ML072150391
| ML072150391 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 07/17/2007 |
| From: | State of NJ, Dept of Health |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Davis J NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-3835 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML072150391 (11) | |
Text
Dover Township Page I of 11
?~NE~SEYHazardous Site Health
.... P- Evalu.ation Program HEALTH GEMOR 6E1VIC" Public Health Services Dover Township Childhood Cancer Investigation Beginning in 1995. the New Jlersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) examined childhood cancer incidence in Dover Township, Ocean County. and its relationship to environmental contamination. Most of the documents prepared during the course of that investigation are available below. For hard copies of any of these documents, please contact the Hazardous Site Health Evaluation Program at (609) 584-5367, or write to:
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Consumer and Environmental Health Services PO Box 369 Trenton, NJ 08625-0369 Summary of the investigation and findi..us Chronology' of activities Backgroundi Public Health Response Plan 1995 Expanded evaluation of childhood cancer: 1979 - 1995 1996 Drinking Water Qualit. ..9..9.7.
1998 Public Health Assessments: Ciba-(Geigy_,Reich Farm. Dover Tow*vshipi Municipal Landfill 1999 C -a-se._ontrolsttI (ies. 2000 Evaluation of Childhood Cancer: 1996 - 2000 2001 Current Status and Future Plans http://www.state.nj.tLs/health/eoli/hhazweb/dovertwp.htm7/2 7/17/2007
D,over Township Pagae. 2*of I11 2.0_0-3 Summary of the investigation and findings Background The occurrence of childhood cancer has been a concern in the Dover Township/Toms River area of Ocean County for many years. In 1995. the NJDHSS released an analysis of childhood cancer using State Cancer Registry data for the period 1979 through 1991. The finding of a statistically significant elevation in overall childhood cancer heightened community concerns about cancer in children, and its possible relationship to environmental pollution issues in and around the township.
Public Health The NJDHSS has worked closely with the federal Response Plan Aoencv for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSD.)._to evaluate possible risk factors (including environmental exposures), that may be related to the elevated incidence of childhood cancer in Dover Township. The NJDHSS and ATSDR, with community-based input from the Citizens Action Committee on Childhood Cancer Cluster (CACCCC) and the Ocean County Health Department, developed a Public Health Response Plan. The Plan included an update and re-evaluation of childhood cancer rates, public health evaluations of potential environmental exposures to hazardous chemicals in the environment, and public health education efforts. Public health activities were later expanded to include a case-control epidemiologic study.
For more infonrmation, please go to the/iill Public Health Resbon17SePlan-117,or to Health Care Providler UWdaie 41.
Expanded The NJDHSS conducted an expanded evaluation of evaluation of childhood cancer statistics for the period 1979 through childhood 1995, for Ocean County and Dover Township. The cancer: 1979 - report of this analysis was completed and released in 1995 December 1997. Dover Township was found to be the only mlunicipality in Ocean County with a statistically significant elevation in overall childhood cancer rates. In http://www.statenj.us/health/eoh/hlazweb/dovertwp.ht7 /2 7/1 7/2007
Dpver Township Page 3)of I I the township as a whole, as well as ill the Toms River section of the town, both leukemias and brain cancers were elevated, palticuIlarly among female children under age 5 years.
Fofr more it/formation,please go to the Summary Document o/the consiltation.the associatedCiti:en's mui(de. or the f-lea/lti (arc Provi.der L,)dne.
Drinking One issue that residents voiced was concern over the water quality quality of drinking water firom the community water supply. In response, the New Jlersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection launched an extensive analysis of the community water supply, beginning with schools in the Toms River area in March 1996. The Drinking Water Quality Analyses March 1996 - June 1999; United Water Toms River Public Health Consultation summarized three years of chemical and radiological analyses of the community drinking water supply. A previously unknown chemical contaminant related to the Reich Farm site - styrene-acrylonitrile trimer -- was identified in the Parkway well field (one of the supply's eight well fields), resulting in the closure of two wells and an expanded water treatment system. Also, the testing program led to the development of a new sampling and analysis method to mneasure radiological activity in water. Long-term toxicologic testing of the new chemical contaminant is in progress, under the direction of the USEPA.
For more intormalion, /)lease go the Drinkingrater Qulit']_inab_,_ __L fi.are/i 1996 -,h1J7e 1999: O/nited Wa;er Toms River Pu/lic Heal/h Consultlationor the associated-Citizen; Gui(/e.. Also available are Henlth Care Provider Update 44 which describes sapip/ng iethods andearlny/resltds, or Hen/_/i CCIar-e Prov'ider Updatl 8
- 5o theintal resulls (I/d conclusions.
tr Public Health Public Health Assessments to evaluate potential human Assessments: exposures to the Ciba-Geigy and Reich Farm Superfund Ciba Geigy, sites and the Dover Township Municipal Landfill were conducted, beginning in 1996. Their purpose was to Reich Farm and evaluate past and present environmental exposures in the Dover http://www.state.nj.Lus/health/eol/hhazweb/dovertwp.hti7 /
7/17/2007
Dover Township Page 4 of 11 Township Dover Township.
Municipal Landfill Ciba-Geigy Beginning in 1952, the Ciba-Geigy Corporation site (formerly Toms River Chemical) was used for the production of organic dyes and intermediate products, epoxy resins, and specialty chemicals. Manufacturing ceased during the years between 1990 and 1996. Solid and liquid wastes from the manufacturing processes were disposed of in about 20 areas on the site's property, causing, soil and groundwater contamination. Between 1952 and 1966, treated wastewater was discharged directly into the Toms River. For the next 25 years, until 1991. treated wastewater was pumped into the Atlantic Ocean by way of a ten-mile long pipeline.
The Ciba-Geigy Corporation Site Public Health Assessment concluded that the site posed a public health hazard because of past exposures to chemical contaminants in the community drinking water supply and in private wells. Because of measures to interrupt exposure, the site was considered to pose no apparent public health hazard under present conditions, but that ongoing and planned efforts to clean the groundwater and contaminated soils on site are necessary to prevent future exposure.
For niore in/brmaiion,please see the Ciba.-Ge'ioH._L7 Assessment. its Citizen's Guide, or Health Care Provider
- t. :...
Reich Farm In 1971, over 4.500 dlrums of chemical waste were illegally dumped at the Reich Farm. This led to the contamination of local groundwater, the source of drinking water for the area. In 1974, organic chemicals were found in private wells in Pleasant Plains near the Reich Farm site. Most chemical testing at that time was -
not specific enough to identify individual organic compounds. Phenolic compounds were also found in nearby private wells two years later.
http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/dovertwp.htm 7/17/2007
Dover Township Page 5 of I I In 1986, additional private wells in Pleasant Plains and certain community wells at the Parkway well field were found to be contaminated with volatile and/or semi-volatile organic compounds. Contaminants included trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and others.
Finally, in 1996, styrene-acrylonitrile trimer was discovered in several of the wells in the Parkway well field. This compound, which was present but unidentified in earlier water quality tests, was one of the chernicals dumped at the Reich Farm site in 1971.
The Reich Farm site Public Health Assessment concluded that the site was a public health hazard because of past exposures to chemical contaminants in the community water supply and in private wells.
Because of measures to interrupt exposure, the site was considered to pose no apparent public health hazard under present conditions.
For more info)rmation,/)lease sCee the Reich Farm Public Health Asessn.en*, the associate'dCitizen'S Gui*l,. o#"
Health Care Pr'ovier Q./)daie #8.
Dover Township Municipal Landfill Private wells on roads adjacent to the Dover Township Municipal Landfill were found to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds and lead. The contaminants found in the private wells were similar to those found in monitoring wells on the landfill, although sources other than the landfill may have contributed to the lead levels.
Wells in the Silverton section of Dover Township, located more than one mile east of the landfill, were also contaminated with volatile organic compounds. The source of contamination has not been established by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The Dover Township Municipal Landfill Public Health Assessment concluded that the site was a public health hazard because of past exposures to chemical contaminants in private wells. Because of measures to http://www.state.nj.iis/health/eoh/hhazweb/dovertwp.htm7 /2 7/17/22007
Dover Township Page 6 of I1 interrupt exposure, the site was considered to pose no apparent public health hazard at present.
For 11701"e infbrnation, please see the Dover Toi..l7,5'/in Aiiuiiei ai Land/7'll Put/lic Health Assessmene, the associacted Citizen's Guide, or _Htealth1_Care Provider Upicate #8.
Case-control Based on findings from the previously discussed studies sections of the Public Health Response Plan, an epidemiologic study was launched in 1998.
In 1998 and 1999, the NJDHSS and the ATSDR collected data for an epidemiologic case-control study of childhood cancer in Dover Township. The purpose of the study was to identify risk factors (including environmental exposures) that may be associated with the elevated cancer incidence. As part of the epidemiologic study, the ATSDR developed complex computer models of the community water supply to evaluate risk associated with access to specific water sources. Similarly, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute developed computer models of dispersion of air contaminants from emission sources in the township. These models were used in the epidemiologic study to estimate exposures to air pollution and drinking water sources to study subjects.
The report of the epidemiologic study was released for public comment in December 2001, and the final version was released in January 2003. The study found that prenatal exposure to two environmental factors in the past were associated with increased risk of leukemia in female children. These exposures were: I) access to drinking water from the Parkway well field after the time that the well field was most likely' to be contaminated, and 2) air pollutant emissions from the Ciba-Geigy chemical manufacturing plant. These exposures are no longer occurring, due to closure of the Ciba-Geigy plant and remedial actions by' state and federal environmental agencies.
http://www.state.ni.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/dovertwp.hti/2 7/I17/2007
Dover Township Pa-e 7 of I I For more in/orniation on the case-controls'tudy.
The situdy report was releaseLd intfive volumes:
[L0111117e I.-.Summary othe Final Techl7nical Report.
_lolune II. Final Technical Reporl;
.......i Tab-e-L----
i..,ui" I:e Tchnt- ical.Rlp ig.r.-s, Volume III: Technical Report Tablenices: atd
'olumne .1: Resp)onse to Public Comment.
There is also a citizen's guide.
Evaluation of One of the recommendations in the final report of the childhood epidemiologic study was to continue surveillance of cancer: 1979- childhood cancer in Dover Township. The NJDHSS 2000 completed an analysis of childhood cancer incidence including five additional years of data (1 996-2000), and released a report to the public in January 2003. The analysis found that overall childhood incidence remained elevated in the latest five year period, but that incidence among children under age five years was below expected, indicating that cancer incidence rates may be decreasing.
For more information. please see the Childhood Cancer Incidence ULclate: A Review and Analysi. of/Cancer Regisfrv Data, 1979-2000, for Dover Toiw'nship (Ocean Countf)_New krseyFinal TehCtical Report. Al so available are a cilizen's guide aiwi a Health Care Provi.der Uipdate.
Current status Environnental exposures related to hazardous waste and future sites that were identified through the activities of the plans Public Health Response Plan are no longer occurring.
The Ciba-Geigy chemical manufacturing plant was closed in 1996. State and federal environmental agencies have undertaken or overseen remedial actions at the Reich Farm and Ciba-Geigy sites.
The NJDHSS plans to continue its surveillance of childhood cancers in Dover Township, and will report statistical analyses when an additional five years of data are available (2001 - 2005).
Chronology of activities 1995 The NJDHSS responded to a request for information from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/dovertwp.htm7/ 7/1 7/2007
Dover Township Page 8 of II Registry on Torns River childhood cancer rates.
NJDHSS reported that children under the age of five years who lived in Ocean County, and in the Toms River area of Dover Township had higher rates of brain and central nervous system cancers than other children in New Jersey.
1996 A Public H-ealth Response Plan was completed in June 1996 to define the series of actions planned to investigate childhood cancer in Dover Township. The Plan was developed jointly by the NJDHSS and the ATSDR, with input firom the Citizens Action Committee on Childhood Cancer Cluster.
A newsletter for health care providers was initiated in August 1996. Hlealth Care Provider Update #1 summarized the purpose of and activities that were included in the Public Health Response Plan. Two additional newsletters were published in November 1996 that provided site history, contaminants found, and expected time friame for completing the Ciba-Geigv and Reich Farm Public Health Consultations.
1997 Health Care Provider Update #4, The Public Water Supply Health Consultation, summarized the ongoing analysis of the public water supply.
A second analysis of childhood cancer incidence in Dover Township and the Toms River area of the Township was conducted to include four additional years of cancer data. Childhood cancer rates remained elevated. The Summary Document is available here.
The full Dover Township Childhood Cancer Health Consultation is available from the NJDHSS. A 2 page Citizen's Guide, as well as a Health Care Provider U.pdpate. describe the findings of the consultation.
Based on this childhood cancer incidence health consultation, as well as preliminary tindings of the Cibar Geigy and Reich Farm health assessments, planning began for a case-control epidemiologic study. Its purpose is to evaluate the relationship between specific environmental exposures and childhood cancers.
http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/dovertwp.hlin7/ 7/17/2007
Dover Township Page 9 of I1 The first Dover Township Childhood Cancer Investigation Progress Report was released in September 1997.
1998 Health Care Provider Update #6 summlarized the planned childhood cancer epidemiologic study.
The ATSDR released its progress report, Public Health Concerns in Dover Township.
1999 During the development of the Reich Farm Public Health Assessment, a high level of community concern regarding the Dover Township Municipal Landfill was raised to NJDHSS and ATSDR. As a result, a health assessment was also conducted for the landfill. Public Comment drafts of both the Reich Farm and the Dover Township Municipal Landfill Public Health Assessments were released, as well as their respective citizen's guides. Also released was the Public Comment draft of the Drinking WaterQuality Analysis Public Health Consultation.
An Interim Report of the Case-control Study of QbChJ1h3ood Cancers in DQover Townshv-i_
p (.O-c-ean.- Count',),
New .lersey was released to the community in December, with its Citizen's Guide summarizing the stud-y methods and the observations to date.
2000 Information from the Interim Report was the topic of Health Care Provider Update #7, Childhood Cancer Epidemiologic Studv Interim Report and Next Steps.
The Public Comment draft of the Ciba-Geigy Public Health Assessment was released.
2001 Three final Public Health Assessments and one Health Consultation evaluating human exposures to environmental contamination were released. These are:
Ciba-Geigy Public Health Assessment and Citizen's Guide Reich Farm Public Health Assessment and Citizen's Guide
- ------- h ip M . n c L Landfill Public -,Dover TownshiprMLInicpal Health http://www.state.iij.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/dovertwp.htm7/0 7/17/2007
Dover Township Page 10 of II Assessment and Citizen's Guide Drinking Water Quality Analyses March 1996 - June 1999: United Water Tomns River Public Health Consultation and Citizen's Guide.
Health Care Provider Update #8 summarized the above four documents in the Environmental_ Health Investigations in Dover Township newsletter.
The Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute completed the report "Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling Analyses to Supportthe Dover Township ChiJdho!Qod Cancer Ep.ide_.iolooic Study.,. Its purpose was to estimate the relative concentrations of air contaminants in specific houses from 1962 through 1996 (the study time period) for use in the epidemiologic study.
The ATSDR released its report describing the community's water supply for the years 1962 through 1996 in "Historical Reconstruction of the Water Distribution System Serving the bover Township Area, New Jersey: January 1962 - December 1996." This report is available in a PDF version and an IITML version. A summary of the-report is also available.
The draft Case-Control Study of Childhood Cancers in Dover Township (Ocean County), New Jersey, was released for public comment.
Dover Township Childhood Cancer Investigation Progress Report #3 was published.
2003 The Case-control Study of Childhood Cancers in Dover Township (Ocean County), New' Jersey, was finalized and released in five volumes:
V.O.! I1.: SurI.i.nI...
. .ary. of the Final Technical R.Cp.Qut. PDF I34K1B Volume II: Final Technical Report PDF 177KB Volume III: Technical Report Tables and Figures PDF littp://www.state.nj .Lus/hiealthi/eo h/lilazweb/dovertwp.litini 7/17/2007
Dover Township Page 1l of I I 1,207KB VOlume IV: Technical Report App.encdices PDF451KB Volume V: Response to-Pu~blic Comment PDF 8)9K3 Also published was a ide.
dItzenss One of the recommendations of the case-control study was to re-evaluate and update childhood cancer incidence. The report Childhood Cancer Incidence Update: A Review and Analysis of Cancer Registry Data, 1979-2000, for Dover Township (Ocean Count*i New .lersey Final Technical Repopt provides this information. Also available is a citizen's guide.
The resuIts of both the childhood cancer incidence update report and the case-control study of childhood cancer were summarized in Health Care Provider Update #9.
LS'ras rdch 104ome Last Updated: 08/09/2004 08:41:42 http://www.state.nji.us/heaIlth/eoh/hhazweb/dovertwp. ht7 7/17/2007
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