FCAP Human Health and Environmental Risk
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Former ChlorAlkali Plant, Human Health and Environmental Risk Assessment - 2013 Prepared for : Orica Limited 20 June 2013 Document History and Status Report Reference O/13/CAPR001 Revision A - Final Date 20 June 2013 Previous Revisions Limitations Environmental Risk Sciences (enRiskS) has prepared this report for the use of Orica Limited (Orica) in accordance with the usual care and thoroughness of the consulting profession. It is based on generally accepted practices and standards at the time it was prepared. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this report. It is prepared in accordance with the scope of work and for the purpose outlined in the Section 1 of this report. The methodology adopted and sources of information used are outlined in this report. Environmental Risk Sciences has made no independent verification of this information beyond the agreed scope of works and assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions. No indications were found that information contained in the reports or data provided by Orica for use in this assessment was false. This report was prepared from January to June 2013 and is based on the information provided and reviewed at that time. Environmental Risk Sciences disclaims responsibility for any changes that may have occurred after this time. This report should be read in full. No responsibility is accepted for use of any part of this report in any other context or for any other purpose or by third parties. This report does not purport to give legal advice. Legal advice can only be given by qualified legal practitioners. Former ChlorAlkali Plant, Human Health and Environmental Risk Assessment - 2013 Ref: O/13/CAPR001-A Table of Contents Section 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives and Scope of Works ........................................................................................... 2 1.3 Approach to the Assessment of Environmental Risk ............................................................ 3 1.4 Approach to the Assessment of Human Health Risk ............................................................ 3 1.4.1 General.......................................................................................................................... 3 1.4.2 Issue Identification......................................................................................................... 5 1.4.3 Exposure Assessment ................................................................................................... 5 1.4.6 Risk Characterisation and Acceptability of Risk ............................................................ 9 1.5 Features of the Risk Assessment ....................................................................................... 11 Section 2. Mercury in the Environment ..................................................................................... 12 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Mercury in the Environment ................................................................................................ 12 2.2.1 General........................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.2 Atmosphere ................................................................................................................. 13 2.2.3 Soil .............................................................................................................................. 14 2.2.4 Groundwater................................................................................................................ 14 2.2.5 Environment ................................................................................................................ 15 2.3 Toxicity of Mercury – Human Health .................................................................................. 16 2.4 Toxicity of Mercury - Environment ...................................................................................... 19 2.4.1 Bioavailability, Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification ................................................ 19 2.4.2 General Toxicity to Ecological Receptors .................................................................... 20 Section 3. Environmental Setting .............................................................................................. 21 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.2 Geology .............................................................................................................................. 21 3.2.1 Regional Geology ........................................................................................................ 21 3.2.2 FCAP Site Geology ..................................................................................................... 23 3.3 Hydrogeology ..................................................................................................................... 25 3.3.1 Regional Hydrogeology ............................................................................................... 25 3.3.2 Site Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................... 26 Section 4. Identification of Risk Issues ..................................................................................... 29 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 29 4.2 Guidelines........................................................................................................................... 29 4.2.1 General........................................................................................................................ 29 4.2.2 Soil Guidelines ............................................................................................................ 29 4.2.3 Sediment Guidelines ................................................................................................... 31 4.2.4 Groundwater and Surface Water Guidelines ............................................................... 32 4.3 Review of Soil Data from FCAP ......................................................................................... 33 4.4 Review of Groundwater Data and Identification of Issues .................................................. 35 4.4.1 Summary of Previous Investigations ........................................................................... 35 4.4.2 Summary of Mercury in Groundwater ......................................................................... 38 Former ChlorAlkali Plant, Human Health and Environmental Risk Assessment - 2013 Ref: O/13/CAPR001-A 4.4.3 Conceptual Model for Mercury Source, Fate and Transport in Groundwater .............. 39 4.4.4 Identification of Issues – Mercury in Groundwater ...................................................... 42 4.5 Mercury Vapour Conceptual Site Model ............................................................................. 44 4.6 Presence of Mercury in Other Off-Site Areas ..................................................................... 45 4.6.1 Summary of Previous Investigations ........................................................................... 45 4.6.2 Mechanisms of Off-site Discharges of Mercury to Surface Water ............................... 47 4.7 Summary of Issues Identified ............................................................................................. 49 Section 5. Quantification of Exposure and Risk – Human Health .......................................... 51 5.1 General ............................................................................................................................... 51 5.2 Identification of Complete Exposure Pathways .................................................................. 51 5.3 Assessment of Exposure and Risk - FCAP Site ................................................................. 55 5.3.1 General........................................................................................................................ 55 5.3.2 Mercury Soil and Dust Concentrations ........................................................................ 56 5.3.3 Mercury Vapour Concentrations .................................................................................. 57 5.3.4 Risk Calculations ......................................................................................................... 61 5.4 Assessment of Exposure and Risk Off-Site ........................................................................ 65 5.4.1 General........................................................................................................................ 65 5.4.2 Mercury Concentrations in Groundwater ..................................................................... 67 5.4.3 Mercury Vapour Concentrations .................................................................................. 67 5.4.4 Risk Calculations ........................................................................................................