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WATER GREMLIN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT: PUBLIC COMMENT DRAFT <br />Next Steps/Recommendations: In Marc.h.2021, Water Gremlin submitted a proposed workplan that <br />includes dredging the.eastecn.StormwaterPOW to remove lead -impacted sediment and reduce. <br />additional lead that could. ultimately affect Lambert Creek. <br />Conclusion 6: indoor air at the Water Gremlin' facility maybe harming or may have harmed worker's <br />health. <br />Basis for Conclusion 6: During the vapor intrusion investigation at the Water.Gremlin. facility ; TCE was <br />found in. indoor air above the Minnesota commerclal/industrial Intrusion ScreeningUalue#SV) of 7* <br />µg/m3. MDH reques..ted that Water Gremlin notify its employees ofTCE in indoor air, although data <br />indicated the source was most likely from past Td use irrthe fdcllltw and not vaporIntrus on. MOH <br />provided the notification in several languages. <br />t-DC5 eoricentratioris in the facility's indoor air are generally high.:and fluctuate sfgrOcantly because:of. <br />Its current use in -production. Water Gremlin. workers exposed tot-DCE repeatedly -at concentrations <br />measured at their -facility may beat risk of immune system*effects. <br />Next Steps/Recommendations: AS required under OSHA, MDH.recommends.that Water Grerrtilin.hotify <br />its workers about.workplace hazards and protect the health and safety of its workforce. <br />--- - - ---------------------- <br />Conclusion. 7: Exposumto lead may have harmed the health -of Water Gremlin workers and their <br />families. <br />Basis for Conclusion 7: In 2019, MDH identified.24 children of Water Gremlin workers with elevated <br />blood lead levels, defined as venous blood lead of.at least.5 Micrograms/deciliter. <br />Next Steps/Recommendations: To protect the health and safety of Its workers and their families, a <br />number of measures.. were required of Water Gremlin in orderto i`ed.uce employee lead exposure and <br />.prevent taMAome.lead. MDH-will continue to review elevated. blood lead resultsfrom routine testing <br />to ideritlfy results*that may be -related to Water Gremlin:in collaboration with local public health. <br />departments.. New legislation passed in 2021 provides*MDH additional funding to conduct in -home lead <br />risk assessments forell children in Minnesota with elevoted;blood lead levels and provides new <br />'enforcement authority.for cases where the lead exposure originated outside of the home, as in the <br />Water Gremlin 41tuation.. If children of Water Gremlin. workers.are identified with elevated blood lead, <br />MDH and local-publlc health will take appropriate actions to Investigate and mitigate lead hazards. <br />Note: The majority of Water Gremlin workers who received blood lead tests in 2019 had high blood lead <br />levels, though they appear to be declining. Assessment and control of worker lead blood lead levels. are. <br />beytlnd the scope of the PHA and is a matter that is regulated- by the, Minnesota DepagMe.nt*of.Labor <br />and Industry.. <br />Xlt. Public Health Action Plan <br />The bullets below are actions MDH will take to prntectthe health of the community intotliefuture. <br />■ MDH will review-any.additional site investigation*repofts completed as-Oai-t of the remedial <br />investigation for Water Gremlin and will share -Information about any potentflalheaith corceitts:with <br />the community -if Identifled in the future. <br />52 <br />