Pollutants Found On Site

The EPA began remedial investigation at the site in January of 1982, lasting until May 1983 (EPA, 1986). Based on the initial investigation by the EPA the site was found to contain the following priority contaminants in the groundwater; heavy metals including lead and cadmium, and VOCs including benzene, chloroform, vinyl chloride, and methylene chloride (EPA, 2010). These hazardous substances were the result of landfilling both MSW and liquid chemical waste. These pollutants, especially due to the liquid nature of much of the waste traveled from the site in the groundwater plume had already reached residents neighboring Price’s Pit and were threatening to move to the nearby ACMUA well field.

Of the heavy metals found to be contaminating the site and groundwater, lead is a strong neurotoxin, which is especially dangerous to the cognitive development of young children, and can also cause significant kidney damages, and death in high enough doses (EPA, 2008). Cadmium has been found to cause the nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, convulsions, sensory and liver damage, and shock during short term exposure to elevated levels. Long term exposure to elevated cadmium levels has been found to cause severe kidney, liver, bone, and blood problems (EPA, 2011).

The VOCs found to be contaminating the groundwater at Price’s Pit have been found to have several known health impacts. Benzene is known to cause anemia or a decrease in blood platelets, Vinyl Chloride and Methylene Chloride have been found to cause liver damage, and all three pose significantly increased cancer risk (EPA, 2010). Chloroform has several known human health impacts, including hypotension, mild hepatic effects, motor impairment, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness, and decreased blood pressure occur from acute exposure. While chronic exposure to Chloroform does not have any known effects due to low level exposure, however animal testing has indicated that increased liver and neurological damage is likely as well as increased risk of cancer from longer term exposure (EPA, 2007).