with structures or gravel. A low level of residual
from a service station at the intersection of Riggs
Libby asbestos was detected at one location inside
Road and Eastern Avenue in Chillum. EPA is
the facility, but no asbestos fibers were found in
investigating the source of the perc plume.
the air sample collected
Since 1989, gasoline has leaked
inside the former processing
or has been released into the
building.
ground from the service station.
Several federal and state govern-
A health consultation
ment agencies have conducted
released in September 2003
investigation, remediation, and
made conclusions about
assessment activities at this site
exposure to current and
since 1990. The primary route
former workers and past and
of human exposure at the site is
present community members.
inhalation of indoor air poten-
In the past, people who
tially contaminated through
worked at the facility were
vapor intrusion. Vapor intrusion
exposed to hazardous levels
occurs when vapors move up
of asbestos. People who lived Interior of the EPA's trace atmospheric
through the soil and into nearby
with former workers were
gas analyzer (TAGA) bus. TAGA
buildings.
probably also exposed to
was used for real-time sampling of
hazardous levels from fibers
residences near the Chillum site.
For a health consultation
carried home on workers'
released in January 2004, ATSDR reviewed active
hair and clothing. For current workers, the site
soil gas data collected in 2002 and initial indoor
poses no apparent public health hazard from
air data collected in April 2003. The soil gas data
asbestos. Although trace levels of Libby asbestos
showed that perc and gasoline constituents--
were detected in an isolated area inside the facility,
benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and
that area is not accessible to workers. Future
methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE)--were present.
disturbances or renovation of the area, however,
Five residences have perc soil vapor concentrations
could result in hazardous exposures.
at a level high enough to be a low, theoretical
increased risk for cancer. Soil vapor concentrations
Not enough data are available to determine
of benzene and MTBE were below those
whether people who lived near the plant in the
associated with any appreciable risk for adverse
past were exposed to hazardous levels of Libby
health effects from subsurface vapor intrusion into
asbestos. Community exposure to Libby asbestos
residences. In the initial indoor air samples, six
from plant emissions or from on-site asbestos-
VOCs were detected at very low levels. Additional
contaminated materials poses no current public
indoor air sampling is needed to better characterize
health hazard. Not enough data are available to
the exposure and the extent of vapor intrusion.
determine whether individuals are being exposed
to Libby asbestos from waste that may have
ATSDR classified this site as an indeterminate
been used for a variety of purposes, such as fill,
public health hazard because of limited indoor
driveway surfacing, or soil amendments.
air data and a lack of environmental data for
potentially affected locations, such as the church in
Chillum Gasoline/Perchloroethylene--EPA
the area.
Region 3 asked ATSDR to review active soil vapor
sampling data and provide recommendations
Montgomery Country Club--In May 2002, EPA
in a public health consultation for the Chillum
perchloroethylene (perc or PCE) site. A community
member also petitioned ATSDR to evaluate
Harbor School on the Montgomery Country Club
in Bethesda pose a public health hazard. In a May
2002 health consultation, ATSDR concluded that
and perc plume that originated in Maryland and
expanded into the Lamond-Riggs Park community
in soil in the common areas and in the playground
in Washington, D.C. The gasoline plume came
at Montgomery County Country Club do not pose
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