Document Type

Report

Publication Date

4-7-1993

Abstract

The Petrochem/EkoTek site was operated by several owners as a refinery from 1953 until 1978 and as a hazardous waste storage treatment facility and a petroleum recycling facility from 1978 through 1988. Removal of essentially all petroleum products and hazardous wastes in tanks and drums was accomplished from 1988 - 1991. The process that will lead to the complete clean-up of the facility is ongoing. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1992. Exposure of humans to contaminants in soil and air is thought to have occurred near Petrochem. The source(s) of those contaminants in off-site areas is undetermined. Contaminants found in ambient air cannot be fully evaluated for health implications because of the lack of monitoring during plant operations. Contaminants in the soil are arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, chlordane, dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, pentachlorophenol, and heptachlor epoxide. Children who ingest regularly large amounts (five· grams or more a day) of soil contaminated with the highest levels of arsenic and cadmium have some risk for adverse health effects. The arsenic levels are typical for the Salt Lake City area. The maximum levels of barium could also cause health effects in children according to animal studies. The maximum concentrations of other soil contaminants were not a health concern. There are four ways that humans may have been exposed: surface water, groundwater, soil gas, and waste materials. Surface-water runoff probably transported unknown concentrations of site contaminants to businesses west of the site. Residences and businesses within 1 mile of the site use municipal water for drinking water. Exposure of site and remedial workers to site waste materials may have occurred in the past. The Petrochem/EkoTek site represents an indeterminate public health hazard because the environmental data reviewed are inadequate for fully assessing the possible impact of this site on public health. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommends that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in cooperation with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), better characterize (i.e., what, where, how much, and the source[s] of) off-site groundwater and soil contamination. A TSDR recommends the following public health actions: testing for biological indicators of exposure, a health statistics review, a community health investigation, and community health and health professions education.

Comments

CERCLIS NO. UTD093119196

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