The Battle of Battle Creek: Seeking Superfund Justice

An early epidemiologic study on groundwater contamination in the United States took place at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site in Battle Creek Michigan. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) consisting of chlorinated 2-carbon solvents were identified in private and municipal wells serving several communities. One major source of VOC was a solvent recovery operation near the municipal well field. The study modeled the VOC plume and investigated mortality and morbidity outcomes thought to be related to the VOC. Although quite statistically significant excess mortality and morbidity (hospital discharge and survey questionnaire) outcomes were observed, there were few associations with VOC water cumulative metrics. Another potentially dominant class of exposures could arise in VOC water contamination episodes from the diverse contents of spent solvents generated in multiple, local manufacturing activities. The findings at Battle Creek are re-interpreted in this light and the implications for Superfund-like investigation strategy and reporting are discussed.