Volatile Organic Compounds

Assessments began to take place in the mid 1980’s, shortly after the site made the National Priorities list in 1983. Relevant standards and guidance levels were used to measure the effect of the Helen Kramer Landfill. The initiation of the EPA’s remedial investigation and feasibility study deemed the nature of the Helen Kramer landfill as an extreme risk to the environment, characterizing the site “by randomly placed, uncompacted, and uncovered refuse, with numerous settlement cracks which vented methane and water vapor” (2). According to the EPA, several million gallons of chemical wastes and over two million cubic yards of solid waste were estimated to have been disposed of at the landfill (2). Studies were performed by the EPA, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, federal natural resource trustees in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to evaluate the onsite and nearby environmental effects due to the landfill. During these studies, contaminants were detected in air, sediments, and aquifers, including high levels of volatile organic compounds and heavy metals in the air and sediments. VOCS and heavy metals expose humans to carcinogens, developmental toxicants, and reproductive toxicants. The assessments also detected numerous contaminants such as (but not limited to),

The southern portion is being cleaned up by the Air Force under Superfund. The reason the northern portion of the base is being clean up under the Safe Drinking Water Act is because it is currently still being used for training by the Army. The Air Force no longer uses the southern portion for training purposes. There are 10 major plumes of concern. Each site has been contaminated by chemical/fuel spills, fire training activities, landfills, and drainage structures.

Protecting the environment from toxic contaminants such as pesticide, herbicide, and other Solvents are vital to the survival of the inhabitants of the respective environment. This is important because such contaminants, when released into the environment can create devastating health problems such as cancer in humans. This paper will evaluate three of the many carcinogenic chemicals that have the propensity to cause cancer and other health problems. Therefore, the paper will evaluate Agent Orange, DDT, and Benzene.

Prior to the late 1950s the site was used as an excavation pit for sand and gravel. The quarry was subsequently used for the disposal of waste materials from 1950 until 1966. 10 acres of the 28-acre site has been used as a disposal area for several hazardous waste contaminants that included volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, vinyl chloride and xylene; other organics such as phenols and PCBs as well as lead. The main area of contamination is in the southern half of the 10 acre area which encompasses about 6 acres which

Protecting the environment from toxic contaminants such as pesticide, herbicide and other Solvents are vital to the survival of the inhabitants of the respective environment. This is important because such contaminants, when released into the environment can create devastating health problems such as cancer in humans. This paper will evaluate three of the many carcinogenic chemicals that have the propensity to cause cancer and other health problems. Therefore, the paper will evaluate Agent Orange, DDT, and Benzene.

The next Superfund that has greatly influenced the environment of Butler County is the Skinner Landfill. The Landfill is on 85 acres in West Chester (2). The facility was privately owned and was never actually licensed, so it closed in the 1970's (5). The landfill contains about 100 drums of chlorinated organics, and heavy metals. Along with the presence of the drums is the fact that a nearby lagoon was once used as a disposal for these contaminants, and that the site had problems with unauthorized dumping (5). Fortunately, no contaminants have been discovered leaving the site (5). The presence of these

John-Manville Corp is the site of 150-acre asbestos disposal. Around 3 million cubic yards of specification products and wastewater sludge were disposed of at the site. They stopped operations in the site in 1998 and former manufacturing buildings were torn down in 2000-2001. Asbestos is the main problem, during clean up asbestos contamination was found outside of the fence line. Outboard Marine Corporation is on the north section of the Waukegan Harbor. It was an outboard-boat-motor manufacturing plant. The contaminants include PCB’s, OMC that are used in hydraulic fluids, and TCE. Yeoman Creek Landfill is on the northwest side of Waukegan. The landfill was open from 1959-1969. The landfill did not have a bottom liner and the soil was permeable. The liquid from the landfill contained chemicals with elevated concentrations of metals and ammonia. Gas from the landfill was detected off site. North Shore Gas North Plant has was contaminated with residuals the past plan operations. North Shore Gas South Plant includes 1.9 acre former MGP facility along Pershing Road and bordering areas where MGP residuals are now found. MGP’s are industrial facilities that produced gas from coal, oil, and other

In 1969 it was discovered that the site was leaching due to a lack of a bottom liner. The landfill was leaching volatile organic compounds (VOC), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and explosive landfill gases (LFG).

What has been brought to light in recent years is the effects of these chemicals on the body’s immune response. By introducing these toxic chemicals into the body, the potency of the immune system is compromised. More commonly than not, the body’s magnificent defense system will kick in and destroy foreign invaders but all it can take is an overwhelming amount of chemicals to slow or even shut down the body’s response systems. A large amount of these types of chemicals introduced into the body at one time would be considered acute toxicity and could even cause death. Additionally, a small amount of these poisonous substances brought into the body over a long period would be considered chronic toxicity and can have detrimental effects on the body’s natural response (Hoernschemeyer 55-57). This information is startling enough to want to make a change from conventionally grown food to pesticide-free organic

Toluene - Toluene is a solvent that has been shown to cause severe allergic reaction, inflammation, and immune system malfunction. It has also been shown to interfere with the proper functioning of your nervous system.

Among all chemicals found at Love Canal, some caused minor health effects, such as skin irritation caused by dibromoethane and benzoic acid, but others were more serious. Since the chemicals became airborne, they caused respiratory conditions as well. Some of the major chemicals associated with Love Canal include benzaldehyde, which is an allergen, and benzene, which is a skin irritant with chronic effects, such as leukemia and anemia. Carbon tetrachloride is tied to acute effects, such as hepatitis and kidney damage, and chronic effects, such as liver tumors. Chloroform caused central nervous narcosis, skin and respiratory irritation, and stomach symptoms. The main chemical found was dioxin, which was most severe in its health effects; chronic effects included nervous system disorders and psychological

These substances not only trigger liver, heart, kidney and nervous system deterioration, but also cause lung impairment and cancer.

Most on-base contamination was because of past disposal of hazardous waste due to their activities like maintenance of aircraft, tanks, and trucks, landfill operations etc that contributed to the contamination of soil and groundwater. The contaminants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, 1,2- dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, Chloromethane, trichloroethylene (TCE), total 1,2-dichloroethene (1,2-DCE), trans-1,2-DCE, and vinyl chloride, spent oils, fuels, PCB, pesticides (44-DDD and 44-DDT), metals and herbicides.

Later the EPA admitted that people who work at the West Lake Landfill have to be cautious and careful to protect their health. According to Veronica LaCapra’s report, "Landfill Fire Threatens Nuclear Waste Site Outside St. Louis." if the Westlake Landfill’s soil is disarranged, “radioactive dust particles could be released into the atmosphere.” Unfortunately, it may lead to the inhalation of airborne radioactive dust particles. If these particles are inhaled by workers it could seriously harm their health. The EPA suggested that continued monitoring is advised and necessary, due to possible elevated levels of radon in the air at the landfill and the surrounding area. It seems full safety processes must be put into place to reduce harmful dusting to protect everyone from potential exposure during any cleanups.

Even if you haven’t heard of it, a chemical named Chlorpyrifos, or better known as Dow Chemical Company’s Nerve Gas Pesticide, may be inside you. This pesticide, which belongs to a class of chemicals developed as a nerve gas made by Nazi Germany, is now found in food, air, and drinking water. Studies show that it damages the brain and reduces I.Q.s while causing tremors among children. It has also been linked to lung cancer