News

Dec 28, 2023

West Virginia Chemical Spill

NTP has completed the West Virginia chemical spill research program. The Final NTP Update serves as NTP's overall interpretation of its studies on the spilled chemicals. Status: Completed Substances:

NTP has completed the West Virginia chemical spill research program. The Final NTP Update serves as NTP's overall interpretation of its studies on the spilled chemicals.

Status: Completed Substances: 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) 4-Methoxymethylcyclohexylmethanol Methyl 4-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate 1,4-Cyclohexanedimethanol Dimethyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate Propylene glycol phenyl ether Dipropylene glycol phenyl ether Crude MCHM 4-Methylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid Cyclohexanemethanol, 4-((ethenyloxy)methyl)- Cyclohexanemethanol, alpha,alpha,4-trimethyl- Phenoxyisopropanol 2-methylcyclohexanemethanol Dowanol DiPPh glycol ether Nominated: July 2014 Findings: NTP Research Program on Chemicals Spilled into the Elk River in West Virginia - Final Update (445.99 KB)

In January 2014, approximately 10,000 gallons of chemicals used to process coal spilled from a storage tank into the Elk River in West Virginia. The Elk River is a municipal water source which serves about 300,000 people in the Charleston area.

In July 2014, NTP received a nomination from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to conduct toxicity studies on the predominant chemicals known to be involved in the West Virginia chemical spill. The primary spilled agent was 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM). The chemicals dipropyleneglycol phenyl ether (DiPPH) and propylene glycol phenyl ether (PPH) were also present in smaller amounts. Limited data were available to address concerns about potential human health effects of the compounds in the spilled liquid, so NTP studied a number of chemicals (see Table of Chemicals Evaluated in NTP Studies).

NTP has completed the West Virginia chemical spill research program. NTP's Final Update, collective findings, and supporting files are now available. In addition, the original NTP Research Project Plan and summary are available.

NTP carried out a research program to predict the toxicity of chemicals present in the West Virginia Elk River chemical spill. NTP used several experimental approaches, including rodent studies, toxicity tests in cells, other lower animal species such as fish and worms, and computer modeling. Throughout a year of conducting these studies, NTP regularly provided updates on progress and results.

All NTP studies on the spilled chemicals focused on determining the adequacy of the drinking water screening levels based on the recommended limits by the CDC at the time of the spill. The results indicate that exposure to MCHM at or below the screening level is not likely to be associated with any known health effects. Birthweights from West Virginia birth certificates were also analyzed to assess potential consequences of the chemical spill on human birthweight. The analysis found that there were no meaningful differences in birthweight associated with the timing of the chemical spill.

These NTP studies strengthened our knowledge about the toxicity of MCHM and other spilled chemicals, and reduced uncertainty about the drinking water screening levels set at the time of the spill.

NTP received nominations to conduct toxicology studies related to the 2014 Elk River spill in West Virginia. The nominations were from the CDC and the ATSDR.

NTP conducted a number of short studies to provide information for public health decision makers and residents of Charleston. The studies focused on the major and most concerning constituents of the spilled liquid.

Using rodents and other model organisms, NTP looked for potential developmental effects by using the following techniques:

NTP shared results from these studies on its website as they became available.

The exact concentrations of chemicals in the Freedom Industries storage tank that leaked into the Elk River were uncertain. Even with this uncertainty, the available information clearly showed that the major contaminant of potential concern was MCHM. Each of the other chemicals in the spilled liquid were estimated to have been at five- to 10-fold lower concentration.

NTP's toxicology studies focused on all chemicals known to be involved in the spill. The broad focus enabled study participants to (1) qualitatively assess whether different types of effects would be expected; and (2) quantitatively assess the concentration at which effects occurred.

All NTP updates, data, and supporting files are now available from research on the chemicals spilled into the Elk River in West Virginia. The Final Update serves as NTP's overall interpretation of its studies on the spilled chemicals.

Many informational resources on NTP's research surrounding the West Virginia Chemical Spill are provided below.

Responsible for oversight and coordination of all project activities including planning, conduct, evaluation, and review of studies, and interpretation and communication of findings:

Responsible for coordination of project activities related to individual studies including planning, conduct, evaluation, and review of studies, and interpretation and communication of findings:

Contributed substantially to one or more project activities for a study including protocol development, analysis of findings, data management and integration, and interpretation and communication of findings:

Conducted rat 5-day toxicogenomic studies:

Conducted studies on mouse dermal irritation and hypersensitivity:

Conducted studies on structure-activity relationships:

Conducted bacterial mutagenicity studies and micronucleus assessments in rats:

Provided support for chemical characterization:

Conducted studies on zebrafish developmental toxicity and photomotor response:

Provided support for chemical characterization:

Provided support for 5-day toxicogenomic studies:

Provided support for statistical analyses:

Conducted studies on prenatal developmental toxicity:

Provided support for data analysis and management, and web design:

John T. Tate (program manager), Signature Consulting Group

Provided information technology and support services:

Provided support for web page design:

Provided support for web communications:

The external scientists listed below peer reviewed one or more of the following NTP studies on the spilled chemicals: bacterial mutagenicity, 5-day rat toxicogenomics, high-throughput screening assays, mouse dermal irritation and hypersensitivity, nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans) toxicity, prenatal developmental toxicity, and zebrafish developmental toxicity and photomotor response.

We thank former NIEHS staff Dr. Jonathan Freedman, University of Louisville, for the use of equipment to conduct the nematode toxicity study.

Subscribe to receive email to stay informed about West Virginia chemical spill research and other NTP information.

For questions or additional information, email us or use our contact form.