PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
PANTEX PLANT
AMARILLO, CARSON COUNTY, TEXAS
CERCLIS NO. TX4890110527
September 30, 1998
Prepared by
Energy Section
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
I SUMMARY
II BACKGROUND
II.A Site Description and History
II.B Site Visits
II.C Demographics, Land Use, and Regional Hydrogeology
III COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS
IV ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND OTHER HAZARDS
IV.A Introduction
IV.B Toxic Chemical Release Inventory
IV.C Environmental Contamination
IV.C.1 Terminology Definitions
IV.C.2 Overview of the Pantex Plant Remediation Process
IV.C.3 Media-Specific Contamination (Non-Radiological)
IV.C.3.a Groundwater
IV.C.3.b Surface Waters
IV.C.3.c Soils
IV.C.3.d Air
IV.C.3.e Biota/Foodchain
IV.C.4 Media-Specific Contamination (Radiological)
IV.C.4.a Definitions of Radiological Terminology and Introduction
IV.C.4.b Groundwater
IV.C.4.c Surface Waters
IV.C.4.d Soils
IV.C.4.e Ambient Radiation
IV.C.4.f Air
IV.C.4.g Biota/Foodchain
IV.D Quality Assurance and Quality Control
IV.E Physical and Other Hazards
V PATHWAYS ANALYSIS
VI PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
VI.A Toxicological Evaluation
VI.B Health Outcome Data Sources
VI.B.1 Birth Defects
VI.B.2 Low Birthweight
VI.B.3 Cancer
VI.B.4 Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Lupus Erythematosus
VI.C Health Outcome Data Evaluation
VI.C.1 Birth Defects
VI.C.2 Low Birthweight
VI.C.3 Cancer
VI.C.4 Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Lupus Erythematosus
VI.D ATSDR Child Health Initiative
VII CONCLUSIONS
VIII RECOMMENDATIONS
IX PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN
X PREPARERS OF REPORT
XI CITED REFERENCES
APPENDIX A: Combined List of Environmental Monitoring Parameters for 1992 through 1997
APPENDIX B: Pantex Plant Reference Documents Reviewed
APPENDIX C: Pantex Plant Groundwater Treatability Study
APPENDIX D: Pantex Plant Solid Waste Management Units
APPENDIX E: Health Outcome Data Tables
APPENDIX F: Public Comments on the Pantex Plant Public Health Assessment and ATSDR's Responses
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Radioactivity Units
Table 2: Tritium Releases and Associated Doses
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Site Location
Figure 2: Demographic Variables in 1, 5, 10 and 25 Mile Increments
from Site Boundary
Figure 3: Demographic Statistics Selected from a 1 Mile Site Buffer
Figure 4: Cumulative Population Density and Distribution in 1, 5 and 10 Mile Increments from Site Boundary
Figure 5: Total Population Density and Distribution 25 Miles from Site Boundary
Figure 6: Population of Children 6 Years and Younger in 1, 5 and 10 Mile Increments from Site Boundary
Figure 7: Population of Children 6 Years and Younger 25 Miles from Site Boundary
Figure 8: Population of Females Aged 15 - 44 in 1, 5 and 10 Mile Increments from Site Boundary
Figure 9: Population of Children 6 Years and Younger 25 Miles from
Site Boundary
Figure 10: Population of Adults 65 Years and Older in 1, 5 and 10 Mile Increments from Site Boundary
Figure 11: Population of Adults 65 Years and Older 25 Miles from Site Boundary
Figure 12: Well Locations (15-20, Vance, and PT06-1038)
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Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348