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Fact Sheet
April 2005
Iowa Department of Public Health Consult Complete, Alcoa Site, Riverdale,
Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to evaluate the analytical results of air samples from two houses located on South Bellingham Street in Riverdale, Iowa. In July 2004, subslab air samples were collected by Alcoa from beneath the two unoccupied houses owned by the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) at 226 and 240 S. Bellingham Street.
In September 2004, additional air samples from inside and outside the houses were collected by Alcoa and EPA. These air samples were used to help assess the potential health impacts associated with inhalation of vapors from certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may have originated from the contaminated ground water beneath and in the vicinity of the Alcoa facility.
The VOCs that were evaluated included tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE), and vinyl chloride, because these VOCs have been used as degreasing agents at the Alcoa facility (e.g. PCE, TCE) or are breakdown products of PCE and TCE.
The IDPH Health Consultation dated April 6, 2005 concluded that:
- Exposure to the outdoor and indoor levels of VOCs detected during September 2004 is not likely to impact human health; and
- VOCs that migrated underground from the Alcoa-Davenport Works plant and were detected during September 2004 do not pose a public health hazard at 226 and 240 S. Bellingham Street from inhalation exposures.
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EPA TO HOLD PUBLIC AVAILABILITY MEETING
EPA will hold a public availability meeting on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at Riverdale Town Hall, 110 Manor Drive, Riverdale, Iowa. The meeting will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EPA and IDPH staff will be available to answer questions. For more information about the meeting, please contact:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA
Phone: 913-551-7003
1-800-223-0425
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VENTILATION SYSTEMS
A variety of factors can influence the air quality in and around the houses located on S. Bellingham Street, including subsurface conditions, outdoor air conditions, and seasonal variations such as temperature, wind, and ground water elevation. Due to the variability of the subsurface vapor intrusion pathway, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions regarding air quality at all of the houses along S. Bellingham Street based on the air sample data from 226 and 240 S. Bellingham Street.
To address these uncertainties, and as a precautionary measure, Alcoa has indicated a willingness to install ventilation systems in houses on S. Bellingham Street. EPA requested that Alcoa contact homeowners on S. Bellingham Street regarding the installation of ventilation systems that are designed to remove vapors from beneath the basement slab, thereby preventing intrusion of subsurface vapors into living areas.
UPCOMING MEETING
EPA will hold a public availability meeting on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at Riverdale Town Hall, 110 Manor Drive, Riverdale, Iowa. The meeting will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EPA and IDPH staff will be available to answer questions. For more information about the meeting, please contact:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7003 or toll-free 1-800-223-0425
himes.beckie@epa.gov
