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1997REPORTSHOWS TOXICCHEMICAL LEAKAGEOUTSIDETOXIC DEPOT

ByMurrayS.Thompson(BAppSciEnvironmentalHealthwithDistinction1998,HonsI SocialEcology1999,UniversityofWesternSydney)Copyright1998,2010 http://poisonedpeople.com http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au/mcs.htm EMAIL:poisonedpeople@gmail.com

TheADIHalfYearly(toJune1997)Reportonthegroundwater monitoringprogramattheCastlereaghWasteDepotclearly showsthatthedepotisleaking.

Boresalongtheperimeterofthedepot,alongwithboreslocatedmore thanhalfakilometeroutsidethedepotindicateadisturbingarrayoftoxic contaminants.

WhichContaminantsandWhere?
SeveralorganiccompoundshavebeenfoundinBore943a(seeFigure1,page4),which islocatedonthesoutheastperimeter,onLlandiloRoadandjustovertheroadfrom FifthRdinBerkshirePark.VolumeIoftheReportspecificallynotesthatBore943a containedseveralorganiccompoundssimilartothosefoundinonsitebores(ADI 1997a:52). Volatilehalogenatedcompounds(VHCs)(including1,1dichloroethane,chloroform, methylenechloride(dichloromethane)andtrichloroethene),totalpetroleum hydrocarbons(TPH)(ADI1997a:20;1997b:AppendixB),andthesemivolatileorganic isophorone(detectedbeforeJanuary1997[1997b:AppendixB])werefound. Toluene,methylethylketone,andmethylisobutylketonearelistedamongthe contaminantsfoundingroundwateratthisboresite(ADI1997a:2021).

2 ThestoryofchemicalleakagecontinueswithBores942C,locatedjustinsidethenorth eastperimeter,and941(ontheperimeter,southoftheJohnMoronyCorrectional Centre).942CshowedmoderateconcentrationsofTPHs(0.856mg/L)andlow concentration[s]offormaldehyde(1.3mg/L).941alsodemonstratedthepresenceof TPHsinthegroundwater,includingtoluene(ADI1997a:22).Itisimportanttonotehere thattheADIReportoftennotesthatcontaminantswerenotdetectedbeforethistest period.Thisclearlyshowscontaminantmovement.However,theobvioussourceof thesetoxicwastescannotbeestablishedwithcertainty,accordingtotheseexperts. Proposedsourcesaregivenasalocalsourceorcrosscontaminationoftheboresduring drillingandinstallation(ADI1997a:22). Withwastesindicatedalongtwosidesofthedepot,weshouldthenaskifchemicalsare indicatedasleakingbeyondtheperimeter.Yestheyare.Thesouthandthewestern perimetershaveoffsiteboresthatclearlycontainindicatorsoftoxicchemicalwastes. First,Bore317A,locatedonthesouthernperimetershowsupwardtrendsinthe chlorinatedhydrocarbons1,1dichloroethaneandethene,cis1,2dichloroetheneand trichloroethene(ADI1997a:42). Next,Bores904,905,906,969andOSMB5,locatedfrom200to500metersoutsidethis perimeter,havevaryingindicationsofthefollowingchemicals:chloroform, trichloroflouromethaneandvinylchloride. Whatarethesechemicalsdoingoutsidethedepotinthegroundwater?Probablythe sameastheTPHs,tolueneandVHCsintheperimeterbores941and943A:migrating! BoreOSMB2,locatedoffsiteandacrossTheNorthernRoadfromthedepot,indicates 0.083mg/LofTPHsinJune1997(ADI1997a:Table12F1),alongwithtracesofarsenic, cobalt,phenol,dinbutylpthalate,andbutylbenzylpthalate(ADI1997a:Table12F2).

Upgradients,perchedgroundwatersandchemicaldiffusion
ItwasnotedintheReportthatBores905andOSMB5arelocatedupgradienttothe WMC(ADI1997a:27).Thewordingimpliesthatthechloroformingroundwaterin thesetwoborescouldnotbesourcedfromthedepot.Furthertothis,thepresenceof thechloroform,aswithotherchemicalsfoundinboresalongthedepotperimeter,is consideredtorepresentananomaly(ADI1997a:27).Ananomalyiswhatyoucalla situationwhenyoudontwanttocallitwhatitreallyis:chemicalleakagefromasource containingonemilliontonnesofliquidwaste...dumpedatCastlereaghoverthepast20 years(Kerr,1995:3). Perchedgroundwaters:thistermhasdevelopedamythicalqualityoverthepastfew yearswithregardtoWasteServiceNSW(WSNSW)andotherauthoritiesusageofit.It isatermthatmagicallyexplains,withouteverprovidingrationalandphysicalproof, whythegroundwatersbeneaththedepotaresomehowtotallyisolatedfromallother

3 geologicalstructures.AccordingtoWSNSWtheory,chemicalscannotcrossthisbarrier andescapeintogroundwatersadjacenttothedepot. Modernresearchintolandfilltechnology,however,contradictsADIupgradient insinuationsandexoticperchedgroundwatertheories.Note:

Theobjectiveofcontrollingthehydraulicconductivityisclearlyoneoflimiting advectivecontaminanttransport(iethemovementofcontaminantswithmoving water)throughtheliner.However,despitemorethanadecadeofresearchand theexistenceofgoodsupportingfielddata,itisonlyrecentlythatithasbeen generallyrecognizedthatthereisasecondcontaminanttransportprocesswhich willoccureventhroughaverylowhydraulicconductivityclayliner:thatprocess ischemicaldiffusion....diffusionmaybethedominantcontaminanttransport mechanisminawellconstructedclayliner.Furthermore,contaminantscan escapefromawastedisposalsite,bydiffusionthroughaliner,evenifwaterflow inthelinerisintothelandfill(Rowe1994:219)(emphasisadded). WhenoneaddsanEPAadmissionofchemicalleakagefromwastecellsinto groundwaterbeneaththedepot(EPAofficial1995,pers.comm.,26April[recordedat theCommunityMonitoringCommitteemeetingatthePenrithCityCouncilChambers]) totheabovescientificresearch,itbecomesalltooclearthatTHEWASTEDEPOTIS LEAKING.

OSMB2

Figure1SitePlanandLocationofMonitoringBoreholes (additional bore locations added as large diamond shapes)(WasteServiceNSW1996:Appendix1)

CASTLEREAGH STATEFOREST

OSMB5

905

904

312A

317A

Student Research Confirms Chemicals on Property

Surfaceandborewatertestsonaproperty2kmsouthwestoftheCastlereaghWaste Depotconfirmthepresenceoflargeamountsofsodiumchloride,phosphorusand cadmium. Althoughnotactinginaprofessionalcapacity,UniversityofWesternSydney Hawkesburystudentsduring1995/96foundevidenceoftheabovechemicalsonafarm propertylocatedjust2kmfromthedepot.Inthecaseofthetoxicheavymetal cadmiumfoundinthepropertysborewater,thelaboratorydeterminationofa significantlevelof1.2084ppm(1,208ppb)wasmadebyTechnicalOfficersatthe University.Thislevel,accordingtofiguressetbyAlloway(1990:31)is604.2%greater thanthenormallithosphere(rockycrust)concentrationand2014%beyondnormalsoil levels. How Toxic Are These Chemicals? Variousstudieshavebeenaccessedforthissectioninordertodeterminethetoxicities ofsomeBoreandpropertychemicals. Cadmium,andotherheavymetalsaretoxicatquitelowconcentrations(Cresser, Killham&Edwards1993:152).Cadmiumisimplicatedinbonedeformations(Rowland &Cooper1983:170),thelongtermdevelopmentofobstructivepulmonarydiseaseand emphysema(Philp1995:141),carcenogenicityinanimalsandhumans(ONeill&Dodet 1985:10),andnephrotoxicity(WHO1989:168). Vinylchloride(Bores904,905,906,969andOSMB5)causesliver,brain,lungand lymphoidtissuecancer(Siemiatycki1995:103104)andisaskinirritant(Rowland& Cooper1983:176).Italsoinducestumoursofthebloodintheoccupationallyexposed andisasuspectedmutagen(Alloway&Ayres1993:216). Chloroform(fouroftheaboveBores)isimplicatedincancer(Philp1995:81;Alloway& Ayers1993:216)andhepato(liver)andnephro(kidneys)toxicity(Philp1995:152). Toluene(Bores941and943A),anorganicsolvent,isamucousmembraneandskin irritant(Rowland&Cooper1983:174).Moredisturbingly,tolueneisdescribedasa neurotoxinwhichisabsorbedthroughthelungsInthisrespect,itcaninducemild abnormalitiesoftheCNS[and]deathduetoitsinhalationhasoccurredasaresultof solventabuse(Alloway&Ayres1993:44;216).Methylethylketone(Bore943A)can causedermatitisandhasanirritantactionontheeyesandrespiratorysystem (Rowland&Cooper1983:175).

6 Formaldehyde(Bore942C)isarespiratoryirritantandasuspectedcarcinogen(Rowland &Cooper1983:173). Arsenic(BoreOSMB2)causesliverandlungcancer(Rowland&Cooper1983:58),aswell asskincancer(Sunderman1985:17). Phenol(BoreOSMB2)iscorrosiveandpoisonous(Aviado1976:1068)andcancause vomiting,eyeandrespiratoryproblems(Bender1991).Further,phenolcauses changestoenzymeswithintheendoplasmicreticulum(incells),particularlyintheliver, butalsothekidneys,lungsandintestines(Alloway&Ayers1993:210). Chlorinatedhydrocarbons(Bore317A)promoteallergicreactionssuchasdermatitisand arealsonarcotizingagents(Rowland&Cooper1983:1767).Theseverypersistent contaminantshaveahighpotentialforhumantoxicityindicatedbyreproductive defectsinphytoplanktonand,inmammalsandbirds,microsomalenzymeinduction[a modificationimposedongermcells(Kellogg1976:702)],tumorpromotion,estrogenic effectsandimmunosuppression(Philp1995:77). Trichloroethene(Bores317Aand943A)isanorganicsolventthatpromotesdermatitis andhasnarcotizingeffects(Rowland&Cooper1983:1767).Itshouldbenotedhere that1,1,1trichloroethanehasproduceddeathsinacuteoccupationalexposureand heartfailurethroughsolventabuse(Alloway&Ayres1993:217). Dichloromethane(Bore943A)convertstocarbonmonoxidewhichforms carboxyhemoglobinintheredbloodcells(Philp1995:153),thusreducingoxygenation andimpairingrespiration. ItmustbepointedoutherethatresidentsaroundtheCastlereaghWasteDepotcanbe exposedtofumesandliquidleachates24hoursaday,thisbeingafarmorecritical situationthanmonitoredoccupationalexposurestochemicals.Itisnowonder,then, thatteratogenicimpactsonlivestockandhumanshavebeennotedbythelandholders onadisturbinglyregularbasis. Requiem Theabovelistedconvergenceofchemicalanalytesfoundintestboresontheperimeter andoutsidetheCastlereaghWasteDepotandthesymptomatologyalsolisted,critically synchronizeswiththeillnessesexperiencedbyLondonderryresidentslivingclosetothe depot. Itmaybethesadtruththattoxicchemicals,disposedofbywayofacruelpartnership betweenanaberranttechnologysintractableanddangerouswastesandagenerally 6

7 negativegovernmentalviewofworkingclass/ruralareas,arecripplingtheproductive potentialoftheLondonderryregion.Andsincetheliquidwastesburiedatthedepot havepermeatedextensively,itmaybeveryreasonablyconcludedthatthesustainability oftheselandshasbeenandwillbe,foralongtimeintothefuture,severely compromised. REFERENCES

ADILimited1997a,HalfYearlyReporttoJune1997:GroundwaterMonitoringProgram CastlereaghWasteManagementCentreVolume1,ADILimtedEnvironmentalConsulting, SilverwaterNSWAustralia. ADILimited1997b,HalfYearlyReporttoJune1997:GroundwaterMonitoringProgram CastlereaghWasteManagementCentreVolume2,ADILimtedEnvironmentalConsulting, SilverwaterNSWAustralia. Alloway,B.J.andAyres,D.C.1993,ChemicalPrinciplesofEnvironmentalPollution,Blackie Academic&Professional(AnImprintofChapman&Hall),Glascow,UK. Aviado,D.M.1976,Phenol,inStedmansMedicalDictionary,23rdEdn,TheWilliams&Wilkins Company,BaltimoreMdUSA. Bender,J.1991,Govtsays:dontworry,behappy,PenrithPress,4June. Cresser,M.,Killham,K.,andEdwards,T.1993,SoilChemistryanditsApplications,Press SyndicateoftheUniversityofCambridge,CambridgeEngland. Kellogg,R.H.Induction,inStedmansMedicalDictionary,23rdEdn,TheWilliams&Wilkins Company,BaltimoreMdUSA. Kerr,P.1995,Toxictiptoclose,PenrithPress,April25. ONeill,I.K.andDodet,B.1985,Considerationsofsampling,interactionsandIARCevaluations forthisgroupofelements,inEnvironmentalCarcinogens:SelectedMethodsofAnalysis,eds I.K.ONeill,P.Schuller&L.Fishbein,InternationalAgencyforResearchonCancer,LyonCedex 08,France. Philp,R.B.1995,EnvironmentalHazards&HumanHealth,LewisPublishers(CRCPress,Inc.)FL, USA. Rowe,R.K.1994,Diffusivetransportofpollutantsthroughclayliners,inLandfillingofWaste: Barriers,eds,T.H.Christensen,R.CossuandR.Stagmann,E.&F.N.Spon,London,UK. Rowland,A.JandCooper,P.1983,EnvironmentandHealth,EdwardArnold(Publishers)Ltd London.

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Siemiatycki,J.1995,RiskFactorsforCancerintheOccupationalEnvironmentandRelevant EpidemiologicStudyMethods,inIntroductiontoEnvironmentalEpidemiology,EdsE.O.Talbott &G.F.Craun,CRCPress,Inc.BocaRaton,FL,USA. Sunderman,F.W.1985,CarcinogenicityandMutagenicityofSomeMetalsandtheir Compounds,inEnvironmentalCarcinogens:SelectedMethodsofAnalysis,edsI.K.ONeill,P. Schuller&L.Fishbein,InternationalAgencyforResearchonCancer,LyonCedex08,France. WasteServiceNSW1996,CastlereaghWasteManagementCentreClosurePlan(Revision2), WasteServiceNSW,ChatswoodNSWAustralia. WHO1989,ToxicologicalEvaluationofCertainFoodAdditivesandContaminants,Cambridge UniversityPress,CambridgeUK.