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Public Health Assessment

Air Pathway Evaluation

Isla de Vieques Bombing Range
Vieques, Puerto Rico

August 26, 2003


Prepared by:

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

LIST OF APPENDICES

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

I. SUMMARY

II. INTRODUCTION

III. BACKGROUND

Site Description and Land Use
Demographics
Climate and Prevailing Winds
Navy Operational History
Other Sources of Air Contaminants
ATSDR Involvement at Vieques
Quality Assurance and Quality Control

IV. EXPOSURE PATHWAY ANALYSIS

Exposure Pathways for Contaminants Released to the Air
Assessment Methodology

V. EVALUATION OF AIR QUALITY ISSUES

Exposures to Wind-Blown Dust
Exposures to Releases from Military Training Exercises Using "Practice" Bombs
Exposures to Releases from Military Training Exercises Using "Live" Bombs
Exposures to Releases Associated with Other Activities

VI. COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS

VII. ATSDR CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE

VIII. CONCLUSIONS

IX. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN

PREPARERS OF REPORT

REFERENCES

TABLES

FIGURES


LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. 1990 and 2000 US Census Data for Vieques

Table 2. Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Data for Vieques

Table 3. Summary of Air Exposure Pathways

Table 4. Estimates of Annual Average Ambient Air Concentrations of Metals on Vieques When Military Training Exercises Do Not Take Place

Table 5. Estimates of Annual Average Ambient Air Concentrations of Explosives on Vieques When Military Training Exercises Do Not Take Place

Table 6. Ambient Air Concentrations of Particulate Matter in the Residential Areas of Vieques

Table 7. Correlation Between Weight of Bombs Dropped and Air Sampling Results

Table 8. Estimated Annual Average Concentrations of Chemical By-products of Explosions in the Residential Areas of Vieques that Resulted from Live Bombing Exercises

Table 9. Estimated Annual Average Concentrations of Metals in the Residential Areas of Vieques that Resulted from Live Bombing Exercises


LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Map of Vieques Vicinity

Figure 2. Map of Vieques

Figure 3. Wind Rose from US Naval Station Roosevelt Roads: 1990-2000

Figure 4. Number of Days the Bombing Range (LIA) on Vieques Was Used, by Year

Figure 5. Total Weight of Ordnance Used, by Year

Figure 6. Air Sampling Locations on Vieques

Figure 7. Emissions from Exercises Involving "Practice" Bombs

Figure 8. Emissions from Exercises Involving "Live" Bombs

Figure 9. Effect of Live Bombing Exercises on Annual Average PM10 Concentrations on Vieques


LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A. Comparison Values

Appendix B. ATSDR's Glossary of Terms

Appendix C. Review of Air Sampling Studies

Appendix D. Review of Air Quality Modeling Studies

Appendix E. ATSDR's Responses to Public Comments


LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ATSDR

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
AFWTF Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility
CRDV Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
DU depleted uranium
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
EMA Eastern Maneuver Area
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency
HMX cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine
LIA Live Impact Area
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standard
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASD Naval Ammunition Support Detachment (also referred to as West Vieques)

NCDC

National Climatic Data Center
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission
OB/OD open burning/open detonation
PHA public health assessment
PM10 particulate matter having aerodynamic diameters less than or equal to 10 microns
PRDOH Puerto Rico Department of Health
PREQB Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board
RDX cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine
TNT 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

TRI

Toxic Release Inventory
TSP total suspended particulates
µg/m3 micrograms per cubic meter
USGS US Geological Survey

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