An environmental health survey of drinking water contamination by leachate from a pesticide waste dump in Hardeman County, Tennessee

Abstract

Ground water that was used as a source of potable water by residents of a small community became contaminated by leachate from a 300,000 barrel pesticide waste dump. An environmental health survey of the residents and an apparent control group was conducted to determine if any adverse health effects resulting from exposure to the toxic compounds, many of which were hepatotoxins, could be detected. The survey utilized a health questionnaire, a clinical examination, and a biochemical screening. The latter included analysis of serum for liver and kidney function parameters, determination of hepatitis A and B serology, and bile acid determinations on fasting and postprandial serum and urine specimens. Air and water from representative homes and urine from study participants were analyzed for selected organic compounds. The biochemical screening was conducted on two occasions 2 months apart. The initial hepatic profile testing revealed elevated concentrations of the serum enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, in residents who had used the contaminated water. During follow-up testing of these same persons 2 months later, these values were significantly reduced, as were postprandial serum concentrations of the bile acid of cholyglycine. Six individuals in the exposed group had slight hepatomegaly compared to one individual in the intermediate exposure group and none in the controls. Concentrations of carbon tetrachloride were as high as 18,700 microgram/L in the well water samples. The biochemical and clinical observations are suggestive of a transitory liver injury probably related to exposure to the contaminated drinking water.