Addressing Tetrachloroethylene Exposure in an Impacted Community

Addressing Tetrachloroethylene Exposure in an Impacted Community: Residents' Concerns, Neurotoxic Effects, and Exposure Reduction

University of Illinois at Chicago, Indiana University School of Medicine, Mackey Children's Cancer Foundation

Groundwater in Martinsville, IN, is contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). Indoor air in some residential and commercial buildings is also contaminated with PCE and TCE. This study is being conducted to better understand the impact of low-level exposures to these compounds on community members' health. Data collected in this study will be used to help the community identify a course of action.

Martinsville, IN, is a community of 11,000 people that overlays four groundwater contamination sites, including a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated Superfund site. The total area of groundwater contamination is over 60 acres and lies within a single aquifer. The contaminates are chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). These contaminants are thought to originate from several dry cleaning and metal degreasing operations. An activated carbon filtration system has been in operation since 2005 to remove PCE and chlorinated VOCs from the municipal water, which now meets EPA drinking water standards. However, a recent report from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry concludes that people's health may be harmed by breathing indoor air contaminated via vapor intrusion, the migration of volatile compounds from contaminated groundwater and soil into buildings above. The long-term goal of this research is to understand how PCE exposure in communities affects health and to empower community members' participation in environmental health decision-making. In this project researchers will work with the community of Martinsville, IN to: Determine the extent and exposure levels to the contaminants by measuring the contamination in residents and at their homes. Assess the community's concern and perceptions about the contamination and associated health risks. Study the impact of the contaminants on visual and neurocognitive functions. Compare cancer rates in Martinsville to county and state rates. The above information will help researchers and community partners co-design a targeted educational campaign to reduce community members' exposure to the contaminants.

Tetrachloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, PCE, TCE, Community environmental contamination, Chlorinated volatile organic compounds

Residents of Martinsville, Indiana, will receive educational campaign promoting participation in environmental testing

This measure is based on the differences between the percentage of "Yes" responses to a close-ended, not scaled question at 3 different time points, administered via repeated surveys to the same sample of respondents. Are you concerned about environmental chemical contamination in Martinsville? Yes / Somewhat / No / Refuse 1a. Changes in concerns about environmental chemical contamination in Martinsville from Year 1 to Year 3. This is based on the differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 3 (online survey administered at the beginning of Year 3). 1b. Changes in concerns about environmental chemical contamination in Martinsville from Year 1 to Year 5. This is based on the differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 5 (Online survey, post intervention).

For Measure 1a, Time frame is from year 1 to year 3; for Measure 1b, Time frame is from year 1 to year 5.

This measure is based on the differences between the percentage of "Yes" responses to a close-ended, not scaled question at 3 different time points, administered via repeated surveys to the same sample of respondents. Are you aware of possible exposure to chemicals from soil or groundwater in Martinsville? Yes / No / Refuse 2a. Changes in awareness of possible exposure to chemicals from soil or groundwater in Martinsville from Year 1 to Year 3. This is based on the differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 3 (Online survey administered at the beginning of Year 3). 2b. Changes in awareness of available resources for exposure reduction from Year 1 to Year 5. This is based on the differences in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 5 (Online survey, post intervention)

For Measure 2a, Time frame is from year 1 to year 3; for Measure 2b, Time frame is from year 1 to year 5.

Change in willingness to have respondent's homes tested for chemical contamination from contaminated soil or groundwater.

This measure is based on the difference between the percentage of "Yes" responses to a close-ended, not scaled question at 3 different time points, administered via repeated surveys to the same sample of respondents. Are you willing to have your home tested for chemical contamination from contaminated soil or groundwater? Yes / No / Refuse / Don't know. 3a. Changes in willingness to have respondents' homes tested for the chemical contamination from Year 1 to Year 3. This is based on the differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 3 (Online survey at the beginning of Year 3) 3b. Changes in willingness to have respondents' homes tested for the chemical contamination from Year 1 to Year 5. This is based on the differences in differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 5 (Online survey, post intervention)

For Measure 3a, Time frame is from year 1 to year 3; for Measure 3b, Time frame is from year 1 to year 5.