenzene has been found in at least 84 of the 1430 National Priorities List sites identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The long-range atmospheric transport of hexachlorobenzene to the Arctic and other areas is a well-recognized phenomenon. The substance has been detected in Arctic air, snow, seawater, and flora and fauna. It had also been observed in other remote areas such as the North Pacific Ocean and in the rainfall of two remote islands on Lake Superior. Approximately 4000 persons were poisoned by hexachlorobenzene in Turkey from 1955 to 1959. 

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used in electrical capacitors, electrical transformers, vacuum pumps, and gas transmission tribunes. They were also used as hydraulic fluids, plasticizers, adhesives, fire retardants, wax extenders, lubricants and cutting oils, inks, dedusting agents, etc. PCBs are no longer commercially produced in the United States but are still found in the environment. PCB s have been found in at least 500 of the 1598 National Priorities List Sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Compounds of thallium are generally soluble in water and the element is found primarily as the monovalent ion (Tl" ). Thallium tends to be sorbed to soils and sediments, and to bioconcentrate in aquatic plants, invertebrates, and fish. Terrestrial plants can also absorb thallium from soil. Thallium may be bioconcentrated by organisms from water. The (US) Environmental Protection Agency has identified several National Priorities List sites polluted by thallium. 

Because diethyl phthalate is not a part of the chain of chemicals, or polymers, which makes up the plastics, it can be released fairly easily from products in which it is used. Exposure may occur when you use plastics that contain it, and when you eat food from plastic containers made with it. This substance has been found in at least 248 of the 1,430 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Figure 1. Structures and frequency of occurrence of nitroaromatic compounds at U.S. EPA National Priority List sites.

EPA (U.S. Environmental Protective Agency). National priorities list sites in California, June 7, 2004, http //www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/ca.htm... 

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution reported in 1996 that it was not aware of any study that provided firm evidence of adverse effects of contaminated land on health.10 However, the potential for health effects is real. Exposure to chemicals is a risk factor for several diseases and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified over 70 chemicals as human carcinogens, 60 as probable and more than 200 as possible carcinogens.11 There is evidence of an environmental influence in human diseases such as cancer,12 including geographic variation in cancer incidence in migrant populations, occupational studies and animal experiments. A number of studies also appear to suggest an association between other health effects and exposure to environmental chemicals. There are thousands of sites contaminated with hazardous chemicals with the potential to expose human populations. In the USA, the ATSDR has estimated that 46 % of the assessed National Priority List sites represent an actual hazard to health.13... 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Response to 2005 hurricanes, summary of testing at Superfund national priority list sites, , 2008. 

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