James Dahlgren and Patrick Talbott
USA
Title: Blood cancers from environmental exposure near an oil refi nery
Biography
Biography: James Dahlgren and Patrick Talbott
Abstract
The oil refi nery located in Hooven, Ohio operated from 1931 to 1986 producing gasoline, jet fuels, diesel, home-heating oils and sulfur. Th e refi nery has a history of leaks, spills, fi res, explosions and air pollution while operating. Dozens of nearby residents sustained exposures to odors and emissions from numerous accidental releases and fires while the plant
was operating. Aft er the plant closed, continuing exposure included contaminated soil and ground water that led to massive vapor intrusion and air pollution. Many homes had monitoring wells in the basements that documented the presence of shallow pools of liquid petroleum. Environmental investigations revealed a large (236 acre) plume of non-aqueous liquid
phase hydrocarbons (80% gasoline) fl oating on the groundwater beneath the village of Hooven in 2003. Ground water testing beneath homes in the 1990’s revealed benzene at maximum levels of 3.6 PPM. Soil vapor levels were not available. We present 4 cases of lymphohematopoietic cancers in residents who lived in the air plume and had documented exposure to low levels of
benzene. All 4 individuals resided for years within a few hundred yards of the refinery. Th ere were 2 cases of multiple myeloma, 1 case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Modeled levels of benzene ranged from 0.125 to 3.12 PPM years. Th ese levels of exposure are consistent with the current research on environmental exposure and blood cancers. A study
by the state revealed a signifi cant excess of other cancers in the area.
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