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NCT Number: NCT05819996

Addressing Tetrachloroethylene Exposure in an Impacted Community

Groundwater in Martinsville, IN, is contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). Indoor air in some residential and commercial buildings is also contaminated with PCE and TCE. This study is being conducted to better understand the impact of low-level exposures to these compounds on community members' health. Data collected in this study will be used to help the community identify a course of action.

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Key information

Conditions

Vapors; Inhalation Cancer Neoplasms Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Respiration Disorders Respiratory Aspiration Respiratory Tract Diseases Volatile Organic Compounds

Age range

18 year–99 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

Martinsville, IN, is a community of 11,000 people that overlays four groundwater contamination sites, including a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated Superfund site. The total area of groundwater contamination is over 60 acres and lies within a single aquifer. The contaminates are chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). These contaminants are thought to originate from several dry cleaning and metal degreasing operations. An activated carbon filtration system has been in operation since 2005 to remove PCE and chlorinated VOCs from the municipal water, which now meets EPA drinking water standards. However, a recent report from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry concludes that people's health may be harmed by breathing indoor air contaminated via vapor intrusion, the migration of volatile compounds from contaminated groundwater and soil into buildings above. The long-term goal of this research is to understand how PCE exposure in communities affects health and to empower community members' participation in environmental health decision-making. In this project researchers will work with the community of Martinsville, IN to:

  • Determine the extent and exposure levels to the contaminants by measuring the contamination in residents and at their homes.
  • Assess the community's concern and perceptions about the contamination and associated health risks.
  • Study the impact of the contaminants on visual and neurocognitive functions.
  • Compare cancer rates in Martinsville to county and state rates.

The above information will help researchers and community partners co-design a targeted educational campaign to reduce community members' exposure to the contaminants.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Residents of Martinsville, Indiana
  • 18 years or older

Treatment and study plan

Environmental educational campaign

Behavioral

Educational campaign will be conducted to promote participation in indoor air testing.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in concerns about environmental chemical contamination in Martinsville.

    Time frame: For Measure 1a, Time frame is from year 1 to year 3; for Measure 1b, Time frame is from year 1 to year 5.

    This measure is based on the differences between the percentage of "Yes" responses to a close-ended, not scaled question at 3 different time points, administered via repeated surveys to the same sample of respondents.

    Are participants concerned about environmental chemical contamination in Martinsville? Yes / Somewhat / No / Refuse

    1a. Changes in concerns about environmental chemical contamination in Martinsville from Year 1 to Year 3. This is based on the differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 3 (online survey administered at the beginning of Year 3).

    1b. Changes in concerns about environmental chemical contamination in Martinsville from Year 1 to Year 5. This is based on the differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 5 (Online survey, post intervention).

  2. Changes in awareness of possible exposure to chemicals from soil or groundwater in Martinsville.

    Time frame: For Measure 2a, Time frame is from year 1 to year 3; for Measure 2b, Time frame is from year 1 to year 5.

    This measure is based on the differences between the percentage of "Yes" responses to a close-ended, not scaled question at 3 different time points, administered via repeated surveys to the same sample of respondents.

    Are participants aware of possible exposure to chemicals from soil or groundwater in Martinsville? Yes / No / Refuse

    2a. Changes in awareness of possible exposure to chemicals from soil or groundwater in Martinsville from Year 1 to Year 3. This is based on the differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 3 (Online survey administered at the beginning of Year 3).

    2b. Changes in awareness of available resources for exposure reduction from Year 1 to Year 5. This is based on the differences in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 5 (Online survey, post intervention)

  3. Change in willingness to have respondent's homes tested for chemical contamination from contaminated soil or groundwater.

    Time frame: For Measure 3a, Time frame is from year 1 to year 3; for Measure 3b, Time frame is from year 1 to year 5.

    This measure is based on the difference between the percentage of "Yes" responses to a close-ended, not scaled question at 3 different time points, administered via repeated surveys to the same sample of respondents.

    Are participants willing to have their home tested for chemical contamination from contaminated soil or groundwater? Yes / No / Refuse / Don't know

    3a. Changes in willingness to have respondents' homes tested for the chemical contamination from Year 1 to Year 3. This is based on the differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 3 (Online survey at the beginning of Year 3)

    3b. Changes in willingness to have respondents' homes tested for the chemical contamination from Year 1 to Year 5. This is based on the differences in differences in percentage of yes responses to this question in surveys administered in Year 1 (Main survey, baseline) and Year 5 (Online survey, post intervention)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Sa Liu, MPH, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

765-496-6240

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Purdue University

Other

Collaborators

  • Indiana University
  • Mackey Children's Cancer Foundation
  • University of Illinois at Chicago

Registry information

Official study title

Addressing Tetrachloroethylene Exposure in an Impacted Community: Residents' Concerns, Neurotoxic Effects, and Exposure Reduction

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Apr 19, 2023
Registry last updated
Mar 18, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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