occupied at the time of sampling but unoccupied
Soil-vapor concentrations of benzene and MTBE
when ATSDR received the data. The building
were below levels associated with any appreciable
occupants lived in the house for less than 1 year.
risk for adverse health effects from subsurface
The property remains vacant with the potential for
vapor intrusion into residences. In the initial indoor
the university to lease it to another tenant.
air samples, six volatile organic compounds were
detected at very low levels. Additional indoor
ATSDR concluded that low levels of volatile and
air sampling is needed to better characterize the
semivolatile substances in indoor air at the home
exposure and extent of vapor intrusion.
pose no apparent public health hazard to adult or
child occupants. ATSDR recommended conducting
ATSDR classified this site as an indeterminate
further confirmatory sampling at the property, the
public health hazard because of limited indoor air
first phase focusing on deep and shallow soil gas. If
data and a lack of environmental data for potentially
results indicate, further indoor air sampling should
affected locations, such as the church in the area.
be conducted.
ATSDR is preparing a second health consultation to
An ATSDR Web page summarizing the agency's
review additional indoor air data collected by EPA
activities at the Spring Valley/American University
on the basis of ATSDR's recommendations in the
site is available at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/
first health consultation for this site.
springvalley.
Kenilworth Park Landfill--ATSDR is early in the
Chillum Gasoline/Perchloroethylene (PCE)--The
process of developing a health consultation for the
Chillum site is near Chillum, Maryland, on the
Kenilworth Park landfill.
border of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
An exposure investigation collects information about
specific human exposures through biologic sampling,
the affected community is in the Lamond-Riggs
personal monitoring, related environmental assessment,
Park community in the District of Columbia.
and exposure-dose reconstruction. Following is an
example of an exposure investigation conducted in the
been detected beneath the homes in this area. The
District of Columbia.
gasoline plume came from a service station at the
intersection of Riggs Road and Eastern Avenue in
Spring Valley (American University)--In
Chillum. EPA is investigating the source of the PCE
February 2001, ATSDR conducted an exposure
plume.
investigation for children and staff in a day-care
center on the American University campus.
Since 1989, gasoline has leaked or has been
ATSDR tested hair from 33 children and staff for
released into the ground from the service station.
arsenic. Results indicated that hair arsenic levels
Several federal and state government agencies
were within normal levels.
have conducted investigation, remediation, and
assessment activities at the site since 1990. The
In March 2002, ATSDR conducted an exposure
primary route of human exposure at the site is
investigation for Spring Valley residents whose
inhalation of indoor air potentially contaminated
through vapor intrusion. Vapor intrusion occurs
levels in residents' hair and urine were in the range
when vapors move up through the soil and into
of the general population; these levels are not
nearby buildings.
expected to cause any health problems.
For a health consultation released in January 2004,
In June 2003, ATSDR conducted a third exposure
ATSDR reviewed active soil-gas data collected in
investigation using urine screening only. This
2002 and initial indoor air data collected in April
exposure investigation included individuals who
2003. The soil-gas data showed that PCE and
participated in the first phase of the exposure
gasoline constituents--benzene, toluene, xylene,
investigation; who were living on, or adjacent to,
ethylbenzene, and methyl tertiary butyl ether
property that was being remediated; or who had a
(MTBE)--were present. Five residences have PCE
soil vapor concentrations at levels high enough
exposure investigation assessed whether current
to be a low theoretical increased risk for cancer.
exposure to arsenic is occurring when residents are
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