HEALTH CONSULTATION
MAZZARO LANDFILL
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CONCLUSIONS
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conclude that the Mazzaro Landfill site (the site) is not a public health hazard with regard to fishing in surface waters near the site. The fishery comprised of Potato Garden Run, which is a tributary to Racoon Creek, and North Fork Montour Run is seriously degraded by mine drainage. Therefore, any impact on the fishery by leachate from Mazzaro Landfill would not be discernible. Game fish are not likely to inhabit these streams. Commercial and/or sport fishing, as a result, are not likely to be among the uses of these local streams. Also, the streams are too small to be a commercial fishery. Therefore, PADOH concludes that there is no site-related public health hazard posed by fishing these streams becauseit is very unlikely that people will catch and consume fish from those creeks.
As part of the ATSDR Child Health Initiative, ATSDR health consultations must indicate whether any site-related exposures are of particular concern for children. PADOH is unable to establish any exposures to surface water contamination through fishing, either potential or completed. PADOH feels that the site is not a particular concern for children because it is very unlikely that children will catch and consume fish from those creeks.
Regarding the domestic spring water issue, investigators completed only one
sampling event over five years ago during the Site Prioritization Inspection
visit. Also, laboratory analysts assigned data qualifiers to a high proportion
of the results of chemical analyses for those samples. Because of these two
factors, PADOH concludes that the data for these springs are inadequate to assess
the current safety for human consumption. Pending the results of laboratory
analyses of any additional samples, PADOH concludes that the domestic springs
are an indeterminate public health hazard.
Resample the two spring that were sampled in 1992 and test for site-related
contaminants. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has agreed
to follow up on this recommendation. The Pennsylvania Department of Health will
review new data as it becomes available.
Mark A. Lavin, B.S.
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Barbara C. Allerton, M.P.H., R.N.
Pennsylvania Department of Health
This Health Consultation for the Mazzaro Landfill site was prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Health under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures existing at the time the Health Consultation was initiated.
Roberta Eilee,
Technical Project Officer, SPS, RPB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC), ATSDR, has reviewed this Health Consultation and concurs with its findings.
Richard Gillig,
Chief. SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
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