HEALTH CONSULTATION

PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP LANDFILL
PINE GROVE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CERCLIS NO. PAD981045933

March 13, 1998

Prepared by:

Exposure Investigation and Consultation Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF ISSUES

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Region III requested the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to review air monitoring data obtained from Pine Grove Landfill Site and assess the public impact of the contamination that was detected.

The Pine Grove Landfill is an active facility and occupies about 78 acres in a rural area on Schultz Road in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania. The site is bordered to the north and west by Interstate 85, and to the east by Schultz Road. In 1995, contractors for the landfill owners performed on-site and off-site air sampling using SUMMA canisters. Trace amounts of volatile organics were detected along with hydrogen sulfide in the range of 1- 4 parts per billion (ppb). The maximum level of hydrogen sulfide detected was at 34 ppb.

EPA's Site Assessment Technical Assistance collected air samples at the landfill during August 1997. A total of 19 air samples were collected upwind and downwind of the site. The samples were analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulfide. The analytical results indicated that hydrogen sulfide was not detected in any of the samples, however, trace levels of certain VOCs were detected.

The following chemicals were detected in air samples at the indicated maximum concentrations: toluene 3.2 parts per billion by volume (ppbv); ethylbenzene 17 ppbv; xylene 60 ppbv; 1,3,5 trimethylbenzene 1.5 ppbv; 1,2,4 trimethylbenzene 8.1 ppbv; and acetone 370 ppbv.

DISCUSSION

An evaluation of the data indicates that only a few chemicals were detected in the air samples. Acetone (370 ppbv) and hydrogen sulfide (34 ppbv) represent the highest levels of chemicals detected at this site. The site is located in a rural area, therefore, it is unlikely that people will frequent this site, except for on-site workers. The maximum concentration of acetone at this level is well below ATSDR's intermediate Environmental Media Exposure Guide (EMEG) of 13,000 ppb. Furthermore, hydrogen sulfide is well below its EMEG of 500 ppb. In general, contaminants that are detected below the EMEG do not pose a health hazard to the public. Therefore, the concentrations of acetone and the other chemicals detected in air samples at this site do not pose a health hazard to the public or to on-site workers.

CONCLUSIONS

The chemicals detected in ambient air samples at this site do not pose a health hazard.

RECOMMENDATIONS

None

		Robert L. Williams, Ph.D Toxicologist
	Concurrence:	Richard Canady, Ph.D.,DABT Toxicologist