Public Health Assessment: a Note of Explanation
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Evaluation of Exposure to Contaminants at the University of California, Berkeley, Richmond Field Station, 1301 South 46th Street RICHMOND, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA EPA FACILITY ID: CAD980673628 MARCH 13, 2008 THE ATSDR PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT: A NOTE OF EXPLANATION This Public Health Assessment was prepared by ATSDR pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) section 104 (i)(6) (42 U.S.C. 9604 (i)(6)), and in accordance with our implementing regulations (42 C.F.R. Part 90). In preparing this document, ATSDR has collected relevant health data, environmental data, and community health concerns from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state and local health and environmental agencies, the community, and potentially responsible parties, where appropriate. In addition, this document has previously been provided to EPA and the affected states in an initial release, as required by CERCLA section 104 (i)(6)(H) for their information and review. The revised document was released for a 30-day public comment period. Subsequent to the public comment period, ATSDR addressed all public comments and revised or appended the document as appropriate. The public health assessment has now been reissued. This concludes the public health assessment process for this site, unless additional information is obtained by ATSDR which, in the agency’s opinion, indicates a need to revise or append the conclusions previously issued. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry.................................................... Julie L. Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H., Administrator Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H., Director Division of Health Assessment and Consultation…. .....................................................................William Cibulas, Jr., Ph.D., Director Sharon Williams-Fleetwood, Ph.D., Deputy Director Cooperative Agreement and Program Evaluation Branch ....................................................................Richard E. Gillig, M.C.P., Chief Exposure Investigations and Site Assessment Branch .............................................................................. Susan M. Moore, M.S., Chief Health Promotion and Community Involvement Branch ........................................................................Susan J. Robinson, M.S., Chief Site and Radiological Assessment Branch ................................................................................................ Sandra G. Isaacs, B.S., Chief Use of trade names is for identification only and does not constitute endorsement by the Public Health Service or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional copies of this report are available from: National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia (703) 605-6000 You May Contact ATSDR Toll Free at 1-800-CDC-INFO or Visit our Home Page at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov University of California, Richmond Field Station Final Release PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT Evaluation of Exposure to Contaminants at the University of California, Berkeley, Richmond Field Station, 1301 South 46th Street RICHMOND, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA EPA FACILITY ID: CAD980673628 Prepared by: California Department of Public Health Under Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Table of Contents Summary......................................................................................................................................... 1 Background and Statement of Issues ..............................................................................................6 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................... 8 Demographics ............................................................................................................................. 8 Environmental Contamination/Pathway Analysis/Toxicological Evaluation ................................ 8 Description of Toxicological Evaluation.................................................................................... 9 Environmental and Health Screening Criteria ............................................................................ 9 Evaluation of Richmond Field Station Marsh Sediments and Surface Water.......................... 13 Past Exposure to Adults and Children/Teenagers Playing in the Marsh Prior to 2003 (Phase 1 and Phase 2 Excavations/Removals) ................................................................................. 13 Current (after 2003) and Future Exposure to Adults and Children/Teenagers Playing in the Marsh .......................................................................................................................... 15 Adults or Children/Teenagers Restoring the Excavated Areas of the Richmond Field Station Marsh........................................................................................................................ 17 Soil at the University of California Richmond Field Station.................................................... 18 Evaluation of Past Exposure (Long-Term) to Maintenance Workers Prior to Soil Excavation/Removal............................................................................................................. 19 Evaluation of Current Exposure (Short-Term) to Maintenance Workers............................. 21 Cumulative Theoretical Increased Cancer Risk from Past, Current, and Future Exposure.. 22 Conclusion of Soil Evaluation .............................................................................................. 23 Evaluation of Ambient Air During Remedial Work................................................................. 23 Dust....................................................................................................................................... 23 Mercury Vapor...................................................................................................................... 24 Evaluation of Indoor Air........................................................................................................... 25 Indoor Air Quality in General............................................................................................... 25 Metals in Indoor Air at the Richmond Field Station............................................................. 26 Mercury Vapor in Indoor Air at the Richmond Field Station............................................... 26 Volatile Organic Chemicals in Indoor Air at the Richmond Field Station........................... 27 Quality Assurance and Quality Control.................................................................................... 28 Community Health Concerns and Evaluation........................................................................... 28 Introduction and Purpose ...................................................................................................... 28 Background........................................................................................................................... 28 Process for Gathering Community Health Concerns................................................................ 29 Historical Concerns............................................................................................................... 30 Current/General Concerns .................................................................................................... 31 Community Health Concerns Evaluation ................................................................................. 31 Cancer Risk Factors and Health Disparities ............................................................................. 32 Evaluation of Cancer Health Concerns at the Richmond Field Station.................................... 33 Thyroid Cancer ..................................................................................................................... 34 Breast Cancer........................................................................................................................ 34 i Liver Cancer.......................................................................................................................... 35 Pancreatic Cancer.................................................................................................................. 35 Kidney Cancer ...................................................................................................................... 36 Throat Cancer........................................................................................................................ 36 Evaluation of Noncancer Health Concerns at the Richmond Field Station.............................. 37 Asthma .................................................................................................................................. 38 Bacterial Meningitis.............................................................................................................. 38 Cardiovascular Concerns ...................................................................................................... 38 Developmental Concerns for Children In Utero................................................................... 39 Irritation of Eyes, Nose, and Sinuses.................................................................................... 40 Irritation of Skin...................................................................................................................