November 19, 2007

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has released a Public Health Consultation for the Belgravia Site in South Haven. Although current conditions do not indicate that a health hazard exists, more information is needed to determine whether there may be a risk to residents or visitors at the site in the future.

The Belgravia site is a former industrial property that was redeveloped into condominiums and a health club. Contamination from the previous businesses that operated there remains in the soil. The contaminants of concern are trichloroethylene (TCE) and its breakdown products. There is heavily contaminated soil in the backyard of the property.

Limited data suggest that no unacceptable exposures are occurring at this time. However, it is possible that the vapors from the contaminants could travel through the soil and enter the living space of buildings on this or neighboring properties. Additionally, vapors may enter outdoor air directly from the soil and affect air quality.

MDCH recommends soil gas sampling under the residential portion of the Belgravia building. The outdoor air should be tested as well, especially if any soil is excavated. The backyard should remain off-limits until the contamination is addressed.

The consultation and its executive summary are available on the MDCH website at www.michigan.gov/mdch-toxics, under "Health Assessments and Related Documents."

The MDCH Division of Environmental Health conducted the Public Health Consultation for the Belgravia site under a cooperative agreement with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Information concerning the human health effects of exposure to environmental contaminants such as trichloroethylene can be found on the ATSDR web page at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html.