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  • Add content Add content: Add recent monitoring well descriptions (when, where, why, results) high priority
  • Add content Add content: State of the Cleanup Fact Sheet

CARD State of the Cleanup

What is CARD?

What is 1,4-dioxane?
  • RLC - Please expand on toxicology concerns and any updates
  • EPA has 1,4 Dioxane on its contaminant candidate list 3 (CCL3) - their list of compounds of concern for drinking water (cite)
  • 1,4-dioxane is used as a solvent. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high levels of 1,4-dioxane has caused vertigo, drowsiness, headache, anorexia and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs in humans. It may also irritate the skin. Damage to the liver and kidneys has been observed in rats chronically (long-term) exposed in their drinking water. In three epidemiologic studies on workers exposed to 1,4-dioxane, the observed number of cancer cases did not differ from the expected cancer deaths. Tumors have been observed in orally exposed animals. EPA has classified 1,4-dioxane as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen. (EPA Technology Transfer Network)
  • Important Note - this is 1,4-dioxane and NOT DIOXIN which is a known carcinogen

Where did it come from?
  • From 1966 to 1986, Gelman Sciences used a reported 800,000 lbs of 1,4-dioxane. Gelman Sciences used 1,4-dioxane in the manufacture of medical filters. It was disposed of in a number of ways on the property including storage in unlined lagoons, spray irrigation, and deep well injection. The contamination has migrated in several directions off of the site. Visit the county Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) website to view the latest map of where the contamination is known or believed to be. In 1989-90, the company analysis estimated 64,000 lbs in the groundwater and it would cost $44 million to clean up. Since then, the company has removed over 80,000 lbs of 1,4-dioxane. In 2007, there are still areas with 65,000 ppb of 1,4-dioxane in the groundwater. The contaminated groundwater plumes are over 3 miles long and 1 mile wide.

Watch History video here...

Where is the Contamination in 2008?

  • Gelman Sciences Property - There is 1,4-dioxane contamination in the soils and groundwater on the property. Contamination still eminates from the site in several directions - southwest, west, northwest, north, northeast, and east. The largest known plume is in a deeper aquifer and headed east through Ann Arbor. Add image of site
  • Scio Township
    • Western System -
  • Ann Arbor Township - there are township islands within the city boundary that have been affected.
  • City of Ann Arbor - Contamination has moved from the Gelman site to the east. The contamination is typically referred to based on the plume of contamination.
    • The Evergreen Plume (add image) has been known for some time and refers to the original subdivision affected. Most of these homes were on wells and are now connected to city water becasue there wells become contaminated. There is an extraction system in place and the company (Pall Life Sciences) is required to capture the plume at 85 ppb - the MDEQ cleanup standard. Status: It is unclear whether PLS is capturing the plume at Evergreen as required by the Consent Judgement. This is important for two reasons. 1 - the company is required to capture the leading edge of the Evergreen plume at AE3 and 2 - significant fines were placed on hold but may be back in play if PLS is out of compliance. PLS has argued that they are extracting contamination from another source (the E Plume) and are not out of compliance. They have installed additional wells to attempt to demonstrate this to the MDEQ.
    • The E plume is the largest plume and has moved east from the Gelman site under the west side of Ann Arbor. Visit the county website to view the latest map of where the contamination is known or believed to be. Unlike the Evergreen plume, the court has allowed PLS to let 2800 ppb of 1,4 Dioxane to migrate east of Maple Road. The 2800ppb number is based on the Groundwater Surfacewater Interface or GSI standard - or the amount of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater that MDEQ believes is allowable to "vent" to surface water - in this case hopefully at the Huron River somewhere near Argo Dam. Most groundwater flows downhill toward creeks or rivers but it is rarely that simple. The Court ordered a prohibition zone that severely limits the use of groundwater by property owners. You can see the current prohibition zone on the MapWashtenaw (n.b., does not work with Firefox) site at the Washtenaw County website.
      • PLS planned to pump 200 gpm from Maple Village - they are currently pumping 50 gpm.
    • Outstanding questions include:
      • Where will the plume through the city go and where will it vent to the River?
        • PLS is required to perform a downgradient investigation and has submitted this report to MDEQ. MDEQ responded with comments.
          • There are remaining concerns that the plume could vent to the Allens Creek drain before it gets to the river. No investigation has occurred to measure 1,4-dioxane in the stormwater system to see if any of the groundwater is infiltrating into the stormwater or sanitary systems.
      • How do we know that the contamination crossing Maple Road will remain under the court ordered 2800 ppb GSI standard?
        • MDEQ has required PLS to install monitoring wells in Veterans Park across from the Maple Village Shopping Center. Three wells were to be installed - two were and one could not be installed because the well rig hit boulders. PLS and MDEQ disagree about the installation of the third well - the northernmost well.
        • PLS has installed extraction and re-injection wells at Maple Village. Water is extracted from two wells - piped north to the Milk Depot property on Dexter Road where it is treated with hydrogen peroxide and ozone to destroy the 1,4 dioxane and then piped back to Maple Village where it is re-injected. Re-injection is typically problematic and the system is currently shut down because PLS cannot re-inject the 200 gpm they need to extract.

Who is responsible for cleaning up the contamination?
  • Pall Life Sciences bought Gelman Sciences and is responsible for the cleanup.



Latest page update: made by mnaud , Apr 25 2008, 2:39 PM EDT (about this update About This Update mnaud Edited by mnaud

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