with industrial releases from the base, and two
In September 2003, ATSDR released an updated
potential environmental exposure situations (lead
public health assessment because people in the
community raised new concerns and additional
not. ATSDR evaluated possible hazards associated
data are now available. This updated public
with these five exposure situations and concluded
health assessment examines data about fish
that they are not of health concern.
during the 1980s, and potential public health
In a final public health assessment released in
issues associated with the manufacturing of
December 2003, ATSDR recommended that
chlorobenzene products.
children be kept away from chipped paint surfaces
in base housing to prevent exposure to lead-
based paint and that residents contact the Family
marine life in Red Lion Creek. In 20002001, an
Maintenance Office with concerns about severely
ecologic risk assessment was conducted for the
chipped surfaces. ATSDR concurred with DAFB's
Metachem site. The assessment included analyzing
and Delaware's lead exposure assessment and
samples of four types of fish collected from the
screening programs. Parents who are concerned
creek. ATSDR classified the ingestion pathway as
about their children's exposure to lead should
no apparent health hazard because a fish advisory
discuss this with their children's health care
issued by DNREC and the Delaware Division of
providers.
Public Health has been in effect for fish caught
in the Red Lion Creek since 1986. In addition,
surface drinking-water intakes on the creek and
under one housing area on-base, concentrations
shallow wells near Metachem have been closed;
are expected to decrease as a result of DAFB's
all drinking water wells within 1.5 miles of the site
ongoing remedial efforts. If monitoring indicates
found; and fields near the site and crops grown in
ATSDR recommends that DAFB consider indoor
the fields are unlikely to have been contaminated
air sampling in buildings above the plume.
with chemicals from the site.
Standard Chlorine/Metachem Products--
With regard to community concern about exposure
ATSDR conducted a public health assessment
from spills, ATSDR classified current exposure
of the Metachem Products site in New Castle in
to the site as no apparent public health hazard for
response to public health concerns expressed by
local residents because they are not exposed to the
a representative of a citizens' group in the area.
chemicals on the site.
A spokesperson for the group, "Stop Metachem
Products LLC," expressed concerns about whether
ATSDR does not know whether the site was a
people in the area were being exposed to chemicals
health hazard during the two large spills in the
from the Metachem Products plant. A previous
1980s and during the containment and removal
public health assessment of the site, when the plant
activities after the spills. Monitoring data do not
and property were owned by Standard Chlorine of
exist to determine any possible exposures.
Delaware, was issued in March 1989. Metachem
From the limited data ATSDR reviewed, the
purchased the facility from Standard Chlorine in
nearby privately owned ball field area does not
1998.
appear to be contaminated with chemicals from the
The 1989 public health assessment concluded that
site; therefore, use of the ball field should not be a
the site was a potential public health hazard to
public health hazard.
on-site employees and remedial workers through
ATSDR agrees with EPA that restrictions should
direct contact with the soil. The public health
be placed on the property deed to prevent future
assessment also concluded that area residents who
activities at the site that would disturb any capped
use nearby surface waters for fishing may be at
contaminated areas. ATSDR also agrees with EPA
increased risk for possible adverse health effects
that measures are needed to prevent the use of the
through direct contact with the water and through
Columbia aquifer near the site for drinking water.
ingestion of fish that bioaccumulate site-related
If these measures are put in place and the site
Previous Page
