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SDMS DocID 462373 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION I JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203-2211

MEMORANDUM ^A^.^ DATE: October 4, 1993 SUBJ: Rationale for selection of compounds of concern in fish tissue at the Pine Street Canal Site FROM: Ann-Marie Burke, Toxicologist C7p> Superfund Support Section TO: Sheila Eckman, RPM Ross Gilleland, RPM ME, VT Superfund Section The following is my rationale for choosing contaminants of concern (COCs) in fish fillet at the Pine Street Canal site. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call me at 223-5528. Eight contaminants should be analyzed for in fish fillet at the Pine Street site in order to meet the data quality objective regarding the analysis of risk to human health from fish consumption. These eight are; silver, bis(2­ ethylhexyl), chrysene, 4-methylphenol, benzoic , DDT, and chromium. The method I used for choosing COCs was to first screen compounds detected in surface water and sediments at the site by evaluating their ability to bioconcentrate. If their BCF exceeded 300, they were included as COCs. This first screen resulted in the selection of three compounds; silver, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and chrysene. Next PEER and M&E data was screened to evaluate compounds previously detected in fish tissue at this site. The levels detected in fish were compared to an action level (equivalent to 1x10'^ cancer risk level or a hazard quotient of 1) and those compounds approaching or exceeding action levels were selected as COCs. These included 4-methylphenol, , DDD, DDT and DDE, chromium, silver and benzaldehyde. Due to the poor quality of fish data, detects and corresponding levels may be faulty, however, it is prudent to confirm these values even if some of the detected compounds appear unlikely to bioconcentrate in fish fillet at the detected levels. To summarize, silver was chosen as a COC because it was detected in fairly high levels in sediments, has the ability to bioconcentrate in fish and was found by PEER in fish fillets at a level exceeding the action level for silver in fish. The range of detection limits necessary to achieve human health DQOs is from 0.68-6.8mg/kg. The lower value lowers the chance of false negatives in detections. Q-

Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate was detected in sediments and has the ability to bioconcentrate in fish. The range of detection limits necessary to meet human health DQOs is from 0.02 3 -.2 3 mg/kg. Chrysene was detected in sediments and has the ability to bioaccumlate in fish. The range of detection limits necessary to meet human health DQOs is from 0.0098-0.98mg/kg.

4-Methylphenol was detected previously by PEER in fish above the action level. The range of detection limits necessary to meet human health DQOs is from 0.68-6.8mg/kg. Benzoic acid was found twice by PEER in fish close the action level. The range of detection limits necessary to meet human health DQOs is from 540-5400mg/kg.

DDD, DDT and DDE have a high ability to bioaccumlate in fish tissue and were detected in prior fish sampling efforts in fish tissue. The range of detection limits necessary to meet human health DQOs is from 0.00093-0.0093mg/kg. Benzaldehyde was detected previously in fish fillet in high levels and has the ability to bioaccumlate in fish. The range of detection limits necessary to meet human health DQOs is from 14­ 140mg/kg. Chromium was detected in sediments and was detected previously in fish fillet. The range of detection limits necessary to meet human health DQOs is from 0.68-6.8 mg/kg.

cc: Carl DeLoi