New Jersey Zinc/Mobil Chemical Sample Results: Fact Sheet #1

              New Jersey Zinc/Mobil Chemical Site
Sample Results
Fact Sheet #1
October 1992
DePue, Illinois
Background
In March 1992, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) collected samples in DePue
including samples of soil, sediment, and surface water. The information from these samples will be used
in making a preliminary evaluation of possible environmental effects of past New Jersey Zinc and Mobil
Mining and Minerals operations.
Twenty soil samples were collected from residential yards. Three sediment and three surface water
samples were collected from Lake DePue and the ditch leading to the lake. Samples were taken as
background from Turner Lake and Tiskilwa for comparison. Ten samples were collected from the New
Jersey Zinc and Mobil Mining and Minerals site.
What Are The Sample Results?
All residential soil samples showed elevated levels of cadmium when compared to samples taken in
Tiskilwa. All but two samples showed elevated levels of zinc. Thirteen samples showed elevated levels
of barium. Other samples showed elevated levels of arsenic, lead, copper, mercury, and selenium.
The sediment samples from the ditch leading to Lake DePue, when compared to sediment samples from
Turner lake, showed elevated levels of cobalt, cadmium, copper, mercury, selenium and zinc. These
same metals, with the exception of cobalt, were also found at elevated levels in sediment samples
taken from Lake DePue. Surface water samples from Lake DePue and the ditch leading to the lake,
when compared to Turner Lake water, had elevated levels of cadmium, copper, zinc and ammonia.
Similar contaminants were found on the New Jersey Zinc and Mobil Mining and Minerals properties.
Is there a health risk associated with exposure to the contaminants found in residential
yards?
The levels of metals found in soil do not pose a concern from short term exposure. Since there are no
standards for metals in residential soil it is difficult to assess whether the metals pose a possible long
term health risk to people who live near the site. A long term health risk is a risk from exposure over
many years. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will be collecting additional samples to help
evaluate possible long term health risks.
Many of the contaminants are naturally occurring in soil at lower concentrations. Based on this first
round of sampling, cadmium appears to be the main contaminant of concern. Since cadmium and the
other metals are found in the soil, the IDPH recommends several steps to reduce one's exposure to soil
until more information is gathered. These steps are listed on the last page of this fact sheet.
Why are these metals of possible concern?
While the levels of metals found in the environmental samples do not pose a concern for immediate
(acute) health effects, constant exposure over years to even relatively low levels of many metals can
increase the risk of long?term (chronic) health problems. Metals can build?up in the body and tend to
remain there for many years. Their effects can be very hard to detect and/or not show up for many
years. Children and the unborn are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead and mercury exposures.
Cadmium attacks the kidneys and may result in kidney disease later in life. Arsenic also affects the
Fact Sheet #1 - New Jersey Zinc Site Page 1 of 3
http://www.epa.state.il.us/community-relations/fact-sheets/new-jersey-zinc/new-jersey-zin... 5/24/2012