` ‘ Case 3:03-cv-00945-CFD Document 212-1 l l:llGCl l th_?g yy
— i`
ll
QUlNNlPlACK VALLEY HEALTH DISTRICT
l 151 Hartford Turnpike .
North Haven CT 06473
I (203) 248-4528
The lollorring questions have been prepared with input lrom personnel ofthe CT DEP, CT DPM, HRC. lnci and a private environmental engineer
QVHD wishes to thank everyone uhoin has it-ritten. edited or made suggestions hir inclusion. REWSED to January l6, 2001.
Are the playing Helds behind the school sale for my children to play on?
Yes, we believe the playing helds are safe. ln the ntid—l 990s, a soil barrier was placed on the helds. The barrier minimizes contact
with lead that is present at high levels in soil in several places on the field. ln l992, the CT Department of Public Health (CT {BPH)
evaluated the data on lead in soil at the fields and determined aha; alre fields were safe even without the barrier, provided that grass on
the held was maintained and no digging occurred. The CT Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) is evaluating txhether
additional soil samples need to be taken on the playing held;. Q
P»\l·ls were found in surl':rce soil near the school. What are Pi»\l~ls?
P,¤\l·ls are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. PAHs are a group ofchemicals formed during the incomplete burning oforganic
substances soclt as coal. oil, gas, wood} garbage. tobacco, and cltarbroiled meat. PAHs are found throughout the environment. They
are present in common things such as cigarette smoke vehicle exhaust. asphalt roads, smoke from wood fires and clrargrilled foods.
PAl·ls at the l-lamden Middle School were found at elevated levels in surface soil near the school. The source ofthe PA Hs is not
known for certain but they could liaye come from garbage that may have been burned at the school property or wood or coal ash that
may have been dumped there
\\/hat is the health effects from exposure to l‘.·\l-ls'?
ln order to be exposed to P.·\l·is at the school. you nnrst comei.·t/r.·r1'n·r·c/ soimni \l`i//7I/l7t;'C()I7{(i}il1/7{!I(_’i`/\(JJJi(l>Ol`*?Xilll\lWlt° touchrttg the
soil, eating soil particles on hands or food. or brearliing airborne soil particles; Several PAHs have been slr~..·~.~ n to cause cancer in
laboratory animals and in people ztticr long periods olexposurr- at high levels. Studies in animals have also shown that PA Hs can
c· tarntful effects on shin. bod).- fluids, and the immune system These effects have t`tOl been reported in people llijiou aroid
contact with the l’.·\l~l~contammared soil at the school you tt ill not be exposed and need not worry about health effects [ren xt
there was some COtll[lCi it ith ii` —`¤.lrls ut soil ut the pItst_ tt is vert trttlikely that such exptlsurc would be lireqrtettt and tf]lEt\S€ enough tu
Zztttsc it health ellicct C All lfll_.l’ has conducted more extensive Sill face soil szttttpling around the school to better clehtte the extent ofthe
ZOtttaminutiott
Why is there metharte under the school builtlirtg? ls the metharre moving into air inside the building? Can it harm me?
vlethane isa llammable_ colorless. tasteless and odorless gas. lt is the primary ingredient in natural gas used for heating. !\·letlrane is
iroduced from decomposing waste materials present in landfills. Landlilled material is present underneath the Hamden Middle School
o it is not surprising that there is methane present too l\letltane has been found underneath the boiler room Hoor ofthe school but it ·
l0C$ tlOt ilppcar to be prcsettt uttdt2t‘ the floor itt other parts Ol. the school. fl /cz/tone ftrrr not been c/circled ii: mr/our cur Q/IhL’ t`c/mo/ V
zlethane is not toxic to the body llotvever. ifenough urethane huilds up in an enclosed space (such as a cratrl space or closer; uith `
rrouglr oxygen. it can produce an explosion ifztn ignition source tsuch as a lighted cigarette or spark from static electricity) is
itrotluced. A methane detector with a 2—l—hc·ur alarm has been installed in the boiler room. lfeven a very low level ofmcthane C
tigrates from UllClt;"l`ll€Jll`l the lloot llllO the air ofthe ltotler room. the alarm will s0ttttCl_ giving people lll the building enough (lll]? to
cave the building and the fire department ample time to respond ,»\s an additional safety precaution. fire department personnel u ill
egularly check the functioningoftlre methane detector and measure the air lor methane.
am concerned about teachers and others working at the school is ho have cancer. ls it possible that contamination at the
clrool caused their cancer?
ancer is usually not caused by only one factor, but is almost always caused by a combination of factors including lifestyle (smoking.
etc exercise), heredity and the environrnent, Cancer is very conunon; approximately l in 3 to 4 people will be diagnosed with cancer
some point in their life. This means that ifthere are IOO teachers and other staff who work in the Hamden Middle School ue
Duld expect 25 to 30 ofthem to get cancer at some point in their lives. Cancer is not one disease. There are rnany different types of
ncer and each type is considered a different disease, with different causes. We are usually not concerned about the environment as a
use ofa cluster ofcancers unless all of the cancers are the same type. CT DPH often evaiuates clusters ofcancers to see trhetlter
ire are a greater number ofcancers in a particular area tltan t·.c~uld be expected. Before a possible cancer cluster can be evaluated.
?r' ails ofeach case must be conlirmed. People with inforntation about cancer cases at the Hamden Middle School or the
rd ·ns neighborhood are encouraged to contact Leslie Balch Director ofllealtli at 203-248-4528 or use the Conhdential lllness
I or rn fotutd at http ./.,\\’\\'\\',C]Vl`lCl orgfltrtts »
it possible that the air in the school is causing asthma or other respiratory conditions?
sting has not lound any obvious problems that might trigger asthma or other respiratory conditions. There are many indoor air
tlity prohlcrns in schools that can trigger asthma or other respiratory conditions, indoor air quality problems can include cliemical
0 · Case 3:03-cv-00945-CFD Document 212-11 F1|ed 05/10/2007 Page 2 Of 4
ll1lli]I1(Sl`l`OlU building or building maintenance 11m1e1`ials,che111icalpollu1an1sfrom science a11cln1‘1c|as$es, imp1·0pe1·l5 nmm1;1inccl
illl?lllOll systems, mold growth Rom c>
$cl1o0lpe1·l01‘med a11ind001‘al1‘q11ali1y evaluation a1 1he Hamden school ll13l included 1es1i11g foram1111bcr0Fcllffe1·en1chemical
co111ami11n111s The results 0l`1l1e indoor air $1udy showed no slgulllcaau levels ol most indoor air pollutants Carbon dioxide levels
were gligluly elevated when measured in a Few occupved locations. Carbon dioxide is 1101 toxic b111 is used as an indicator 0l`
ventilation t`€lI€S, since building occupants exhale; i1 The indoor air 5llICl}’£1lSO noted lN()l5Ill1`€ problems and recomme11dn1io11s were
given lo 1I1e school IO COITCCI lll€I1l,
ls the u·:111·1· :11 the school safe to drink?
Yes \\’a1e1‘ :11 me Hamden Middle School is proxided by1l1e Regional W211erAu1l1o1‘11ya11dis1‘equired1o be 1es1ed1‘o111i11el) lor 11
lon; list ofco111m11lnm11s. As an added measure Ol`S€ClIl'll}_ 1he Regionml \\1‘a1er.#\1¤1l1o1·11yand n1xi11dependcu1 l:`bOl'}llOl`}' tested 1h;-
11·;11c1*;111l1esch0oli11No¤·e111be1‘2OOO and de1ec1e1l no COl)li1lUll\fli1lS These 1:-s1¤l1s cam he Fo1111el1111dc1·News :11
Imp *.11 1\·11‘.l1:1mCl€11 l1 lj C1411S
l·I1m· ux1_c11sivu.is thc silc(l:111dl`illnrcn)'? Wh;11 was mlumpeml there`?
Bi;lg_e;,d- gg;lxisxoriqdllV_l1y_lb1·11m1i_o11 and aerial pl1o1og1’z{phs i1 is believed that 1hc |z111dllll_ex1c11d_cd across 1he Sll`SGl 10 Roclnliwl lmrl; 111111
*il1l5's·611ié oT1l1e 11eigl1bo1‘ho0ds lh lll€.48l`E‘?l, The DEP 15 [€SllFl; lllé s0il;11A1l1e p;1rl\:¤11d 111 the neighborhood IO clellne1l1e·c.x1c111ol`1l1c
lmlcllill and 1o see if1l1e1·e sue nuy health concerns. Based 011 their li11di11gs_ any necessary p1‘cca111io11s will be ·;lellne·<,l;111d a Plllll 11 lll V
l>·:dc1»elope1l IO conduct l~UI`ll\€I l€Sll11g in 1l1e area of 1h-; old lnnsllill This is1|1e l)€gll1l1ll1i1(llr2ll"| organized,s11·11c1111·cdpl:1111c»1l:·|]11c
me 5i1e und 115 po1e111i:1l |ill])HCl on 1he EIl\‘l1`O11111€lll and health Ri;l1111ewn<»bodg· lxnows e><:1c1ly 1~‘lm1 was dump·::l 1l1e1·e·, _·`\Il}Ollt`
with information about companies that dumped in the mea, or what 1hey clumpecl cart help uhh 1|1e lll\·'€$llQI1llOll by calling Leslie
Balch :11 2484528 01·c0mple1111g1l1e E11=iron111e111nlCo11ce111s1epo1‘1 l’01u1eln1l111p· 11 11 11 qvlul org hms
\\’l1;11 is :1 S11pc1`l11111l sire?
Sllp€’I`l-lIllCl sues are sites wlnerelm2,n11l011$··\ns1esl1;1ve·been 11111110 A sue mu; be l1s1eel ou lll€ federal EPA N;ll11>11;1l l’11o1·i1ies L1>1
(NPI,) mlclfor may be listed by 1he CT Dep:111111e111olE111i1<,¤11111c111:1lP1‘1>1ec11011w11l>e Szmc lll\C'l\lOl?» Sue l_ig1 Sue; nrepl;1g·1·1_l1m
the EI’·’\ NPI, lis1 llllilllgll :1 l1;1z:111l<·11s 1·:111l4my s1e111 ll\;1l IX Q;'l)L‘lIlll} 1¤_:»eel1’·111l11·;·x1¢1111·I`g11»1111;l\x;11e·1’eo111;1111111n1io11 C1»1np;1111,· 1.
·1l3l1c L'llllllCS[l1§lIi]I`C lklllll(ll<'¤lW€ 1€\p011R}lvl¢r lm pln; lll; 1l1e· l1.1z;1¤‘;l1»11\ ==.1R11‘· 1~11 1l1·3 #.11: l[W1`1IlL`l])£ll lL'%l}1•ll%ll7l€ p:1111c&1 111;1\ lw
_1•11C(l IU pnj. lm S11? e`lG.111r1111
.1 DFP lllL‘lllllllL‘S il 1‘1·sp<>nsil>le 11:11*15, 11 l1;11 role lx 1lI 1l11·_x pl,1x[’
ll mms OI 1111N1‘é L`Ol`llpZllll€S O1 (lgC11C1cS }ll`C` l`O1111el lOb<‘1;'$1>Oll$llllr‘ l`01‘e1‘r.11111g1l1el;1111lllll 1ll:‘} \\lll be1’cq1¤11‘ed101‘e111e1l1:11e11·le;u1—
UP; {hg que 'l`l1e=1e·$pu11slblQ gQ111])ia111C$ \\lll llilZ`1I\k`(’ lllé1l€1111-111)1\1ll1.1pp1<1\ eel11»111rn<·11»1s:u1
l lmvc:11nc1llcr1lc0111li1io111l1:11l;111>concc1·11e1I might l1:1\1· l>1·1=n (`ZllI
in the Sl||`l'(JllH(ll1lg :110:1. \\/llill should l1l0'.’
FOV R11} (]llL’SllOl1$ ;ll?(}lll pL’1`S1111;\l 111ul1n’I1l <(>11dl1l(111$·. *11111 $l1<¤11ld nlw;1} s sccj~cy111`pl1j·€.1c1?111 lllkl. ll‘}OLl l1;1\ :3 111l`(11`111:1I1(11\ :1l11>11l
crmcur cases o1‘o1l1c1 luecllcul COIl(llll(>1lS ill lll?l‘l21l\1xl<*11Nll1l1ll(’ Kclmol Ul lll ll1C blll'H)llllL,llI\g 11e1;l1b01‘!1<1<»d_5011cnn1*0pmz ~.11;l:
lllllklllllllllltlll IO Leslie B;1lcl1_L`>uc1·1o1 ul lle;1|1l1z11](lF~ZJX—-1*31111 use 1l1e
llll`(ll'lllZlllOll xx 1ll he strictly c<>nll
ll\lF(H`lll{lIlOI\ i1l7011I hc:1l1l1elTec1s will be mmlyzed lo 1le1er111•11e 11 l1e1l1e‘1‘ or 110l there is is signiHc:1n1lyl1i;l1e1‘1111111l>ero{c;1ses:11 1|1c·
Middle School or in 1lle 11clgl1lm1‘l1oml l_'p1>11req11c·s1.f)\‘|ll`§>will acne!i11l}>1‘111;11io11ul>01111l1el·lz1n1
Give111l1el1mi1ed exposure pathways :mdc0nce1111·z11io11solco111n111111n111s.11 1he midnllc School. medical tests are xcrs unlikelx 11·
lqlen1iliv :111} C’XpOSlll`€S or health ‘3l—l`€ClS. l1 is llll|)O|'lHlll 10 Ull(,l€l`Sl}l|l(l 1l1?1l \\‘lil1 1l1·S €NC&‘pIl<111 0l`blO0d lesls lâ€01‘ lc;1d_ medical l€$l§ l-on h
€X|)OSlll`€`S IO lhe sitc—1‘cl:11ed COl1l2\Illlll8lllS are 1101 readily available. Ol` in SOIHC cases_:11·e11<»1 reliable, Most such1es1s|1n1ebeen
ilevclopecl lo detect Sl&Zllll3C3I\( and owgoing exposures such :15 would occur in :111 u11l11s11‘i:1| l`ll1ll`|llli"lC'llII'lIlg facility where cl1cmi<.1l
CX]1(lSlll'CS are much higher and €’.\pOSl|l`€S occur daily.
l :1111 illlfilltl 1l1;11 rcturnlung IO the l\‘lid1lle School1nigl11m:»l1<> mc sich.
Tlw l1e;1l1l1 and em·i1·o1m1e111a| specialists who have investigated 1|1e Middle School site are len"; (`OI}llLl€lll_ 1111dl1z1x—·e s1n1ed so 111 puhm
m»~·~1111;s. that based 0111he large FHUOLIHI (Jlr€l`l\'ll`Ollll\€I`llIil data Illfli has been collected 1Nll1€‘l‘l3lll(l€l1l\/ll(l(ll€ School_1he capping of 1
1i ils n1‘01111d1l1€ school, and 1l1e many actions that h:1x·e been 1;1l
‘1. my1‘es011rces)1o11cn1¤ use lOllZ\\‘€ )=ou1‘q11es11
lll]T[lf`\\‘\\‘\\' q\ l11l.C>1`g.`l1111S l`01`1’c‘%0111‘C€ 1I}llll`lll[lllOH,
HAM 04049
- Case 3:03-cv-00945-CFD Document 212-1 1 Filed 05/10/2007 Page 3 of 4
"li:it about past exposure? How do we know xrliat problems there were in the past'?
shite we do not knoxxt as much about exposures that may have 0CCurr€d inthe past, the Current investigation has provided much
nlorniation about exactly what contaminants are at the site, what amounts (concentrations) are involved, and where contamination is
located. Based on this information, we believe that it is extremely unlikely that contamination at the Hamden Middle School has
caused health effects. The design ofthe school and the nature ofthe contaminants; as well as their locations, indicate that anv
expognres that may have occurred in the past are not great fttwttgh IO h?tv€ caused health €lT€Cts, because anx- potential direct i
exposures would have likely been very limited
We will continue to evaluate and investigate potential past exposures surrounding specific events xvitltin and around the school and ·
xrill provide updates to this assessment as appropriate Anyone with specific inl0rntati0n_ questions or concerns should l'0rx·x·artl them
to Leslie Balch, Director 0t"l—lealth_ Quinnipiacl; \’allex· Health District. 248-4528 4528 or use the Conhclential Illness Report lkirni
l`tiund at http, 'fxx·xx·xx·,qvlxd.org'|tms
Will tliert- he a plan for continuutl inonitoring ol` the school once tezzclxcrs :‘::::ra'?
YES, _
• There xxtill be a plan For regular inspection and tnaittlcttiittcf Olllte cap that h2\S b€€t\ platied Over PAH-coittaminatetl Rtiil Qtttitnttl
the school. lnspeciions xx·ill continue as long as the cap is in place. This xrill ensure that there is no erosion ofthe can and that it
tctnains as El b2tt`t`itit‘
· A methane monitor has been installed in the boiler room that contintiouslx‘ monitors methane lex els lt will detect anx increase in
methane concentration in the boiler room »· long before it reaches a concentration that xx ould he a prohlein This monitor is Iilte
the smolae alarm in your house that detects the lirst signs ofa hre and gives you time to respond, lt xxtll detect anx rnctlzane lujtlc
from the boiler as xx·ell as hom the landhll The methane monitor is inspected on a xx·•;·el;lx basis bx the llzundeix Fire Den:irtin·:nt
This provides an added measure olassurance that the monitor is xxorlxing pr0perlx· ln addttit»n_ air in the boiler rnuin and <·n the
hrst lex el ofthe academic xxing is screened xx.·eel;Ix· for methzme
. llaintlen xx ill he implementing El’A`s “Tools lor Schools Indoor Air Quality Program in the near inttue The Middle School xr ill
ltzixe a trained team including zi teacher. parent :itlniinistr;it
inx·_·5tig;ited gintl corrected As part oltlftt ‘»¤x·ilx,llllSii`llx1l$li'Jl'SC`llllOlS Ltttttthtttcf xxfiulil help to S]Wi‘(`lli} xxhai indmii gin ,|\l][lll\
ixiitxiineteis are regulurlx inonittired
\\ lint nliiitit thu contztiitittnition ltitittd in the air in thu ;iiirlituritiin'.’ ls that routing lirotti the l;ttttll`ill`.'
No lime coixipotiiids I`0unt.l in the auditorium are heliexctl tu he ho xx treated timbers iinderlx ing the stage These timbers xxeie part to
the oriynal construction ofthe school in WSG lh l()$(·’ xxhctt 1ltC liwzttattlo hit the school, lhn‘t`€‘ xxais rlantage to the atitlnoi nina xxlitijlt
npp;xr¤ntlx· "brolqe the 5eal" prtix ided bx the stage. alloxx ing itunes into the ztuditorium Several itivestigations xxere undertaken in
identify the source olrtlie odor in the auditorium from lmll tlxrottgh IW)? lt xx as initially ineiiexed tti he lrom the new rotitror the n—;·x-.
carpeting installed after the tornado, ln 1907, the tinxherx untlei the stage- xx crc linallx piixnoiixtetl as thc >t_iurt·e nttlie utltns at that I
time, a lim xxas installed to clraxxt air Trnin hcnezith the stage .incl exhaust it iibtixe the tool This xulistaiitixillx ntlticed the txtltn in th:
Zltttliltiritittt
The recent air saniple tsilten in the auclitoritim ctmtaiiietl D iiitcrngraitts oliiaplitltaleixe per cubic meter ol` air and 0 7 mici
present in xerx- dil`lL`rent proportions inthe £\\|(jllO|`l\llll Ziili lhittt ill the soils. The COt1ttCCliCttl l`)€pZtt‘tntent ol l·le;ilth has ex:iln;nt·tl ellis.
iitfnrmation and has concluded that there is no health rislx pusexl hx exposure to naphtltalenc and plieuziiitlirene at these lexclx,
especiallx given the intermittent use ofthe auditor iuni.
lt is not clear txhctlter 0r not the exhaust lah S}SlC|Y1\\It>l`Hll} xrtwtftliltg xxhctt this Slttttple MHS Iitlxett The exheitist lim gx stent lm, tttixx
been "hard xx»ired" (meaning it cannot be turned till-_t and the lltu hclts have been clieclxetl and tiglitenetl I’rocedni·es linxie txt-en
inxnleinentcd to ensure that the exhaust sxstein is Chet hed auxl rimitttained regular!} .-\tltlitioti:rl samples xx ill he taken this xx··`-etc tn ‘
Cmnlirm the resulting levels olltaplttliztlette and phcnaiitlitctte xx ith the exhaust and i cittilattiott sx Slfllli ltillx opeiationitl Those rcsulté
xx‘tll he intet`pt‘ete
ln order to Weak" into the building: contaminants xx ould need to be vapors —· either gases by nature, or by ex aporating from then
liquid or solid lorms (like alcohol or paint thinner that produce l`umes xxlien you use them). The significant contaminants t-ouncl in the i
P' se 2 testing xxere lead_ polycxclic aromatic liydrocarbons t_PAHs) and methane The lead and PAHs are solids at normal conditions
‘ .lo not create vapors that could lcal; into the school. Their mode ofexposure is from physical contact xx ith and/or incestiozx of soil
c 'ning them While lead anrl PAl—Is in the sotls underlxnxg the Middle school do not present a health risk (because there is no [
$._ .tcant mode ofexposure to ltuinans)_ they are enx·ironmcnt;tl contaminants because they can dissolve in water and leach trom the ~
site. That is the reason for continued cxqiluatinn ofthe site hx i.JlHl¤ They xxill tletciniine il`the risk to the eiixirtinment xxtrnlrl requiw
l`urther reinediatton in the litture T
HAM 04050
i T “ Case 3:03-cv-00945-CFD Document 212-11 Filed 05/10/2007 Page 4 of 4
° \·lethatt€ is H gUS and hZtS tlte potential to leak into the school. Tests ofthe indoor air did not detettt any methane (or other volatile
rganic carbotts ~— VOCs_ in the school. A methane meter with an alarm was installed in the boiler room to allow continuous testing
of the air. lvlethane's primary hazard is causing tire or explosion, but that can only happen when there is the "right" concentration ol`
methane and oxygen (like the mixture of gasoline and air in the fuel injectors ofyour car ~~ ifthere is too tnuch gas. the car unn‘t
start; ifthere is too much air. the car won‘t start). The methane meter can detect methane long before tlte concentration at ithtch it can
ignite. ln acldition_ the boiler rootn has a high rate ofairflow (through large open grates) to provide combustion air for the boilers
burners (wltich, by the way. are fueled with natural gas —- primarily. methane) The concentration ofmethane found in the soil
â€pocket" below the boiler room is ata concentration just below the level st here combustion is possible. Even ifit did leak into the
boiler room. it would tend to be diluted by the air. not concentrated. The combination ofthe air llow in tlte boiler room. tlte
concentration of methane in tlte soil being below tlte lower explosive limit (LEL)_ and ltaving the meter in place (lust in case) prot ides
a triple "line of defense".
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were also found beneath the surface tn the Phase 2 stud); Like metltane_ these compounds hate
the potential to migrate upward through the soil. so DFP conducted tests to check for them ttnderneatii the school DEP drtttett small
holes through the mztcadam lining the crawl space beneath the school and sampled tlte gas within the soil there. DEP collected l l
samples and analyzed them for 54 different compounds. Preliminary reviett ofthesc results by tlte Connecticut DEP and Dcpartmeirt
of l-Iealth indicates no additional health risk for contatninants already identified on the site. indoor air samples for \'OCs collettctl
lrom ll classrooms were very low. Well within tlte range for normal indoor air tyualit). ‘
HAM 04051
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