Former Mobil pipeline

Property owners notified: 31. Date notified: Sept. 19, 2003

Contaminants (all petroleum products):

Toluene. Clear, colorless liquid with a distinctive smell. It is a good solvent (a substance that can dissolve other substances). It is added to gasoline along with benzene and xylene. Toluene occurs naturally in crude oil and in the tolu tree. It is produced in the process of making gasoline and other fuels from crude oil, in making coke from coal, and as a by-product in the manufacture of styrene. Toluene is used in making paints, paint thinners, fingernail polish, lacquers, adhesives, and rubber and in some printing and leather tanning processes.

Possible dangers: Not classified as carcinogen. A serious health concern is that toluene may have an effect on your brain. Toluene can cause headaches and sleepiness, and can impair your ability to think clearly. Whether or not toluene does this to you depends on the amount you take in, how long you are exposed, and your genetic susceptibility and age.

Ethylbenzene. A colorless, flammable liquid that smells like gasoline.It is naturally found in coal tar and petroleum and is also found in manufactured products such as inks, pesticides, and paints. Ethylbenzene is used primarily to make another chemical, styrene. Other uses include as a solvent, in fuels, and to make other chemicals.

Possible dangers: Possible human carcinogen. Exposure to relatively low concentrations of ethylbenzene in air for several months to years causes kidney damage in animals.

Xylenes. A colorless, sweet-smelling liquid that catches on fire easily. It occurs naturally in petroleum and coal tar. Chemical industries produce xylene from petroleum. It is one of the top 30 chemicals produced in the United States in terms of volume. Xylene is used as a solvent and in the printing, rubber, and leather industries. It is also used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and in paints and varnishes. It is found in small amounts in airplane fuel and gasoline.

Possible dangers: Not enough data to determine whether it causes cancer.

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (1,2,4-TMB). Used in many household products, such as those used for arts and crafts and household maintenance.

Possible dangers: 1,2,4-TMB is irritating to the eyes, respiratory system, and the skin and can have effects on the central nervous system and blood.

1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (1,3,5-TMB). Used in dyes, solvents, paint thinners and plastics. 1,3,5-TMB is emitted into the air by emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles, waste treatment plants and coal-fired power stations. 1,3,5-TMB occurs in petroleum and coal tar. 1,3,5-TMB is found at low levels in air and in water, including drinking water. It is also found at low levels in food. Often, it is in beef and pork flavorings. 1,3,5-TMB is found in some automobile engine treatments and some epoxies for home use.

Possible dangers: Breathing high levels of 1,3,5-TMB causes an immediate build-up of fluid in the lungs, causing severe shortness of breath, coughing, and nose and throat irritation. Exposure to high levels causes headaches, tiredness, dizziness, lightheadedness or confusion. Long-term health effects include liver damage and anemia (lack of oxygen in the blood). Another lasting effect is an asthma-like allergy, with shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and/or chest tightness.

Naphthalene. A white solid that evaporates easily. It is also called mothballs, moth flakes, white tar, and tar camphor. When mixed with air, naphthalene vapors easily burn. Fossil fuels, such as petroleum and coal, naturally contain naphthalene. Burning tobacco or wood produces naphthalene. The major commercial use of naphthalene is to make other chemicals used in making polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. The major consumer products made from naphthalene are moth repellents, in the form of mothballs or crystals, and toilet deodorant blocks. It is also used for making dyes, resins, leather tanning agents, and the insecticide carbaryl.

Possible dangers: Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.

2-Methylnaphthalene. A naphthalene-related compound, 2 methylnaphthalene, is also called beta methylnaphthalene. It is a solid like naphthalene. It used to make other chemicals such as dyes, and resins. 2 Methylnaphthalene is also used to make vitamin K. Present in cigarette smoke, wood smoke, tar, asphalt, and at some hazardous waste sites.

Possible dangers: Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.

Properties listed

City of Muskegon, 2272 McCracken, 2320 McCracken

2147 Moon St., 2185 Moon St., 2197 Moon St., 2265 Moon St.

1996 Miner Ave., 1997 Miner Ave., 2005 Miner Ave., 2011 Miner Ave., 2021 Miner Ave.

1983 Morton Ave., 1992 Morton Ave., 1993 Morton Ave., 1995 Morton Ave., 1998 Morton Ave., 2001 Morton Ave., 2005 Morton Ave., 2006 Morton Ave., 2017 Morton Ave.

1970 Harding Ave., 1971 Harding Ave., 1977 Harding Ave., 1978 Harding Ave., 1984 Harding Ave., 1987 Harding Ave., 1995 Harding Ave., 1996 Harding Ave., 2003 Harding Ave., 2006 Harding Ave.

Note: 1971 leak from former pipeline near Sisson Avenue and McCracken Street. Work started in 1972 to clean it up and drill observation wells. With approval of state, cleanup discontinued in 1975. From 1995 to 2003, more observation wells drilled to monitor groundwater in neighborhood to the north.