Agenda - 06-13-2006-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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study azea either during or prior to the study.. There are biosolids application sites near some of the properties but no recent complaints have been registered concerning their operation. The only other significant ecological disturbance in recent years was the construction of the Hillsborough reservoir ,just east of the area. The tenain in this area is generally gently sloping with broad ridges with intermediate drainage ways, some with intermittent streams. Slopes are mostly 5% or less but some stream side and drainage way slopes can reach 10%. Soils on the upland ueas are well drained and principally in the Georgeville-Herndon association. Some minor inclusions of Chewacla (alluvial), Enon, Lignum, and Tattrm, and Wedowee also occur. (Soil Survey of Orange County, North Carolina), The underlying geology is a mix of metavolcanic and metaigneous rocks (vazious USGS maps). Wells drilled in this area are considered to have low to moderate susceptibility to groundwater contamination fi°om surface or shallow subsurface sources (Terziotti and Eimers, 1999, Susceptibility of ground water to surface and shallow sources of contamination, Orange County, NC, USGS Report). These soils, rock formations and contatination susceptibility are typical to most of Orange County and also to many slate belt areas of North Carolina. Study Design The Orange County Health Department Epidemiology Response Team (Epi Team) took the lead in designing and implementing the studies. Assistance and consultation in the design and in interpreting data results was provided by the Environmental Epidemiologist with the Region IV Public Health Surveillance Team, a Toxicologist with the NC Division of Health Services, and the NC Cancer Registry Coordinator. The Epi Team met three times to define the scope of the project, develop a plan for implementation and to review surveys and implementation as it progressed. The Epi Teazn utilized the list provided by the Holloway's to define the study area. An attempt was made to include each potentially reported cancer household in the study area.. In consultation with the NC Cancer Registry and on review of the literature, it became apparent that it is difficult to associate cancer in a community with an enviromnental exposure unless the cancer is very prevalent in a community and of certain types. The Epi Team decided that the best approach would be to separate the two issues of concern to the community and to conduct separate studies in each area. If indicated, the results could be correlated at the conclusion of each study. Therefore, the final plan was to conduct a telephone survey to determine the prevalence of various types of cancer and request a cancer cluster evaluation from the NC Cancer Registry and to simultaneously conduct a water quality study through offering a complete suite of available water tests. It was decided to conduct all studies with the entire population in question rather than sampling a portion of the study area. More information on the process followed for each portion of the study is included with the detailed results for each study. Project leaders volunteered for various portions of the studies. Candice Watkins-Robinson, Health Educator, volunteered for the lead responsibility for the cancer assessment study, Tom Konsler, Envirotunental Health Supervisor, volunteered for lead responsibility for the water quality study, Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Director, coordinated the overall effort, maintained contact with the community, and consulted with the state participants. Page 4 of 47