PCB level in Tanapag water, food almost nil

Food and water in Tanapag village were found safe from polychlorinated biphenyl contamination, except the land crabs, according to preliminary results of the laboratory testing conducted in the U.S. mainland.

Food items such as taro, yam, clams, chicken eggs and fish did not yield any PCB level during the testing. However, the eight land crabs taken within the area of the cemetery showed detectable PCB limits, said Norman Lovelace, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 manager.

Likewise, laboratory results of 18 samples of groundwater taken from Tanapag and the Lower Base yielded “non-detect” PCB levels. The preliminary results issued last month negated earlier findings that PCB concentration in groundwater in Tanapag is 18 times the federal drinking standard. Only samples of taro and yam were tested in Guam laboratory.

Mr. Lovelace said the 1992 findings which revealed high PCB level in groundwater in Tanapag, failed to provide a real picture of the situation since the water samples taken at that time were within the area of excavated soil which was contaminated with the highly toxic chemical.

The sample survey conducted last May was designed to look for areas where there’s high PCB concentration and to characterize the overall quality of food.

“We went to these places where we expected to find high PCB levels, said Mr. Lovelace.

Due to limited findings, EPA will assemble a panel of experts, including a representative from the Center for Disease Control, to help design a follow-up survey to enable environment and health officials get sufficient information which will help them make a decision whether or not the people will be prohibited from eating the land crabs.

“We don’t have enough information to make an across-the-board advisory as to whether the crabs should be consumed or not because we have limited samples. We do not have sufficient information to make that judgment,” he added.

The EPA official will be discussing the issue with Public Health Secretary Joseph Villagomez this week who will ultimately make the final recommendation to the governor.

Over 450 samples of soil, water and food grown in Tanapag for laboratory analysis in connection with the comprehensive environmental analysis of the village for polychlorinated biphenyl contamination were sent to the mainland for testing.

The environmental survey was carried out as a result of concerns raised by Tanapag residents in a public meeting last October 1999 regarding the previous cleanup activities conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers.

EPA and DEQ also surveyed the village to locate areas which may need additional cleanup by the Army Corps. (LFR)