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Reich Farm Health Assessment
(Dover Township) Toms River, New Jersey
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Groundwater Investigations: 1996 to 1998
As part of the activities conducted for this Public Health Assessment, and in support of other activities denoted in the PHRP for the Dover Township Childhood
Cancer Investigation, the NJDHSS and the ATSDR initiated an exposure investigation in 1996. In an effort to supplement existing data on groundwater quality,
the NJDHSS sampled private wells in the Township in 1997. The analyses of private wells, soils and sediments will be summarized in a separate document. In
addition, together with the NJDEP, the NJDHSS extensively sampled and analyzed the chemical and radiological quality of the community water system between 1996
and 1998. A separate Health Consultation will provide a complete review of analytical data for all wells and points of entry in this period. However,
information from the private well and community water supply test-mg that is related to the RF site is also presented here.
Private Wells
A total of 54 private wells were sampled by the NJDHSS from February through May 1997. Of these, twenty were located in areas pertinent to the RF and DTMI,
health assessment study areas (Figure 4). Analyses were performed utilizing USEPA Methods 524.2, 525.2 and 625 for organic chemicals, and other standard methods
appropriate for heavy metals, gross alpha and beta activity (900.0, 903.0), general chemistry, and dissolved oxygen. Of the twenty wells sampled, four contained
chloroform in the range of 0.4 to 4.0 µg/, below the ATSDR comparison value (cancer risk evaluation guide: 6 µg/1) and the MCL of 100 µg/l for trihalomethanes,
a group of chemicals to which chloroform belongs. Chloroform is not considered to be a RF site-related contaminant.
Eighteen of the 20 wells also contained lead (range: 1.5 to 27.4 µg/1) (NJDHSS, 1996-1999, Volumes 68 to 81). The presence of lead is most likely a result of
corrosion of household plumbing by acidic groundwater, and is not considered to be RF-related. Samples from several private wells exceeded the MCL for gross
alpha activity (15 pCi/l). Gross alpha activity was determined to be due to radium species (isotopes 224, 226 and 228) in groundwater. The presence of radium
in the Cohansey aquifer is a phenomenon not associated with the RF site, and is common to many areas of southern New Jersey. The public health significance of
lead and radium in these private wells will be discussed in the separatesummary of the exposure investigation.
Parkway Well Field Public Supply Wells
Beginning in 1996, public supply wells of the Parkway well field have undergone extensive testing. Analyses have been performed utilizing USEPA Methods 524.2,
525.2 and 625 for organic chemicals, and other standard methods appropriate for heavy metals, and radiological activity (900.0, 903.0).
In 1996, laboratory scientists at NJDEP noticed the possible presence of an unknown non-target semi-volatile compound in samples from well #26, the Parkway
point of entry, and nearby distribution system samples. Further investigation by the NJDEP revealed the presence of the unknown compound in data generated by
previous investigations of the groundwater quality at the Parkway well field. Extensive efforts by laboratory scientists at the NJDEP, the USEPA and the NJDHSS
identified the unknown material as compound as a of isomers of 4-cyano-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-a-methyl-naphthalene-acetonitrile (THNA; labeled T1 in the inset) and
4-cyano-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalene-propionitrile (THNP; labeled T2 in the inset), now collectively known as styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) trimer.
These closely related compounds are formed as by-products of the styrene-acrylonitrile co-polymerization process. Wastes from UCC's use of this process
were deposited at the RF site in 1971.
The initial estimate of SAN trimer concentration in well #26 was 6 µgl (NJDHSS, 1996-1999, Volumes 39 to 41). Subsequent tests, specifically calibrated for SAN
trimer measurement, have shown ranges of 3 to 5 µg/l in well #26. Lesser amounts have been detected repeatedly in well #28, and sporadically in well #29.
Analytical data showed that the treatment system in place in 1996 at the Parkway well field (air stripping) was ineffective at removing SAN trimer.
During the period 1996 to 1998, TCE was found in the untreated water from wells #26 and #28 in the range of 2 to 8 µg/l, and sporadically in well #29 at up to
2 µg/l (NJDHSS, 1996-1999). Other volatile organic chemicals, including PCE and 1, 1, 1 -trichloroethane, have also been found consistently in wells #26 and #28.
These data will be fully described in the separate Public Health Consultation.
Other organic chemicals may yet be identified in the RF groundwater plume. The NJDEP has established a committee of laboratory scientists to examine recent and
past analytical data to determine if there are additional non-target compounds that can be identified.
The "Pathways Analysis" and "Public Health Implications" sections of this Public Health Assessment evaluate the public health significance of the Parkway well
field water quality data generated from 1996 to1998.
Other Data
The UCC continues to monitor groundwater contamination associated with the RF site. On-site and off-site monitoring wells were sampled in May 1997, with split
samples provided to the NJDHSS Environmental Laboratory. These data were reviewed by the NJDHSS and found to be consistent with previous data describing groundwater
quality. A summary of these data is being prepared as a separate document by NJDHSS.
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