Town Hall Meeting Questions and Answers (Answered by Sa Liu and Mary Turyk)

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• General Questions

• Q: Will PCE/TCE permanently contaminate cast iron pipes in older homes?
  A - No

• Q: Are older homes with dirt basements more at risk of vapor intrusion?
  A - Yes. However, if an older home has less air tightness and bigger air drift, the indoor air concentration for PCE or TCE can be lower than in an airtight home if vapor intrusion occurs.

• Q: Is the plume under the For Bare Feet building (previously Harman Becker)?
  A - Yes.

• Q: What about private wells? Has anyone living in a plume area with a private well had their water tested?
  A: Water samples from a small number of private residential wells were tested, and results showed no detectable PCE or TCE. According to Environmental Restrictive Ordinances (ERO) issued by Martinsville, residents should not use water from private wells within city limits. More information can be found on the IDEM website: IDEM Site.

• Q: Was exposure to contamination worse 20+ years ago?
  A: There is no data from 20+ years ago for comparison, but it could have been worse, given that municipal water was known to be contaminated for a period of time.

• Q: How can those exposed before water filtration get help?
  A: This is a difficult question. It requires collective community efforts to determine. Individual exposure levels are unknown, and there is no way to determine if exposure has led to specific health issues. However, the EPA is actively working on cleanup, and research is ongoing. Community members are encouraged to participate in research projects.

• Q: Will air inside businesses in a plume area be tested?
  A: Yes, testing can be arranged if requested.

• Children's Cognition Study

• Q: Did children living in plume areas have higher levels of PCE in their breath?
  A: There are not enough samples from children in plume areas to draw a conclusion.

• Q: Were other contributing factors considered in the Children's Cognition Study?
  A: Yes, the mother’s education level was controlled for. Other factors, such as premature birth and maternal smoking during pregnancy, were considered but did not affect the conclusions.

• Adult Cognition Study

• Q: Would a breath test after working 8 hours in a plume area help the study?
  A (Mary): The breath test measures recent exposure from all sources, so we wouldn’t be able to determine if the exposure came specifically from the worksite. If you work in a plume area and are willing to participate in the study, it would be helpful.

• Q: When will I receive my exhaled breath test results?
  A : Results are expected to be available in late spring or early summer of 2025.

• Q: Will adults receive their individual cognitive test results?
  A : No, Dr. Kareken, the IU study neuropsychologist, does not advise sharing them.

•  Dr. Kareken explained that results could be misinterpreted, causing unnecessary worry. The tests are not meant to diagnose individuals but rather detect small effects across a population.

• Q: Are there incentives for plume area residents to participate in the study?
  A: Yes, participants receive compensation. This practice is ethical and approved by the Purdue Human Research Protection Program.

• Q: Have some adults completed cognitive tests but not the breath test?
  A: Yes, some have not completed breath testing yet, but testing is planned.

• Q: What is being done to protect those with PCE/TCE levels above the action standard?
  A: The best protection is installing a vapor mitigation system, similar to radon remediation systems. Only one such case was found in a 2019 study, and the participant was informed and connected with the EPA. The EPA and IDEM can assist in mitigation efforts.

• Cancer Cluster Study

• Q: Will there be a cancer cluster study using 2020-2024 data?
  A: Yes, the Indiana Department of Health will update the study when data becomes available. Data management procedures may cause delays.

• Q: When is the next cancer cluster study? What data is needed? How can we help?
  A: New cancer cases are reported to the state by healthcare providers. More information on cancer data collection and contacts is available here: Indiana Cancer Data.

• Q: Why isn’t breast cancer included in the study results?
  A: Breast cancer was included in the request, but data from 2010-2019 showed no significant increase in Martinsville compared to Indiana overall. However, Morgan County had higher rates in 2005-2014. The full report is available on the MeCAP website.

• Q: What criteria were used, and when was the cancer cluster study conducted?
  A: The study was conducted in Spring 2024. The full report, including methods and results, is on the MeCAP website.

• Q: Is there a correlation between PCE/TCE exposure and cancer rates?
  A: The study cannot determine environmental causes of cancer. A different study design would be needed, such as comparing PCE/TCE exposure in individuals with cancer to those without.

• Q: Could other factors contribute to cancer rates?
  A: Yes, risk factors include age, smoking, obesity, and diet. Cancer is not a single disease but many diseases, each with different risk factors. Studies typically focus on one type of cancer at a time.

• Pilot Cancer Study (blood and urine testing) Coming Soon

• Q: Will the IU pilot study include participants with known cancer diagnoses, or will they be randomly chosen?
  A: Participants will be recruited from the current adult study and will include both short-term and long-term Martinsville residents without cancer diagnoses.

• Q: How do I sign up for the upcoming cancer study involving blood and urine sampling?
  A: Interested individuals should volunteer for the current adult health study. Recruitment is focused on those living in contamination plumes.

• Q: Can samples from the 2011 American Cancer Society study be used in the new pilot study?
  A: Researchers will follow up to determine if these samples are accessible.

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