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For More Information

EPA invites you to review technical
reports and plans, and other official
documents related to the cleanup of
hazardous waste sites in Sauget and
Cahokia, IL at the information repository
located at:

Cahokia Public Library
140 Cahokia Drive
Cahokia, IL

Documents can be viewed online at:

www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/rcra/solutia

www.epa.gov/region5/waste/permits/actions.

htm#2007

www.epa. gov/region5/sites/saugetarea 1
www.epa.gov/region5/sites/saugetarea2

Contact EPA

If you have additional questions or
concerns, please contact:

Ken Bardo

Project Manager

312-886-7566

bardo .kenneth@epa. gov

Rafael Gonzalez

Community Involvement Coordinator

312-886-0269

gonzalez. rafaelp@epa. gov

Region 5 toll-free: 800-621-8431,
8:30 am - 4:30 pm, weekdays

Results Released for Homes
and Former Dead Creek Area

East St. Louis Soil Sampling Project

East St. Louis, Illinois	October 2012

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has released the results
from soil sampling of residential yards and the former Dead Creek area in
East St. Louis. EPA collected these samples to find out whether PCBs
carried by the wind or released from past industrial activity in the area
were present in the soil. This recent work is a follow up to soil sampling
conducted in November 2009 where PCBs were found to be present at
some residential properties and parks in East St. Louis and Sauget. PCBs
are man-made chemicals widely used in electrical equipment and hydraulic
fluids. Commercial production of PCBs ended in 1977 but they have been
found to accumulate and persist in the environment.

Results show that PCB levels at 8 of the 9 residential properties sampled
were at or above screening levels used by EPA to assess health risks to the
public. Six of the properties had PCB levels that slightly exceeded the EPA
screening level but do not indicate an acute health risk. Two of the
properties had PCB levels that somewhat exceeded the EPA screening
level. Health risks related to being exposed to these levels over a long time
needs to be evaluated. Levels of PCBs at 2 of 7 Dead Creek locations were
slightly above the screening levels.

Sample Details

On August 14 and 15, EPA sampled surface soil at 9 residences in East St.
Louis. The residences sampled were chosen based on air modeling that
suggested PCB contamination could be present in soil from former
industrial activities near these neighborhoods. EPA also sampled 7
locations within the former Dead Creek area that extends north of the
Village of Sauget into the Rush City community of East St. Louis. The
northern end of the former Dead Creek historically extended into East St.
Louis. It is now filled and dry. A cleanup was completed in 2009 for the
portion of Dead Creek present in the villages of Sauget and Cahokia.

Five soil locations to a depth of 6 inches were collected at each residence
and combined into one sample. Samples were taken from the former Dead
Creek at varying depths from the upper foot of soil. All the samples were
then sent to an environmental laboratory and analyzed for PCBs. Dead
Creek samples were also tested for metals like lead.

Exposure to PCBs at elevated levels has been shown to cause a variety of
adverse health effects in people and animals. Exposure in soil would be
expected to occur mainly through direct contact with skin or by incidental
swallowing of dirt particles.

Sample Results

In highly industrialized areas of the United States, no soil, water or air
mass is without pollutants of some sort and zero contamination is
impossible to achieve. For PCBs in residential area, EPA typically uses a
health screening level of one part PCB per million parts of soil (one part

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per million of 1 ppm). Sample results show that soil at
8 residential yards was slightly to somewhat above this
screening level for PCBs. The 9 residential yards in
East St. Louis contained PCBs from 0.6 to 7 ppm. Soil
within the former Dead Creek area in East St. Louis
contained PCBs from 0.1 to 1.9 ppm and lead was
present at three locations above the EPA screening
level of 400 ppm for residential areas.

Recommendations

EPA has notified property owners of the sample results.
The Agency recommends residents who live on land
with contamination levels of PCBs above EPA's health
screening level follow the advice from the Illinois
Department of Public Health to reduce exposure to soil
contaminants. This advice can apply to anyone who
may be concerned about contamination where they live.
A fact sheet about this has been mailed to area property
owners. Residents of properties near industrial areas
often find these practices to be useful general
safeguards whether or not their specific property has
been sampled for contamination. Health Department
advice includes:

1)	Practice good personal hygiene habits.

•	Wash children's hands and faces often,
especially before eating and bed time. Keep
their fingernails short and clean. Adults should
wash their hands before feeding their children,
smoking, eating or drinking. Discourage
children from placing fingers and non-food
items in their mouths.

•	Keep toys or objects that children put in their
mouths clean.

2)	Practice good housekeeping techniques.

•	Remove shoes upon entering your home to
prevent tracking contaminated soil inside.

Store outdoor shoes at entryways.

•	Vacuum carpeting, rugs and upholstery often.
Regular vacuuming will keep dust from
building up.

disposing of contaminated soil will reduce
exposure. If working with contaminated soil,
keep the area moist to reduce dust from
forming. Ensure that new soil is not
contaminated. Do not disturb contaminated soil
on windy days or when children or pregnant
women are present.

•	Keep windows closed on windy days. This will
help to keep dust from being blown inside.
Fences, bushes and grass help reduce
movement of contaminated soil.

4) Minimize potential exposure during outdoor
activities.

•	Build a sandbox with a bottom and fill with
clean sand to provide children with a safe play
area. Keep the sand box securely covered when
not in use to prevent contaminated soil from
blowing in.

•	Wear gardening gloves if digging in
contaminated soils and store outside to prevent
introducing contaminants into the home.

•	Thoroughly wash garden vegetables before
eating them.

•	Keep pets away from contaminated soil to
avoid tracking soil into your home.

The entire fact sheet from Illinois Department of Public
Health can be found online at:

www .idph. state. il .us/envhealth/factsheets/leadsoil .htm
Next Steps

EPA will look at whether additional sampling or a
health risk evaluation are needed to see if levels of
PCBs in soil are safe for residents. We will make sure
the community stays informed as work moves along.







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•	Wet mop and wet wipe surfaces where children
may play.

3) Create barriers to contaminated soil.

•	Maintaining good grass coverage, removing
debris, turning the soil over, sodding, covering
with plastic or cement, or excavating and

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