Blackwell Zinc PHA Public Comment
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BLACKWELL ZINC SMELTER SITE BLACKWELL, KAY COUNTY, OKLAHOMA EPA FACILITY ID: OKD980796023 SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 NOVEMBER 5, 2018 THE ATSDR PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT: A NOTE OF EXPLANATION This Public Health Assessment-Public Comment Release 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. This document represents the agency’s best efforts, based on currently available information, to fulfill the statutory criteria set out in CERCLA section 104 (i)(6) within a limited time frame. To the extent possible, it presents an assessment of potential risks to human health. Actions authorized by CERCLA section 104 (i)(11), or otherwise authorized by CERCLA, may be undertaken to prevent or mitigate human exposure or risks to human health. In addition, ATSDR will utilize this document to determine if follow-up health actions are appropriate at this time. This document has previously been provided to EPA and the affected state in an initial release, as required by CERCLA section 104 (i) (6) (H) for their information and review. Where necessary, it has been revised in response to comments or additional relevant information provided by them to ATSDR. This revised document has now been released for a 45-day public comment period. Subsequent to the public comment period, ATSDR will address all public comments and revise or append the document as appropriate. The public health assessment will then be reissued. This will conclude 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 …………………Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director, CDC and Administrator ATSDR Patrick N. Breysse, Ph.D., CIH, Director Division of Community Health Investigations….................. ........................................................ Susan Moore, M.S., Acting, Director Mark Biagioni, MPA. Acting, Deputy Director Central Branch.………………………………………………………………………………………...Richard E. Gillig, M.C.P., Chief Eastern Branch ……………………………………………………………………………...Sharon Williams-Fleetwood, Ph.D., Chief Western Branch ……………….. ............................................................................................................... Alan Yarbrough, M.S., Chief Science Support Branch ………. .............................................................................................................. Peter Kowalski, Acting 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. Please address comments regarding this report to: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Attn: Records Center 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., MS F-09 Atlanta, Georgia 30333 You May Contact ATSDR Toll Free at 1-800-CDC-INFO or Visit our Home Page at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov Blackwell Zinc Smelter Site Public Comment Release PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT BLACKWELL ZINC SMELTER SITE BLACKWELL, KAY COUNTY, OKLAHOMA EPA FACILITY ID: OKD980796023 Prepared by: Division of Community Health Investigations U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry This information is distributed solely for the purpose of predissemination public comment under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. Blackwell Zinc Smelter Site Public Comment Release Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ v Statement of Issues and Background.............................................................................. 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 Site History and Timeline ............................................................................................. 1 Site Description and History ........................................................................................ 1 Site Visits and Community Health-Related Concerns .................................................. 2 Demographics ............................................................................................................. 4 Land Use ..................................................................................................................... 5 Natural Resource Use ................................................................................................. 5 Exposure Pathway Evaluation ......................................................................................... 6 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 6 Complete Exposure Pathways ..................................................................................... 7 Potential Exposure Pathways ...................................................................................... 7 Eliminated Exposure Pathways ................................................................................... 7 Exposure Pathways at the Blackwell Zinc Smelter Site ................................................... 8 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 8 Completed Exposure Pathways ................................................................................... 8 Potential Exposure Pathways .................................................................................... 10 Eliminated Exposure Pathways ................................................................................. 10 Discussion of Environmental Contamination ................................................................. 14 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 14 Definition of Statistical Terms .................................................................................... 15 Descriptive Statistics for Arsenic in Surface Soil ....................................................... 16 Descriptive Statistics for Cadmium in Surface Soil .................................................... 16 Public Health Implications ............................................................................................. 18 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 18 Determinants of Physiological Response .................................................................. 18 ATSDR’s Evaluation Process .................................................................................... 18 Uncertainties .............................................................................................................. 19 Arsenic: Interpretation and Health Significance for Non-Cancer Effects .................... 21 Arsenic: Interpretation and Health Significance for Cancer Effects ........................... 21 ii Blackwell Zinc Smelter Site Public Comment Release Cadmium: Interpretation and Health Significance for Non-Cancer Effects ................ 23 Public Health Interpretation and Significance for Lead Exposure .................................. 25 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 25 Nutritional Status and Other Considerations .............................................................. 25 Review of Blood Lead Data ....................................................................................... 25 Number of Children Tested for Blood Levels 2010-2016 ........................................... 26 Parameters for Blood Lead Level Testing.................................................................. 27 Overview of Blood Lead Models ................................................................................ 27 Estimating BLLs from Exposure to Soil, Indoor Dust, Drinking Water, and Foods ..... 28 U.S. EPA’s IEUBK Model .......................................................................................... 28 Bioavailability ............................................................................................................. 28 Lead: Interpretation and Significance for Non-Cancer Effects ................................... 31 Combined Health Effects ........................................................................................... 31 Discussion of Child Health Considerations .................................................................... 33 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 33 ATSDR’s Findings ....................................................................................................