Report on the Battle Creek health study

In 1981, the aquifer serving the Battle Creek area, Calhoun County, Michigan, was found to be contaminated with volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). The most seriously affected city wells were closed down, and residents in the adjacent Verona Park, whose private wells were contaminated, were offered bottled water and municipal shower facilities until their homes were connected to the city water mains. In 1986, new city wells north of the city's well field (the Verona well field) came into operation.Groundwater contamination with the same VOCs was later detected in Springfield, southwest and adjacent to Battle Creek, and la Dowagiac, Cass County. The source of contamination was identified in Battle Creek and Dowagiac, but not in Springfield. Responding to public concerns, the Michigan Department of Public Health (MDPH) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a comprehensive epklemiologic study of the potential health effects of the groundwater contamination. This report describes the rationale, design, implementation, and the results of the study.This study was largely supported by funds from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act trust fund, by Interagency Agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.CEHS-183 (12-88)927901.pdf1988https://semspub.epa.gov/work/05/927901.pdf871