Health Consultation RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS GRASSY ISLAND DETROIT RIVER, WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN EPA FACILITY ID: MIN000509205 SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Health Assessment and Consultation Atlanta, Georgia 30333 Health Consultation: A Note of Explanation An ATSDR health consultation is a verbal or written response from ATSDR to a specific request for information about health risks related to a specific site, a chemical release, or the presence of hazardous material. In order to prevent or mitigate exposures, a consultation may lead to specific actions, such as restricting use of or replacing water supplies; intensifying environmental sampling; restricting site access; or removing the contaminated material. In addition, consultations may recommend additional public health actions, such as conducting health surveillance activities to evaluate exposure or trends in adverse health outcomes; conducting biological indicators of exposure studies to assess exposure; and providing health education for health care providers and community members. This concludes the health consultation 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. You May Contact ATSDR Toll Free at 1-800-CDC-INFO or Visit our Home Page at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov HEALTH CONSULTATION RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS GRASSY ISLAND DETROIT RIVER, WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN EPA FACILITY ID: MIN000509205 Prepared By: Michigan Department of Community Health Under Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................................. i List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... i List of Figures.................................................................................................................... iii List of Appendices............................................................................................................. iii Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................ iv Summary............................................................................................................................. 6 Purpose and Health Issues .................................................................................................. 6 Background......................................................................................................................... 8 Discussion........................................................................................................................... 9 Site Visit Observations and Physical Hazards................................................................ 9 Environmental Contamination...................................................................................... 10 Screening Values Used ............................................................................................. 10 Island Soils................................................................................................................ 14 Detroit River Water and Sediments .......................................................................... 14 Waterfowl, Game, and Fish ...................................................................................... 20 Exposure Pathways Analysis ........................................................................................ 20 Exposure to Soil........................................................................................................ 21 Exposure to Waterfowl and Game............................................................................ 23 Exposure to River Sediments.................................................................................... 23 Exposure to Fish ....................................................................................................... 23 Excluded Pathways ................................................................................................... 24 Toxicological Evaluation.............................................................................................. 24 PCBs ......................................................................................................................... 24 DDT .......................................................................................................................... 25 Mercury..................................................................................................................... 25 Chemicals Without Screening Values ...................................................................... 26 Children’s Health Considerations................................................................................. 27 Community Health Concerns............................................................................................ 28 Conclusions....................................................................................................................... 29 Recommendations............................................................................................................. 29 Public Health Action Plan................................................................................................. 29 Preparers of Report ........................................................................................................... 31 References......................................................................................................................... 32 Certification ...................................................................................................................... 37 List of Tables Table 1. Chemicals analyzed for by Manny (1999b), Sweat (1999a), and USGS (unpublished data, 2006) in Grassy Island soils and Detroit River sediments and water near Grassy Island, Detroit River, Michigan. (Chemicals listed in bold were detected in at least one environmental medium.)….…………………………………..…..…..11 i Table 2. Chemicals in Grassy Island (Detroit River, Michigan) soils that exceed default or generic screening values, and comparison to adjusted screening values. (Concentrations in parts per million [ppm]. Chemicals in bold print exceed adjusted screening value.)…………………………………………………………………...…15 Table 3a. Chemicals in Detroit River sediments detected in earlier studies near Grassy Island (Detroit River, Michigan) that exceed default or generic screening values, and comparison to adjusted screening values. (Concentrations in parts per million [ppm].) ………………………………………………………………………….………….….18 Table 3b. Chemicals in Detroit River sediments detected in a more recent study near Grassy Island (Detroit River, Michigan) that exceed default or generic screening values, and comparison to adjusted screening values. (Concentrations in parts per million [ppm].)………………………………………………………………...……...19 Table 4. Analysis of exposure pathways for chemicals of interest found on or near Grassy Island, Detroit River, Michigan……………………………………...……………….21 Table A-1. Concentrations of chemicals detected in soils at Grassy Island, Detroit River, Michigan. (Soil sampled April 1997. Concentration in parts per million [ppm]. Chemicals listed in bold exceed their screening value.)…………………………….A-2 Table A-2a. Concentrations of chemicals detected in Detroit River sediments near Grassy Island, Detroit River, Michigan in earlier studies. (Sediments sampled April and October 1997. Concentration in parts per million [ppm]. Chemicals listed in bold exceed their screening value.)…………….…………………………………………A-5 Table A-2b. Concentrations of chemicals detected in Detroit River sediments near Grassy Island, Detroit River, Michigan in a more recent study. (Sediments sampled August 2006. Concentration in parts per million [ppm]. Sampling locations with more than one sample taken have only the higher detected concentration shown. Chemicals listed in bold exceed their screening value.)………………………………………..A-7 Table A-3. Concentrations of chemicals detected in Detroit River water sampled near Grassy Island, Detroit River, Michigan. (Water sampled in April 1997. Concentrations in parts per billion [ppb].)………………………………...……….A-11 Table B-1. MRL/RfDs and Adjusted EMEG/RMEGs for chemicals of interest in Grassy Island soils…………………………………………………………………………..B-2 Table B-2. CSFs and Adjusted CREGs for chemicals of interest in Grassy Island soils. ………………………………………………………………………………………B-4 Table B-3. SFs, AEds, and Adjusted DCCs for chemicals of interest in Grassy Island soils………………………………………………………………………………….B-6 ii Table B-4. RfDs, RSCs, AEds, and Adjusted DCCs for chemicals of interest in Grassy Island soils…………………………………………………………………………..B-8 Table C-1. CSFs and Adjusted CREGs for chemicals of interest in Detroit River sediments near Grassy Island……………………………………………………….C-3 Table D-1. RfDs, SPs, and Adjusted GCCs for chemicals of interest in Detroit River water near Grassy Island……………………………………………………………D-3 List of Figures Figure 1. Grassy Island, Detroit River, and Vicinity………………………………….….7 Figure 2. Structure of weir at north end of Grassy Island, Detroit River, Michigan…....10 Figure 3. Signs prohibiting public access at Grassy