TRICHLOROETHYLENE TCE CONTAMINATION EXPOSURE AND CLEANUP TUCSON AZ

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TRICHLOROETHYLENE (TCE) CONTAMINATION, EXPOSURE, AND CLEANUP TUCSON, AZ EPA Funded

TRICHLOROETHYLENE (TCE) CONTAMINATION, EXPOSURE, AND CLEANUP TUCSON, AZ EPA Funded

Environmental Health Issues in Tucson l Water Pollution – – l Air Pollution –

Environmental Health Issues in Tucson l Water Pollution – – l Air Pollution – l TCE 1 -4 Dioxane Beryllium Soil Pollution – – Gasoline spill Sulfate Contamination

Environmental Health l Environmental Health is the field of science that studies how the

Environmental Health l Environmental Health is the field of science that studies how the environment influences human health and disease. – – Environmental health comprises those aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, chemical, biological, social, and psychosocial factors in the environment. It also refers to theory and practice of assessing, correcting, controlling, and preventing those factors in the environment that can potentially affect adversely the health of present and future generations. National Institute of Environmental Health Studies World Health Organization

Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center funded by the NIEHS l Investigates a variety of

Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center funded by the NIEHS l Investigates a variety of environmental health and toxicology problems of local concern – – – l l l TCE contamination Arsenic contamination Air Pollution Experts can provide cutting edge information based on their research Outreach can assist with risk communication and discussions with the public http: //swehsc. pharmacy. arizona. edu

Courtesy of the Superfund Basic Research Program at the University of Arizona http: //coep.

Courtesy of the Superfund Basic Research Program at the University of Arizona http: //coep. pharmacy. arizona. edu/tce/whatistce. html

Risk Assessment l l Toxicology is the study of poisons or the adverse effects

Risk Assessment l l Toxicology is the study of poisons or the adverse effects of chemical and physical agents on living organisms. Toxicologists study the extent and type of health problems associated with a particular level of chemical exposure and use what they learn to assess the threat of that chemical to the health of people in particular situations.

Routes of Entry l The toxicant must enter the body to cause a problem

Routes of Entry l The toxicant must enter the body to cause a problem l Inhalation – breathing Ingestion – eating and drinking Absorption – through the skin l l

Questions to ask when an exposure problem is suspected… l Health Problem – –

Questions to ask when an exposure problem is suspected… l Health Problem – – l Hazard – – l What is the source of the problem? How much exposure are people in the area receiving? People – – – l What are the symptoms? What do the affected individuals have in common? Are people exposed to a hazard? What are the routes of exposure? Is the exposure acute or chronic? Connections – – Is a new health problem present? Could the exposure be causing the problem?

Key Words Dose / Response Risk = Hazard X Exposure Individual Sensitivity

Key Words Dose / Response Risk = Hazard X Exposure Individual Sensitivity

TCE General Properties l l l Used as a solvent Nonflammable, colorless liquid @RMT,

TCE General Properties l l l Used as a solvent Nonflammable, colorless liquid @RMT, sweet odor and taste, lipophillic Trade Names: Triclene, Vitran & others EPA classifies TCE as a “likely” cause of cancer National Academy recommends it be labeled as a cause of cancer and other health problems - 2006 Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Public Health Statement for Trichloroethylene, CAS# 79 -01 -6, Sept. 1997.

How does TCE get into our environment?

How does TCE get into our environment?

TCE Plume l l North of Los Reales Rd Hughes Access Road to the

TCE Plume l l North of Los Reales Rd Hughes Access Road to the East and South Highway 89 to the West Plume traveling North (bottom to top of image)

Sources of Exposure l Non-occupational Exposure : – – – l Ingestion (drinking water,

Sources of Exposure l Non-occupational Exposure : – – – l Ingestion (drinking water, food) Inhalation (shower, household products) Contact (shower, bath) Increased exposure from… – – – Living near waste / industrial sites Drinking from private or certain public wells Additive exposures (multiple routes & different chemicals) Source: Wu & Schaum, Exposure Assessment of TCE, Envr Hlth Prspctv, 108 (S 2), 2000.

Source: Adapted from Lash, et al. , Metabolism of Trichloroethylene, Envr Hlth Prspctv, 108

Source: Adapted from Lash, et al. , Metabolism of Trichloroethylene, Envr Hlth Prspctv, 108 (S 2), 2000.

TCE In Drinking Water l l Regulated by – Title 42 U. S. Code

TCE In Drinking Water l l Regulated by – Title 42 U. S. Code – Safe Drinking Water Act (1974, 1977, 1986, & 1996) Maximum Contaminant Limits (MCL) – MCL: 5 ppb l – ATSDR: < 1 cancer death over 30 years MCLG (Goal): 0. 0 ppb l Can’t measure to 0. 0 ppb to verify! Source: 42 U. S. C. s/s 300 f et. seq (1974);

History of TCE Use in Tucson l Industrial activities released TCE into soil and

History of TCE Use in Tucson l Industrial activities released TCE into soil and groundwater from 1950 s to 1970 s. – – U S Air Force Plant 44 162 nd AANG facility Burr-Brown (acquired by Texas Instruments) Many others that are out of business Source: Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) Superfund Information Library Site. 101 W. Irvington Road.

Community Exposure l l l 47, 000 Southside residents were exposed 75% Hispanic, majority

Community Exposure l l l 47, 000 Southside residents were exposed 75% Hispanic, majority low income Risk denied, responsibility dismissed, blurred accountability Increased incidence of cancers, birth defects, & autoimmune diseases Residents said it was the result of technology. Life has no guarantees. Sources: Assessment of Community Contamination: A Critical Approach. Clark et al Pub Hlth Nurs, 19 (5): 354 -365, Sept/Oct 2002. Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment: Tucson International Superfund Site, ADHS, Dec 1996.

Evelina Street l l 34 cancer cases documented Currently several families have only 1

Evelina Street l l 34 cancer cases documented Currently several families have only 1 surviving member In 1991, Tucson’s City Attorney for environmental affairs, T. J. Harrison, recommended the city council to cease asking for federal funds related to Southside treatment Reasons for deaths: smoking, drinking, not using seat belts, and obesity, not TCE exposure

Unified Community Action Board (UCAB) l l Created by Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC)

Unified Community Action Board (UCAB) l l Created by Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) in 1995 by combining the Action Boards of all the possible responsible parties Largest Superfund Site in the country Outreach program involves and empowers the local community as major stakeholders in environmental decisions Stakeholders: General Public, community activists, University of Arizona, Tucson International Airport, the Air Force and RMSC

2006 The National Academy of Sciences Risk Assessment - Health Effects TCE l l

2006 The National Academy of Sciences Risk Assessment - Health Effects TCE l l l Kidney Toxicity and Cancer Liver Toxicity and Cancer Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity Neurotoxicity Respiratory Toxicity and Cancer Immunotoxicity http: //coep. pharmacy. arizona. edu/tce/whatistce. html

References l l l l l Public Health Statement for Trichloroethylene, Agency for Toxic

References l l l l l Public Health Statement for Trichloroethylene, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, CAS# 79 -01 -6, September 1997. Wu, C. and Schaum, J. , Exposure Assessment of Trichloroethylene, Envir Hlth Perspc, v. 108, Suppl. 2, pp. 359 -363, May 2000. Lash, L. , Fisher, J. W. , Lipscomb, J. C. , & Parker, J. C. , Metabolism of Trichloroethylene, Envir Hlth Perspc, v. 108, Suppl. 2, pp. 177 -193, May 2000. 42 U. S. Code s/s 300 f et. seq (1974) Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) Superfund Information Library Site. 101 W. Irvington Road. Clark, L. , Barton, J. A. & Brown, N. J. , Assessment of Community Contamination: A Critical Approach, Public Health Nursing, v. 19, n. 5 pp. 354 -365, September/October, 2002. Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment: Tucson International Superfund Site, Arizona Department of Health Services. December 1996. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. 1 -4 Dioxane, CAS#123 -91 -1; 9/2004. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. Beryllium, CAS#7440 -41 -7; 9/2002.

THANK YOU Based on a presentations to the Tucson Unified Community Action Board by

THANK YOU Based on a presentations to the Tucson Unified Community Action Board by Christine Krikliwy, 8 April 2005