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PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

RESIN DISPOSAL SITE
JEFFERSON BOROUGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


CONCLUSIONS

Based on the information reviewed, PADOH has concluded that this site represents an indeterminate public health hazard, since available data do not indicate that humans are being or have been exposed to levels of contaminants that would be expected to cause adverse health effects. However, comprehensive data are not available for off-site groundwater to which humans may be exposed. In the event of significant off-site migration of site contaminants, exposure to contaminated groundwater in residential wells represents a potential completed exposure pathway that may adversely impact public health.


RECOMMENDATIONS

Cease/Reduce Exposure Recommendations

  1. Restrict access to the site.


  2. In the event of the identification of significant contamination of private well water, make appropriate recommendations regarding use of the water for domestic purposes.

Site Characterization Recommendations

  1. Install additional monitoring wells west of Circle Glenn Drive to determine the nature and extent of off-site contamination.


  2. Conduct additional routine monitoring of nearby residential wells, downgradient to the site for lead and other site contaminants, to determine if contaminated groundwater migration has a current or future impact on these wells.

Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Recommendation

The data and information developed in the Resin Disposal Public Health Assessment have been evaluated for appropriate follow-up health actions. The ATSDR Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) determined that no follow-up public health actions are necessary. ATSDR will reevaluate this site and conduct appropriate public health actions, if new data become available that indicate a need to do so.


PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the Resin Disposal site contains a description of actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or the Pennsylvania State Department of Health (PADOH) at and in the vicinity of the site subsequent to the completion of this public health assessment. For actions already taken at the site, please see the Background section of this public health assessment. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment not only identifies public health hazards, but provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. Included, is a commitment on the part of ATSDR/PADOH to follow-up on this plan to ensure that it is implemented. The public health actions to be implemented by ATSDR/PADOH are as follows:

  1. PADOH will continue to review groundwater sampling data for nearby residential wells downgradient to the site.


  2. ATSDR and PADOH will coordinate with the appropriate authorities in the event significant contamination would be found in a residential well to cease/reduce exposure and obtain an alternate supply of potable water.


  3. ATSDR will provide an annual follow-up to this PHAP, outlining the actions completed and those in progress. This report will be placed in repositories that contain copies of this health assessment, and will be provided to persons who request it.

ATSDR will reevaluate and expand the Public Health Action Plan when needed. New environmental, toxicological, or health outcome data, or the results of implementing the above proposed actions may determine the need for additional actions at this site.


PREPARERS OF REPORT

      Thomas Hartman
      Statistician
      Pennsylvania Department of Health

      Kandiah Sivarajah, Ph.D.
      State Toxicologist and Project Director
      Pennsylvania Department of Health


        ATSDR Regional Representative

      Charles Walters
      Public Health Advisor
      EPA Region III
      Office of the Assistant Administrator


        ATSDR Technical Project Officer

      Gregory Ulirsch/Gail Godfrey
      Technical Project Officers
      Remedial Programs Branch
      Division of Health Assessment and Consultation




CERTIFICATION

This Resin Disposal Public Health Assessment 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 public health assessment was begun.


Gail Godfrey
Technical Project Officer
Remedial Programs Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC)
ATSDR

The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health assessment, and concurs with its findings.

Robert C. Williams, P.E., DEE
Director, DHAC, ATSDR


REFERENCES

  1. PICCO Resin Disposal Site Remedial Investigation Report, Volume 1, March 1991.


  2. 1990 Municipal Population, Pennsylvania, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, January 1991.


  3. General Population Characteristics, Pennsylvania Part 40, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, August 1982.


  4. 1986 Population and 1985 Per Capita Income Estimates: Pennsylvania U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1987.


  5. Directory of Pennsylvania Hospitals, State Health Data Center, Pennsylvania Department of Health, December 1990.


  6. Nursing Home Directory, State Health Data Center, Pennsylvania Department of Health, August 1989.


  7. Public Schools, Elementary Enrollments, 1989-1990, Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1990.


  8. Public Schools, Secondary Enrollments, 1989-1990, High School Graduates, 1988-1989, Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1990.


  9. ATSDR, Toxicological Profile for Benzene (Draft), U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, October 1991.


  10. ATSDR, Toxicological Profile for Styrene, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, February 1991.


  11. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, Merck, Sharp and Dohne Research Laboratories, 1982.


  12. ATSDR, Naphthalene/2 - Methylnaphthalene, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia, December 1990.


  13. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Public Health Services/Centers for Disease Control. Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children, January 1985.

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