Dispersion Modeling of Cr(VI) - Iraq

Overview

In 2003, U.S. Army personnel were assigned to provide security for people working at the industrial-grade water treatment plant at Qarmat-Ali, Basra, Iraq. In mid-2003, contract work crews and safety personnel identified sodium dichromate as a potential occupational hazard in the work environment. Several U.S. Army soldiers reported to the supporting military medical facility and inquired about the potential health risks. Concurrently, containment of the contaminated site was initiated and environmental sampling was conducted. In-theater military occupational and environmental health specialists addressed the health concerns of the military units at a local "town hall" meeting. Additionally, medical evaluations were conducted for all personnel present at that time (Defense Health Board [DHB], 2008).

Several U.S. Army soldiers alleged adverse health effects that they claimed were caused by exposure to dust containing hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), while on service at the Qarmat-Ali water treatment plant (WTP).

EnviroComp's Role

A peer-reviewed paper (Zannetti et al., 2015) presents our study with respect to these claims in relation to the physical aspects of the case, such as (1) amount of Cr(VI) present in the soil, (2) wind erosion episodes, and (3) possible long-term (e.g., annual average) Cr(VI) concentrations inhaled by soldiers while at the site. Our modeling effort provided results in the form of both contour lines of average Cr(VI) concentrations at the site, and specific concentration values for selected soldiers.

The research and preparation of the paper relate to work done by the authors in this litigation project. Dr. Zannetti served as an expert witness and testified about his expert work on behalf of the KBR defendants. The responsibility for the preparation and content of this paper rests with the authors, and the opinions and interpretations expressed reflect the views of the authors and not of any company.

  • Defense Health Board. 2008. Defense Health Board Review of the US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine Assessment of Sodium Dichromate Exposure at Qarmat-Ali Water Treatment Plant. DHB 2008-06.
  • Zannetti, P., A. D. Daly, and F. R. Freedman (2015) Dispersion Modeling of Particulate Matter Containing Hexavalent Chromium during High Winds in Southern Iraq. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 65(2):171-185. PDF download.

Visuals

Six-month average daytime concentrations of Cr(VI) for daytime emissions (15 hr per day only) with inclusion of initial remediation measures from August 22, 2003.