THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2000
State investigator to map pattern of cancer in county
By Carol Bogart
Staff Writer
Ohio's top cancer investigator still plans to map cancers in the area of Tiffin's abandoned landfill on CR 90.
The investigator, Robert Indian, said he is only waiting for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to indicate who may have been exposed to landfill contaminants.
If Ohio EPA fails to identify such a population, Indian said, he will "arbitrarily" choose one or two townships where residents have expressed concern and map cancers there.
Indian said he prefers to work with the EPA because if the agency has identified contaminants and populations, it would "give us a lead to tell what type of cancer to look for."
Various contaminants and chemicals were detected in what engineering firm Hull and Associates called the "shallow saturated zone" at the landfill. Ohio EPA's samples identify the zone as groundwater. Hull's report found the groundwater "most likely discharges to the north-south trending drainage ditch in the northeast portion of the Landfill" -- the landfill stream which discharges into the Sandusky River.
Besides radiation, two groundwater samples also revealed dissolved arsenic, another known human carcinogen. The arsenic level detected was 0.147 and 0.159 milligrams per liter. The present health standard for arsenic is 0.05.
U.S. EPA's goal for arsenic in drinking water is zero.
Private well sampling in December by Heidelberg College's Water Quality Lab found traces of arsenic in 20 wells near the landfill. The lab's Pete Richards said Heidelberg found no pattern linking the wells to the landfill.
Vinyl chloride, another contaminant found by Hull and Associates in groundwater at the landfill, is identified by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry as a "potent carcinogen." It targets specific organs, according to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.
In humans, vinyl chloride can attack the liver, the central nervous system, the blood, the respiratory system and the lymphatic system.
U.S. EPA's goal for vinyl chloride in drinking water is zero. The present maximum contaminant level is 0.002 milligrams per liter. One landfill groundwater sample detected 0.0105 milligrams per liter.
Assorted other chemicals and metals also were detected in groundwater.
Indian said he wants to "make arrangements as soon as possible" to begin a cancer mapping designed to "answer the hard questions."
He pointed out, though, that many people south and east of the landfill are living in farm country. He said some with cancer may have had contact with farm chemicals. He adds, "Other exposures happen every day."