The Battle of Battle Creek: Seeking Superfund Justice.

IF 1.8 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

New Solutions-A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy Pub Date : 2023-02-01 DOI:10.1177/10482911221140955

Robert Park

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

An early epidemiologic study on groundwater contamination in the United States took place at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site in Battle Creek Michigan. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) consisting of chlorinated 2-carbon solvents were identified in private and municipal wells serving several communities. One major source of VOC was a solvent recovery operation near the municipal well field. The study modeled the VOC plume and investigated mortality and morbidity outcomes thought to be related to the VOC. Although quite statistically significant excess mortality and morbidity (hospital discharge and survey questionnaire) outcomes were observed, there were few associations with VOC water cumulative metrics. Another potentially dominant class of exposures could arise in VOC water contamination episodes from the diverse contents of spent solvents generated in multiple, local manufacturing activities. The findings at Battle Creek are re-interpreted in this light and the implications for Superfund-like investigation strategy and reporting are discussed.

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巴特克里克战役:寻求超级基金正义。

一项关于美国地下水污染的早期流行病学研究是在美国环境保护署(EPA)位于密歇根州巴特克里克的一个超级基金基地进行的。在一些社区的私人和市政水井中发现了由氯化2碳溶剂组成的挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)。VOC的一个主要来源是市政井场附近的溶剂回收作业。该研究模拟了挥发性有机化合物羽流，并调查了被认为与挥发性有机化合物有关的死亡率和发病率结果。虽然观察到相当统计学意义上的超额死亡率和发病率(出院和调查问卷)结果，但与VOC水累积指标的关联很少。另一个潜在的主要暴露类别可能出现在VOC水污染事件中，这些事件来自多个本地制造活动中产生的废溶剂的不同含量。从这个角度重新解释了巴特克里克的发现，并讨论了对超级基金式调查策略和报告的影响。

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来源期刊

New Solutions-A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

3.50

自引率

4.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： New Solutions delivers authoritative responses to perplexing problems, with a worker’s voice, an activist’s commitment, a scientist’s approach, and a policy-maker’s experience. New Solutions explores the growing, changing common ground at the intersection of health, work, and the environment. The Journal makes plain how the issues in each area are interrelated and sets forth progressive, thoughtfully crafted public policy choices. It seeks a conversation on the issues between the grassroots labor and environmental activists and the professionals and researchers involved in charting society’s way forward with the understanding that lack of scientific knowledge is no excuse for doing nothing and that inaction is itself a choice.