EPA report includes Copley residents’ concerns
Basements of some of The Meadows
of Copley condominium units have been reported to contain
vapors from groundwater contamination. Photos:
Ken Crisafi
By Kathleen Folkerth
COPLEY — An updated report on the health concerns of the contaminated Copley Square Plaza site was recently released by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
According to Bob Frey, chief of the ODH’s Health Assessment Section (HAS), the report is nearly the same as one released about a year ago. But it does include citizens’ concerns submitted from Sept. 30, 2006, to Dec. 30, 2006, regarding the site, which was once the location of a dry cleaning business.
The plaza, located at 2777 Copley Road, is considered to be the source of groundwater contamination that has been found in nine private residences. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also has raised concerns about the possibility of vapor intrusion through the basements of condominiums in the adjacent The Meadows of Copley complex.
The document contains the HAS’s opinion that the site should be further investigated. But while there may be a health threat in the area, the agency stresses that “it is unlikely levels will pose an acute (immediate) health threat. Our concerns are that chronic (long term) exposures may potentially cause health problems.”
“Our stance is that we’re looking at a potential long-term, chronic concern,” Frey said. “People are exposed to low levels over a long period of time. We’re not looking at an acute, in-your-face health issue at this time.”
Questions and comments submitted
by residents in the updated
report included one that asked how children who play
in basements where the vapors have been detected can
be protected.
The HAS responds that parents
may want to minimize the amount of time a child spends
in the basement but suggests families “keep in
mind that at the levels of these contaminants found
so far, you have a potential for health effects only
after years of exposure.”
Another concern raised by residents
is the safety of eating
vegetables from backyard gardens in the area of contamination.
The HAS responds that “the exposure route of concern
is not through contaminated soils or ingestion of vegetables
grown in contaminated soil. ... Soils in the backyard
of Copley area residents are not in the area of contaminated
soil from the former dry cleaners.”
Frey said the area continues
to be evaluated by the EPA.
“The United States EPA
is in the middle of a remedial
investigation, where they are onsite taking samples
of soil, soil gas, groundwater and indoor air in some
of the condos,” he said. “They are trying
to determine the full extent of contamination with regard
to groundwater congregating off site.”
Ohio EPA Site Coordinator Mike
Bolas said investigations into the site are continuing
but he couldn’t provide a timeline of when conclusions
can be made.
A copy of the updated HAS report
is available at the Copley
Township Offices, 1540 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road;
the Fairlawn-Bath Public Library, 3101 Smith Road, in
Fairlawn; and at www.odh.
ohio.gov/odhprograms/eh/hlth _as/pha2.aspx.
The shopping center on Copley
Road that used to be the site of a dry cleaning business
is the source of groundwater contaminants. The Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency has been involved in
clean-up efforts at the site since 1990.
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