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Health Consultation

Historical Document

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Pathway Assessment for
Churchill County Surface Soils and Residential Indoor Dust
Churchill County, Nevada

Figure 1

NDEP Environmental Cleanup Locations in Churchill County

Fallon Freight Yard

The Fallon Freight Yard occupies 6.35 acres at 380 North Taylor Street. The Southern Pacific Railroad line runs from east to west along the southern boundary of the site. The site is located mile north of U.S. Highway 50 and mile west of State Highway 95. Situated in a multi-use industrial, residential, and limited commercial area, it is surrounded by a chain-link fence. The site consists of a one-story chemical storage shed, an elevated roadway used for loading railcars, and a railroad spur [40].

Since 1920 the property has been owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. From 1926 to 1983, the Truckee Carson Irrigation District (TCID) used it as a maintenance and storage area. The city of Fallon has leased the property since 1984. The site has been used for the storage and maintenance of heavy equipment, hazardous waste, vehicles, chemicals, pipes, pumps, surplus traffic control equipment, and light poles, as well as above-ground storage tanks for diesel and for gasoline [40].

Since 1992 several environmental surveys have been conducted at the site. In January 2000, soil samples confirmed the presence of waste oil, diesel fuel, and PCBs (Arochlor 1254). To determine whether site remediation is needed, the Bureau of Reclamation will conduct a more extensive site sampling investigation in 2003 [40].

ATSDR's Child Health Initiative

ATSDR's Child Health Initiative recognizes that the unique vulnerabilities of infants and children require special emphasis in communities faced with environmental contamination. For this evaluation, ATSDR has taken into account that children could be exposed to environmental contaminants.

Conclusion

Based on the currently available information, ATSDR concludes that the contaminant levels found in residential play yard soils, indoor dust, and non-residential soils are not a public health concern.

Recommendations

None.

References

  1. U.S. Census Bureau. 2000. Census 2000 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, Matrices PL1 and PL2. 2000.

  2. NSHD. Nevada State Health Division. Letter from Mary E. Guinan, Ph.D., M.D. to Jeffrey Koplan M.D., MPH, CDC regarding further assistance to carry out recommendations of the expert panel. March 7, 2001.

  3. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Draft Public Health Action Plan for the Fallon Leukemia Cluster Investigation. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; August 17, 2001.

  4. Barltrop D. The prevalence of pica. American Journal of Diseases in Children. 1966; 112:116-123.

  5. Robischon P. Pica practice and other hand-mouth behavior and children's developmental level. Nursing Research. 1971;20:4-16.

  6. Shellshear ID. Environmental lead exposure in Christchurch children: Soil lead a potential hazard. New Zealand Medical Journal. 1975;81:382-386.

  7. Vermeer DE, Frate DA. Geophagia in rural Mississippi: environmental and cultural contexts and nutritional implications. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1979;32:2129-2135.

  8. Danford DE. Pica and nutrition. Annual Reviews in Nutrition 1982;2:303-322.

  9. Stanek EJ, Calabrese EJ. Daily soil ingestion estimates for children at a Superfund site. Risk Analysis. 2000;20(5):627-635.

  10. Calabrese EJ, Stanek EJ. Soil-pica not a rare event. J. Environmental Science and Health. 1993;A28(2):273-284.

  11. US Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure Factors Handbook, Volume 1 - General Factors. Washington D.C. August 1997.

  12. Calabrese EJ, Stanek EJ. Soil ingestion estimates in children and adults: A dominant influence in site-specific risk assessment. Environmental Law Reporter, News and Analysis. 1998;28:10660-10671.

  13. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Public Health Guidance Manual. Chelsea, Michigan: Lewis Publishers: 1992.

  14. Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. Environmental Sampling Plan, Churchill County, Nevada, Prepared in Support of CDC/NCEH Cross Sectional Assessment Study. December 14, 2001.

  15. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; September 2000.

  16. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Barium. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; July 1992.

  17. Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. Electronic mail communication from Verne Rosse to Brian Kaplan. November 19, 2002.

  18. Bowen, HJM. Environmental chemistry of the elements. New York, NY: Academic Press. 1979.

  19. Schroeder HA. Barium. Air Quality Monograph. American Petroleum Institute, Washington, DC. Air Quality Monograph No. 70-12. 1970.

  20. Shacklette HT, Boerngen JG. Element concentrations in soils and other surficial materials of the conterminous United States. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. No. 1270. 1984.

  21. Beliles RP. The lesser metals. In: Oehme FE, ed. Hazardous and toxic substances. Vol. 2 Toxicity of heavy metals in the environment. Parts 1 and 2, New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, Inc, 547-615. 1979.

  22. US Environmental Protection Agency, Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Revised Interim Soil Lead Guidance for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Corrective Action Facilities; Directive #9355.4-12. August 1994.

  23. Boerngen, Josephine G., and Shacklette, Hansford T. Chemical Analyses of Soils and Other Surficial Materials of the Conterminous United States: Denver, Colorado: US Geological Survey Open-File Report 81-197; 1981.

  24. NAS. National Academy of Sciences. Dietary Reference Intakes. 1997.

  25. US Environmental Protection Agency Region III Risk-Based Concentrations Table. April 12, 1999.

  26. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; August 1995.

  27. US Environmental Protection Agency Memorandum re: Third Party Review of PCB Analytical Result.

  28. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Report of radionuclides in soil and dust. ERoom/Date Interpretation Group folder. Not dated.

  29. US Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental Response Team, Edison, NJ. Vacuum Dust Sampling Methods. 1993.

  30. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Antimony. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; September 1992.

  31. Calabrese EJ, Stanek EJ. What Proportion of Household Dust is Derived from Outdoor Soil? Journal of Soil Contamination, I(3): 253-263. 1992.

  32. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Zinc. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; May 1994.

  33. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 1995. Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 4th ed. Home and Garden Bulletin No. 232. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.

  34. HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank. Deltamethrin. Available at: http://csi.micromedex.com/DATA/HS/HS6604I.htm.exiting atsdr websiteInformation accessed on January 16, 2003.

  35. HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank. 1-Naphthol. Available at: http://csi.micromedex.com/DATA/HS/HS2650.HTM?Top=Yes.exiting atsdr website Information accessed on January 16, 2003.

  36. Peer Reviewed; Gosselin, R.E., R.P. Smith, H.C. Hodge. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1984.,p. II-346.

  37. US Geological Survey, National Geochemical Database: Soil data from the PLUTO geochemcial database: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: US Geological Survey; 2001.

  38. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Trip Report: Fallon, Churchill County, Nevada. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; August 2001.

  39. Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. Spill Database. Carson City, Nevada.

  40. Tetra Tech EM, Inc. Phase II Environmental Site Assessment: Bureau of Reclamation Property, Fallon Freight Yard, 380 North Taylor Street, Fallon, Nevada 89406. September 24, 2001.

  41. Nevada Agricultural Extension. Memorandum from Art Fisher to Gail Scogin re: Dip Tanks. June 10, 2003.

Author

Gail E. Scogin
Environmental Health Scientist
Exposure Investigation Section
Exposure Investigation and Consultation Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

Technical Assistance

Michael Brooks
Health Physicist
Department of Energy Section
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

Steve Martin
Computer Information System Support Contractor
Information Resources Management Branch
Office of Program Operations & Management

Reviewers

John E. Abraham, Ph.D.
Chief, Exposure Investigation and Consultation Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

Susan Metcalf, M.D.
Chief, Exposure Investigation Section
Exposure Investigation and Consultation Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

Susan Moore, M.S.
Chief, Consultation Section
Exposure Investigation and Consultation Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

Frank C. Schnell, Ph.D.
Toxicologist
Petition Response Section
Exposure Investigation and Consultation Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

John Wheeler, Ph.D.
Toxicologist
Consultation Section
Exposure Investigation and Consultation Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

Wendy Kaye, Ph.D.
Chief, Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch
Division of Health Studies

Appendix A. Pesticide Levels in Residential Surface Soil

Substance Number
of Detections		 Minimum Concentration
(ppm)		 Maximum Concentration
(ppm)		 Detection Limit
(ppm) 		Comparison Value
(ppm)
2,4-D 0     0.5 20*
Aldrin 0     0.0017-0.0027 0.04
Atrazine 1 0.046 0.046   70
Carbofuran 0     0.015 10
Chlorpyrifos 3 0.0057 0.825   2
Cis-Chlordane 21 0.0026 0.13   1**
Coumaphos 0     0.3 NA†
Cyfluthrin 0     0.15 50
Cypermethrin 0     0.15 20
Deltamethrin 1 0.179 0.179   NA
Diazinon 19 0.0003 0.807   55
Dieldrin 4 0.0026 0.19   0.2
Dimethoate 0     0.002 0.4
Methyl-Chlorpyrifos 0     0.003 610
DDD, P,P' 10 0.0022 0.0064   3
DDE, P,P' 23 0.0019 0.095   2
DDT, P,P' 10 0.0039 0.16   2
Alpha-Endosulfan 2 0.00068 0.0008   NA
Beta-Endosulfan 2 0.004 0.02   NA
Endosulfan Sulfate 2 0.0021 0.0024   NA
Endrin Aldehyde 3 0.0018 0.0022   NA
Endrin Ketone 1 0.0037 0.0037   NA
Endrin 0     0.0033-0.017 0.6
Guthion 0     2 NA
Heptachlor Epoxide 17 0.00099 0.017   0.08
Heptachlor 2 0.0017 0.0019   0.2
Hexachlorocyclohexane, alpha 2 0.0084 0.001   0.1
Hexachlorocyclohexane, beta 3 0.0029 0.0041   0.4
Hexachlorocyclohexane, delta 0       0.4
Hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma 4 0.00098 0.014   0.02
Isazophos 0     0.001 NA
Isophorone 0     0.003 400
Karbutilate 0     0.33-0.53 NA
Lasso 0     50 20*
Malathion 1 0.229 0.229   40
Methyl Parathion 1 0.0087 0.0087   0.6
Methamidophos 0     0.01 0.1
Methoxychlor 0     0.019 10
1-Naphthol 0     0.015 NA
N,N-Diethyl-3-Methylbenzamide 15 0.0005 0.045   NA
Orthene 0     0.6 80
Parathion 0     0.005 370 (EPA R9)
Permethrin 3 0.025 0.112   100
Pirimiphos 0     0.005 610
Methyl-Pirimiphos 0     0.003 NA
Propoxur 0     0.01 8
Sevin 3 0.058 0.628   200
Toxaphene 1 0.28 0.28   0.6
Trans-chlordane 24 0.0018 0.054   NA
* ATSDR value based on a conservative exposure scenario for children using a chronic EPA reference dose, 10 kg child, and ingestion of 5000 mg soil per day
** Comparison Value for Chlordane
† Not Available


Appendix B. Summary of Pesticides in Indoor Dust


Substance Number
of
Detections		 Minimum
Concentration
(ppm)		 Maximum
Concentration
(ppm)		 Detection
Limit
(ppm)		 Comparison
Value
(ppm)
2,4-D 12 10.3 29 10 500*
Aldrin 0     0.002-0.07 0.04
Atrazine 0     1 70
Carbofuran 0     0.25 10
Cis-chlordane 0     0.002-0.21 1**
Chlorpyrifos 21 0.006 0.53   2
Coumaphos 0     2 NA†
Cyfluthrin 3 24 61   1000
Cypermethrin 1 240 240   500
Deltamethrin 1 0.96 0.96   NA
Diazinon 65 0.001 1.3   55 (EPA R9)
Dieldrin 0     0.005-0.1 0.04
Dimethoate 0     0.5 0.4
Gamma-chlordane 0     0.002-0.3 NA
Methyl-chlorpyrifos 0     1 610 (EPA R9)
DDD, P,P' 0     0.005-0.1 3
DDE, P,P' 0     0.005-0.1 2
DDT, P,P' 0     0.005-0.11 2
Alpha-Endosulfan 0     0.002-0.014 4††
Beta-Endosulfan 0     0.005-0.09 4††
Endosulfan Sulfate 0     0.005-0.1 4††
Endrin Aldehyde 0     0.005-0.27 NA
Endrin Ketone 0     0.005-0.1 NA
Endrin 0     0.005-0.1 0.6
Heptachlor Epoxide 0     0.002-0.09 0.08
Heptachlor 0     0.002-0.4 0.2
Hexachlorocyclohexane, alpha 0     0.07 0.1
Hexachlorocyclohexane, beta 0     0.07 0.4
Hexachlorocyclohexane, delta 0     0.07 NA
Hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma 0     0.07 0.5
Isazophos 0     0.05 NA
Karbutilate 0     50 NA
Lasso 0     0.25 500*
Malathion 6 0.2 14   40
Methyl parathion 0     2 0.6
Methoxychlor 0     0.2-0.7 10
1-Naphthol 26 0.7 5.2   NA
N,N-Diethyl-3-Methylbenzamide 66 0.002 1.78   NA
Orthene 0     6 80
Parathion 0     0.2 370 (EPA R9)
Permethrin 7 0.13 8.8   100
Pirimiphos 0     0.75 610 (EPA R9)
Methyl-pirimiphos 0     0.5 NA
Propoxur 2 0.285 1   8
Toxaphene 0     0.2-7 0.6
* ATSDR Chronic Oral Child RMEG (11/13/2003)
** Comparison Value for Chlordane
† Not Available
† † Comparison Value for Endosulfan

Appendix C. Comments

  1. One commenter identified several corrections and clarifications needed in the document. These items included using the correct spelling of Aroclor, identifying the number of samples collected and analyzed, defining the terms "NA" and "ND", and clarifying one of the references.

    These changes have been made in the document.

  2. A commenter requested that Table 3 indicate whether information on detectable concentrations is reported.

    Table 3 shows the minimum, maximum, and average of detected concentrations and has been modified to clarify this information.

  3. A commenter requested that the total number of samples analyzed be included in a footnote to each table in Appendix A and Appendix B

    The tables have been changed to indicate the number of samples analyzed.

  4. One commenter noted that the document uses the term "contaminant" in referring to compounds that may be naturally occurring. The application of the term to compounds typically found in the environment may confuse the audience and imply that these compounds are present solely as the result of human activity.

    ATSDR added the following sentence to the Discussion section of the document. "A contaminant can be present in the soil and dust both as a result of natural causes and from human activity."

  5. A commenter provided research information and suggested a further search of various local and national records to identify areas of localized arsenic contamination of soil and groundwater from historical cattle dipping operations in Fallon.

    ATSDR contacted the Nevada Agricultural Extension (Extension) for any available information about local cattle dipping practices. Although no information is available on the specific locations of historically used dip tanks, the Extension provided the following details [41]. Since spraying is more economical, dip tanks are now rarely used in the U.S. However, from 1900 to about 1950, in Nevada and throughout the U.S., dip tanks were used to remove ticks from cattle grazing in brushy areas. Overall, tick infestations have been more of a problem in warm, humid areas.

    Dipping tanks were usually deep enough so that the livestock had to swim through them. Typically, dip tanks were 30' long by 3' wide and 5' deep and built so that the rim of the tank was at ground level. While many tanks were made with concrete, some were constructed out of wood.

    The pesticide used before 1940 was a solution of arsenic and oil. However, during World War II, kerosene or diesel fuel was used instead. Later, organochlorine pesticides such as DDT were used until they were eventually replaced by various organophosphates.
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