PRELIMINARY PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
PACIFIC SOUND RESOURCES
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON
The Pacific Sound Resources site represents an indeterminate public health hazard because existing data is not sufficient to document human exposure. There is potential for human exposure to have occurred in the past, or for human exposure to be currently occurring at the PSR site, to contaminant levels which may be expected to result in adverse health effects. However, existing environmental data is limited and has not fully characterized contaminants in all environmental media within the PSR site. Therefore, all populations potentially impacted by the PSR site have not been identified.
Potentially exposed populations include on-site workers, site trespassers, recreational fishermen and family members consuming bottomfish or shellfish harvested from PSR Elliott Bay industrial area. On-site workers may have been exposed to contaminants from incidental ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact with surface and subsurface soil, and groundwater. On-site remedial workers involved in upland area and sediment cleanup could become exposed to contaminants through dermal contact.
Information regarding contaminants present in on-site surface soil, subsurface soil, and on-site groundwater usage, is necessary to assess the site's public health implications of the potentially exposed occupational population. Seafood consumption from the PSR site is not well documented. Seafood consumption information for the PSR study area is necessary to determine the amount of seafood consumed, types of seafood consumed, and the duration of seafood consumption. Potential adverse health effects likely to occur from exposure to contaminants present in seafood from ingestion, cannot be determined because the extent of exposure is uncertain.
The PSR site is presently zoned for port industrial use, if future land use provides for public access to intertidal beach areas or residential use, these two future exposure scenarios will need to be evaluated to determine the public health implications of these types of land use.
Community concerns were expressed about potential health hazards associated with inhalation of airborne dust during removal and cleanup actions at the PSR site. Ambient air monitoring data from maximum predicted exposure locations is necessary to adequately assess possible human exposure from inhalation of contaminated airborne dust during removal or cleanup actions.
Existing data gaps including the extent of surface soil, subsurface soil, and groundwater
contamination within the PSR study area are currently being addressed by EPA though RI/FS
scoping and workplan activities.
Recommendations to Cease/Reduce Exposure
Site Characterization Recommendations
Health Activities Recommendations Panel Recommendations
The data and information developed in the Pacific Sound Resources preliminary public health
assessment have been evaluated by the ATSDR Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP)
for follow-up health actions. No actions are recommended at this time. HARP concurs with the
need to evaluate the potential for exposure to sediments when that data becomes available. When
additional data become available, ATSDR and WDOH will reevaluate this site for any indicated
follow-up health actions.
The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the Pacific Sound Resources (PSR) site identifies actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or WDOH subsequent to the completion of this preliminary 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. ATSDR, in cooperation with WDOH, has developed the following public health actions based upon recommendations from the PSR preliminary public health assessment and HARP.
Preparer of Report:
TRACE WARNER
Public Health Advisor
Hazardous Waste Section
Office of Toxic Substances
Washington State Department of Health
JOHN GRENDON, D.V.M., M.P.H.
Epidemiologist
Hazardous Waste Section
Office of Toxic Substances
Washington State Department of Health
FRANK WESTRUM, R.S., M.S., M.P.H.
Section Head
Hazardous Waste Section
Office of Toxic Substances
Washington State Department of Health
ATSDR Regional Representative:
Greg Thomas
Office of Regional Services
Office of the Assistant Administrator
ATSDR Technical Project Officer:
Richard R. Kauffman, M.S.
Environmental Health Scientist
Remedial Programs Branch, State Programs Section
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
CERTIFICATION
This Pacific Sound Resources Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Washington 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.
Richard R. Kauffman, M.S.
Technical Project Officer
Superfund Site Assessment 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
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