GREEN MONSTER INCORPORATED, FENWAY MISSOURI

INTRODUCTION

This public health assessment is in response to a petition filed by residents of Fenway Missouri, a rural community in southwest Missouri. Residents observed the presence of abandoned drums near Green Monster Industries, a drum and waste reclamation site that neighbors Fenway's eastern border. Recent environmental monitoring indicated elevated levels of Benzene in private wells. The community members voiced concern about their exposure to this contamination and their health. These concerns are summarized as the following:

• Can exposure to benzene in drinking water cause heart problems?
• Can stomach or bowel problems be caused by drinking benzene-contaminated water?
• Can drinking benzene-contaminated water hurt my liver?
• Can drinking benzene-contaminated water hurt my kidneys?

Note: These concerns emerged from the community meetings, and their informal perception of prevalent problems among community members. Communities are often concerned that their exposure caused whatever health issue they suffer from currently.

BACKGROUND

The contamination is currently thought to be coming from the Green Monster property, which lies 0.75 miles directly east of Fenway, and is situated upgradient with respect to groundwater flow. Green Monster Inc. was in operation since 1970. From approximately 1973 through 2010, the company processed drums used in the storage of waste fuels and other industrial byproducts. Supplier records indicated that 551, 55-gallon drums of benzene-contaminated waste were delivered to the facility from 1972 to 2008. Disposal records indicate that two drums of benzene waste were manifested as hazardous waste in 1983, leaving the disposal of the remaining 549 drums unaccounted for. Past and present employees have testified to several incidents of spills and other releases. Reportedly, the piping used to transport benzene within their closed loop processing system would get clogged or components failed, creating spills.

A release of 10,000 gallons of benzene-contaminated cutting oil on Green Monster property was reported to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on February 7, 1983. The company removed the contaminated soil and placed it in one of the abandoned unlined lagoons on their property. Due to numerous subsequent violations, the plant closed in January 2010. In May and June of 2011, private water well sampling was conducted for MDNR by a private contractor for a phase II remedial investigation.

This comprehensive round of sampling surveyed 360 wells in Fenway. The current known area of contamination includes 82 wells and two springs (one of which is used for drinking water), with detectable levels of benzene. Benzene levels for the contaminated wells ranged from 1 ppb to 327 ppb. Forty-eight of the contaminated wells and both springs contained benzene levels above 5 ppb (1).

Approximately 513 people live among 138 households in Fenway, Missouri. The population of the site is 99 percent white, with one-half percent Native American and one-half percent Asian. In 2000 there were 39 children under age six and 81 citizens over the age of 65. The median household income is $50,139. Seven of the 138 households receive public assistance. In general, this community represents white, middle-class suburbs.

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

Your Assignment is to complete the rest of the Green Monster Inc., Fenway Missouri Public Health Assessment (PHA). The final PHA should be in one comprehensive document. Leaders, coordinate so each group member will be in charge of drafting one PHA section, for groups with 4 people, I recommend combining sections 3 and 4.Note that the sections build on each other, so leaders may also want to create a schedule. For instance, sections 3 and 4 cannot be done until 1 and 2 are done. Submit your portion Individual assignment - Public health assessment option under the lesson. Discuss with your group under discussion board forum Green Monster.

1. EXPOSURE PATHWAY ANALYSIS (Including dose calculations for both adults and children and comparison to Minimal Risk Levels) Hint: for public health purposes - consider worst case scenario (ie 327 ppb) in your calculations. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/PHAManual/ch6.htmlhttp://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/PHAManual/appg.htmlhttp://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls/index.asp

2. TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS - Given the exposure dose of benzene, what (if any) health outcomes would be expected? http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/TP.asp?id=40&tid=14

3. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS - Is this site a public health hazard? Rank the hazard according to the directions in the guidance manual. What recommendations do you have to protect public health?http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/PHAManual/ch9.html

4. RESPONSES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS - Respond to all four concerns. Make sure you respond in a way that is understandable to your average lay person. (ie, health literacy counts!) http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/PHAManual/ch4.html

5. OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION PLAN - Your plan should include a press release, a meeting plan (what type of meeting will you hold?) an agenda and fact sheet to share at the meeting. The communication plan should hinge on 3 key messages you want to convey to the community. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/PHAManual/ch4.html