George AFB’s Organochlorine Pesticides Contamination

* Aldrin / Dieldrin

• CAS ID #: 309-00-2, 60-57-1
• Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
• Affected Organ Systems: Developmental (effects during periods when organs are developing), Endocrine (Glands and Hormones), Hepatic (Liver), Immunological (Immune System), Neurological (Nervous System)
• Cancer Classification: None
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)
• In 1987, EPA banned all uses.

* Chlordane

• CAS ID #: 12789-03-6
• Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
• Affected Organ Systems: Developmental (effects during periods when organs are developing), Hepatic (Liver), Neurological (Nervous System)
• Cancer Classification: None
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)
• In 1988, EPA banned all uses

* DDT, DDE, DDD

• CAS ID #: 50-29-3, 72-55-9, 72-54-8, 72-55-9,72-54-8
• Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
• Affected Organ Systems: Developmental (effects during periods when organs are developing), Endocrine (Glands and Hormones), Hepatic (Liver), Neurological (Nervous System), Reproductive (Producing Children)
• Cancer Classification: NTP: Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)
• Its use in the U.S. was banned in 1972

Endosulfan

• CAS ID #: 115-29-7
• Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
• Affected Organ Systems: Endocrine (Glands and Hormones), Hepatic (Liver), Immunological (Immune System), Neurological (Nervous System)
• Cancer Classification: None
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)

* Endrin / Endrin aldehyde:

• CAS ID #: 72-20-8
• Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
• Affected Organ Systems: Neurological (Nervous System)
• Cancer Classification: None
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)

* Heptachlor/Heptachlor Epoxide

• CAS ID #: 76-44-8, 1024-57-3
• Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
• Affected Organ Systems: Hepatic (Liver), Neurological (Nervous System)
• Cancer Classification: None
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)

* Lindane – Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)

• CAS ID #: 608-73-1
• Affected Organ Systems: Hepatic (Liver), Immunological (Immune System), Neurological (Nervous System)
• Cancer Classification: None
• Chemical Classification: None

Kepone – Chlordecone

• CAS ID #: 143-50-0, Mirex 2385-85-5
• Affected Organ Systems: Neurological (Nervous System), Renal (Urinary System or Kidneys), Reproductive (Producing Children)
• Cancer Classification: NTP: Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)

Methoxychlor

• CAS ID #: 72-43-5
• Affected Organ Systems: Endocrine (Glands and Hormones), Neurological (Nervous System), Reproductive (Producing Children)
• Cancer Classification: None
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)

Toxaphene

• CAS ID #: 8001-35-2
• Affected Organ Systems: Endocrine (Glands and Hormones), Hepatic (Liver)
• Cancer Classification: NTP: Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
• Chemical Classification: Pesticides (chemicals used for killing pests, such as rodents, insects, or plants)

Mirex

• CAS ID #: 2385-85-5, Chlordecone 143-50-0
• Affected Organ Systems: None
• Cancer Classification: None
• Chemical Classification: None

Source accessed on 31 December 2015:  ATSDR – Substance Listing Page

1970 – The Air Force knew that some of the Webb Air Force Base Family Housing units, located in Big Spring Texas, were contaminated with and the occupants exposed to a large quantity of chlordane. The Air Force knew that due to the method used to apply the pesticide, the building design flaw, that a completed exposure pathway (CEP) existed at a large percentage of its tenantable/habitual structures, exposure of the occupants was possible at ALL of the Air Forces’ Family Housing units. This CEP was confirmed by the by the New York Times news article “Chlordane Problem in Houses on Slabs” dated September 30, 1982.

Furthermore, the Air Force knew that there was NO safe level of Chlordane contamination for infants and young children on the surfaces of floors, personal possessions, or Chlordane aerosol and/or vapors.

A substantial quantity of 2% Chlordane insecticide (emulsifiable solution) was introduced into the heating ducts of two Capehart type housing units at Webb AFB, Texas on 12 March 1970. The insecticide was being used as a sub-slab termite control agent in accordance with AFM 85-7(8-16), when it was accidentally introduced into the heating ducts formed within the concrete slab. Several hours after the treatments the heating systems were thermostatically activated and distributed the pesticide as an aerosol and vapors throughout the housing units during the night. Page i

On 12 April 1970, a 2% water-chlordane insecticide solution was accidentally introduced into the heating ducts of two Capehart type housing units at Webb AFB TX. These heating ducts consisted of cardboard lined conduits within the concrete slab. Subsequent activation of the heating systems resulted in extensive human exposure and gross pesticide contamination of government housing and personal possessions.
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… and virtually undetectable floor residues are necessary if children are to inhabit the quarters.
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The presence of children in the family requires residue levels of 7.0 ug/ft2 on walls and ceilings and undetectable floor residues.
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All clothing and furniture should be decontaminated. Stuffed furniture, which will contain higher volumes of pesticides, should be reupholstered or replaced. All clothing should be dry cleaned twice and the dry cleaning solvent properly disposed of in a sanitary landfill. Children’s toys which can be dry cleaned should be where the cash or sentimental value warrants it, others should be replaced.
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– Chlordane Contamination of Government Quarters and Personal Property Webb AFB TX

1978-82 – National Research Council’s Committee on Toxicology

1978-79 – “… the Air Force in 1978 asked the National Research Council’s Committee on Toxicology, in the Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences, to review the toxicity data on chlordane and to suggest an airborne concentration that could be used as a guideline in deciding whether the housing should be vacated.” … “The Committee on Toxicology (NRC, 1979) concluded that it “could not determine a level of exposure to chlordane below which there would be no biologic effect under conditions of prolonged exposure of families in military housing.”
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1982 – “Given the available data and the fact that under conditions of prolonged exposure of families in military housing there may be persons, such as [developing fetuses and] young children, who in general are more susceptible to environmental insults, the Committee concluded that it could not determine a level of exposure to any of the termiticides below which there would be no biologic effects.”
Page 46

– An Assessment of the Health Risks of Seven Pesticides Used for Termite Control
The National Academy of Sciences and the Office of Naval Research – Aug 1982 – (PDF – 3.82 MB)

1970-81 – Base Housing Contaminated with Chlordane

Over the past several years, the United States Air Force has experienced incidences of living quarters contamination with airborne chlordane. The first noted incident occurred in two houses at a southwestern Air Force base [Webb Air Force Base] (CALLAHAN 1970). … Sampling showed chlordane contamination to be common in those newly constructed houses (unpublished data). …
The most recent incident of chlordane contamination was at a midwestern air base in October 1978. Two ground-floor apartments with subslab heating ducts were involved. …
In the 1979 survey all apartments treated in 1978 showed high concentrations of chlordane with a range of 0.4 to 263.5 pg/M3 (TABLE 2). …
As readily seen, there are many dwellings with detectable chlordane vapor. In this single study, 335 out of 435 treated apartments (77%) had measurable levels of chlordane ranging from trace to 37.8 g/M3. In a previous Air Force survey of 146 houses at various bases, 61% of those houses had detectable levels of chlordane (unpublished data).

– Living Area Contamination by Chlordane Used for Termite Treatment
Livingston, J.M. & Jones, C.R. Bull.
Environ. Contam. Toxicol. (1981)
27: 406. doi:10.1007/BF01611040

1981-82 – News Articles – Pesticide Contamination at Military Housing

1981 – “The Army Times and Its companion newspapers reported in today’s editions that thousands of families may have been ex-posed to pesticides while living in military housing. Pentagon spokesman Bill Caldwell said the Defense Department is ‘studying the matter to determine whether or not we should commence a large scale inspection and monitoring program for military housing units’.”

– Pesticide May Pollute Military Base Housing
The Palm Beach Post – April 27, 1981

1982 – “A pesticide used to kill termites [chlordane] has leaked into the ventilation systems of more than 1,500 houses at United States Air Force bases across the country, according to studies made public recently by the Air Force. The pesticide, chlordane, was found to have entered heating and air-conditioning ducts in dwellings built on concrete slabs, allowing it to circulate in the air freely.”

–Chlordane Problem in Houses on Slabs
The New York Times – September 30, 1982

The DoD request a preservation of The extension of the retention period from 25 to 50 years for nonmilitary health records is justified for cogent and compelling medical and humanitarian reasons.

There are potentially major issues facing the Department of Defense in the future on possible adverse health effects in military dependents and other civilian personnel as a result of their exposure to hazardous chemicals and agents known or suspected to be present on Defense installations. Examples of such hazardous materials in the modern military environment include asbestos, chlordane contamination of family housing, chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants in installation water supplies, and certain pharmaceuticals such as the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) administered to women during pregnancy.

1988-09-14 DoD NARA - Nonmilitary Health Records – contamination of family housing.pdf

a. What is Chlordane?
Chlordane was a registered use pesticide applied from around 1948 until 1988. Its primary use was for termite control, but other known uses include application to prevent nesting of fire ants around power transformers; as a herbicide to control weeds in turf; and to control insects on lawns, gardens, and food crops (such as corn). So there are potentially many areas on DoD property, including family housing units, where chlordane may be found as a result of lawful application.

b. How Was Chlordane Used?
High concentrations of chlordane may be found around military housing as a result of lawful application for termite control. To control termites, the chlordane was initially applied to soil prior to construction beneath building foundations. Then it was PWTB 200-1-31 DoD’s pest management practice to routinely reapply chlordane every three to five years thereafter by methods such as treating the perimeter of the foundation by spraying with a rod inserted into the soil, by applying via a small trench dug along the foundation, or by injecting the chlordane through holes drilled in flooring at the periphery of walls. Thus relatively high concentrations of chlordane may have accumulated in these areas over time.

– Guidance for Addressing Chlordane Contamination at Department Of Defense Sites
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers – 30 September (2004 PDF 0.09 MB)

Pesticides Contamination – Naval Air Station Alameda (NAS), CA

The Navy failed to disclose the presence chlordane and other organochlorine pesticides (“OCPs”)

American International Specialty Lines Insurance Company a general liability insurer, seeks to recover the costs incurred in removing certain hazardous substances–chlordane and other organochlorine pesticides (“OCPs”) – from a portion of a former naval installation. Plaintiff alleges that the United States Department of the Navy (“Navy”) failed to notify the property’s purchaser that chlordane and other OCPs were present on the property and that the Navy failed to remediate the chlordane and other OCPs in breach of two contracts between the parties. Plaintiff further alleges that defendant failed to indemnify plaintiff for its remediation costs pursuant to section 330 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993, Pub. L. No. 102-484, 106 Stat. 2315, 2371-73 (1992) (codified as amended at 10 U.S.C. § 2687 note (2000)).

– http://www.plainsite.org/dockets/7twdnidz/united-states-court-of-federal-claims/american-international-specialty-lines-insurance-company-v-usa/

Pesticides Contamination – Marine Corps Base Hawaii Family Housing

Plaintiffs are military families who have leased housing from Defendants at Marine Corp Base Hawaii between 2006 to the present. Plaintiffs filed a Class Action Complaint alleging that Defendants failed to provide safe and healthy living conditions. Plaintiffs contend that Defendants had knowledge that the soil at the Marine Corp Base Hawaii was contaminated with pesticides. Plaintiffs claim Defendants did not disclose the presence of the pesticides before leasing housing to the military families. Plaintiffs claim they attempted to mediate their disputes with Defendants pursuant to the terms of their lease agreements, but Defendants refused.

Barber, et al. v. Ohana Military Communities LLC, et al., No. 14-00217 (D. Hawaii).

Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) – Facebook
Military Families Deserve Safe Housing