Chemicals of Concern in O'ahu Drinking Water

posted in: May 1996 | 0

Name: Carbon Tetrachloride*
Use: Industrial Solvent
Where found: Del Monte Navy well (Kunia) Wahiawa; Haleiwa; Wheeler; Camp Stover; Waikele (Navy Well)
Health effects: Probable carcinogen (respiratory cancer, liver tumors, leukemia.)

Name: DBCP (1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane)
Use: Soil Fumigant
Where found: Hawai’i Country Club; Wailua; Haleiwa; Wahiwa; Kunia; Mililani
Health effects: Probable carcinogen; may cause infertility and sterility in exposed workers; probable mutagen

Name: Diedrin
Use: Insecticide (termiticide)
Where found: ‘Aiea to ‘Ainakoa
Health effects: Probable carcinogen; may damage liver, central nervous system; gastro-intestinal system and adrenal glands

Name: DCP (1,2- Dichloropropane)
Use: Solvent; pesticide in Shell-DD fumigant; contaminant in Telone II fumigant
Where found: Mililani
Health effects: Decreased red blood cells; liver, kidney damage

Name: EDB (Ethylene dibromide; 1,2-dibromeothane)
Use: Soil fumigant (nematocide); grain fumigant
Where found: Waihapu; Kunia
Health effects: Probable carcinogen; may cause infertility and damage to liver, gastro-intestinal system and adrenal glands

Name: PCE* (Tetrachloroethylene, also known as “perc”)
Use: Industrial solvent; dry cleaning solvent
Where found: Del Monte Navy well (Kunia); Wahiwa; Schofeild Barracks
Health effects: Probable carcinogen; (leukemia); damage to nervous system; possible reproductive effects; liver; kidney damage

Name: TCE* (Trichloroethylene)
Use: Industrial solvent; inert ingredient in pesticide formulations
Where found: Del Monte Navy well (Kunia); Kunia; Hawai’i Country Club; Kipapa Gulch; Moanalua; Waialua Waipi’o Heights; Waipahu; Schofeild Barracks; Mililani
Health effects: Probable carcinogen; (including leukemia); damage to liver, heart, kidneys, central nervous system

Name: TCP(1,2,3- Trichloropropane)
Use: Degreasing agent; inert ingredient in some pesticide formulations
Where found: Hawai’i Country Club; Waialua; Waipahu; Kipapa Gulch; Haleiwa; Wahiawa Waipi’o Heights; Ho’ae’ae; Kunia; Mililani
Health effects: Probably carcinogen; damage to central nervous system, liver, kidneys

*Contaminant who’s primary sources is almost certainly a military application.

Source of information on contaminated areas is the Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Branch list of contaminated wells, printout dated March 5, 1996, and news reports of Dieldrin contamination, early April 1996. The DOH list reports all positive test results for regulated chemical contamination at drinking water sources going back to 1991.

Volume 6, Number 11 May 1996

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