PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
NATIONAL ZINC COMPANY
BARTLESVILLE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
Based on the available information, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) concludes that the proposed National Zinc Company National Priorities List site is a public health hazard because individuals are being exposed to cadmium, lead, and zinc surface soil contamination at levels that could result in adverse health effects. Children are more likely than adults to ingest surface soil contamination. Studies have demonstrated that the children living in the area of surface soil contamination have higher blood lead levels than the levels of children living outside the area of contamination. Individuals who are exposed to the surface soil contamination may experience proteinuria (i.e., protein in urine which is evidence of mild kidney damage); decreased metabolism of vitamin D; impaired hearing and growth; and slightly decreased IQs. Remediation of the contaminated soils should remove this public health hazard.
Environmental monitoring studies conducted in the past indicate that individuals may have been exposed to cadmium, lead, zinc, and sulfuric acid at levels which could result in adverse health effects. The 1970s blood cadmium and blood lead studies demonstrated that children living near the smelter were exposed to elevated levels of cadmium and lead. Individuals who were exposed in the past to the air emissions from the smelter and the surface soil contamination could have experienced decreased hemoglobin synthesis, anemia, increased blood pressure, impaired hearing and growth, slightly decreased IQs, and encephalopathy. Cadmium air emissions from the National Zinc Company smelter could have increased lifetime Bartlesville residents' risk of developing cancer. Exposure to sulfuric acid air emissions could have resulted in irritation to the eye, nose, throat, lung, and skin at the time of exposure, but does not pose a current threat to the health of individuals in this area.
Analysis of samples taken from groundwater monitoring wells on and near the Zinc Corporation of America facility indicate that the groundwater contamination found on the facility has not migrated very far. No drinking water wells are known to exist within the area of contamination. Therefore, it is unlikely that any drinking water wells have been contaminated with facility-related metals.
Results of ambient-air monitoring data indicate that the interim dust control measures at the residual piles are preventing significant air emissions. ATSDR scientists are concerned that air emissions from the residual piles at the Zinc Corporation of America could occur whenever the piles are disturbed or the interim measures are not continued.
Information on the incidence of cancer and birth defects is not available for the Bartlesville area.
The Oklahoma Department of Health is presently compiling the data.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommends the following:
| 1) | Continue to clean up the contaminated soils in residential areas. |
| 2) | Continue to control air emissions from the residual piles. |
The proposed National Zinc Company National Priorities List (NPL) site, Bartlesville,
Washington and Osage Counties, Oklahoma, has been evaluated by the ATSDR Health
Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) to determine what future health activities are
recommended at this site. Because human exposure to hazardous substances associated with the
site has occurred, an evaluation of adverse health outcomes that may be related to past exposures
is recommended. In addition, an evaluation of health statistics should be conducted to the extent
possible. A site specific environmental health education program is recommended to advise
public health professionals and local medical community of the nature and possible
consequences of exposure to contaminants at the proposed National Zinc Company NPL site.
ATSDR provided health education during the public comment period of this Public Health
Assessment. As far as practical, ATSDR and the Oklahoma State Department of Health
(OSDH) will cooperate in conducting these activities.
The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the proposed National Zinc Company National Priorities List site is a description of actions the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) will take at the site after the public health assessment is complete. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment identifies public health hazards and includes a plan of action to stop or prevent harm to people from their exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. ATSDR, EPA, OSDH, and ODEQ are committed to this plan and will ensure that it is carried out.
A. Public Health Actions Taken
OSDH and ODEQ -- with ATSDR's support -- have conducted blood lead monitoring of Bartlesville children. In addition, OSDH and ATSDR have conducted lead health education programs for the local public health professionals, members of the local medical community, and the general public.
EPA has remediated the contaminated surface soils at the playgrounds and school grounds within Bartlesville.
EPA has issued a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action order requiring the owners of the Zinc Corporation of America facility to develop and implement a plan to clean up the environmental contamination at the facility.
EPA has issued an Unilateral Administrative order requiring the potentially responsible parties to perform a removal action in residential areas where the soil contamination exceeds 1,500 milligrams of lead per kilogram of soil (mg/kg) and/or 90 mg/kg for cadmium. The removal actions required by the EPA Unilateral Administrative order began in March 1994 and continued until the end of 1994. A community relations office was established by the potentially responsible parties to answer questions concerning the on-going removal action.
The administration of the remediation of the site has been delegated to ODEQ in lieu of finalizing the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) (a.k.a., "Superfund"). The State Pilot Delegation Program was approved by EPA on March 15, 1994.
Also on March 15, 1994, ODEQ and the potentially responsible parties signed a Consent Agreement and Final Order.
The Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study prepared by the potentially responsible parties was made available to the public on July 1, 1994, and finalized on September 1, 1994.
On September 1, 1994, a draft Proposed Plan for remedial action was issued by ODEQ.
ATSDR provided health education during the public comment period (September 21, 1994 through November 20, 1994) of this public health assessment.
On December 13, 1994, ODEQ issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for Operable Unit One of the proposed National Zinc Company NPL site. The ROD presents the selected remedial action to reduce the risks to human health associated with exposure to the contaminated materials.
B. Public Health Actions Planned
EPA and ODEQ will continue to ensure the remediation of the site-related environmental contamination and the control of air emissions from the residual piles.
As required by the ROD for Operable Unit One, blood lead studies will be conducted annually throughout the remedial action. In addition, comprehensive blood lead studies will be conducted two years and five years after the completion of the remedial action in residential areas. These studies will be used to assure that the selected remedial action is protective of public health.
ATSDR and OSDH will conduct an evaluation of adverse health outcomes that could be related to past exposures to site-related contaminants. In addition, an evaluation of health statistics should be conducted to the extent possible.
ATSDR and OSDH will provide health education to advise local public health professionals and members of the local medical community of the nature and possible consequences of exposure to contaminants at the proposed National Zinc Company NPL site.
EPA and ODEQ will update ATSDR on remedial activities at the proposed National Zinc
Company NPL site. ATSDR will assist EPA, ODEQ, and OSDH with public health activities at
this site.
Sven E. Rodenbeck, P.E.
Environmental Engineer Consultant
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
John R. Crellin, Ph.D.
Environmental Health Scientist
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
ATSDR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Jennifer L. Lyke
Environmental Protection Specialist
ATSDR Region VI
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Health Consultation concerning Zinc Corporation of America, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. July 16, 1991.
Baker EL, Hayes CG, Landrigan JL, et al. A nationwide survey of heavy metal absorption in children living near primary copper, lead, and zinc smelters. American Journal of Epidemiology 1977;106:261-73.
Research Triangle Institute. Epidemiologic study conducted in populations living around non-ferrous smelters. Volume 2. Washington, D.C.: National Technical Information Service, PB87-121091, 1986.
Pees NA. Community health aspects of environmental contamination with lead and cadmium from a primary zinc smelter. A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. University of Oklahoma, 1985.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). School soil study - Bartlesville. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: Surveillance and Analysis Division, EPA, 1979.
Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). Lead/cadmium particulate study, Bartlesville - Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City: OSDH, 1980.
EPA. National Zinc Site Update. Dallas, Texas: EPA; October 28, 1993.
EPA. Data Evaluation Technical Memorandum. National Zinc Site - Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study and Remedial Design. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ARCS Contract No. 68-W8-0112. March 1994.
Rhoades ED. Final performance report: Bartlesville blood lead testing project. Oklahoma City: OSDH, 1992.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Record of Decision for Operable Unit One of the National Zinc Site. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, December 13, 1994.
PTI Environmental Services. National Zinc Site: remedial investigation/feasibility study. Bellevue, Washington: PTI Environmental Services; September 1994.
EPA. Zinc Corporation of America, RCRA 3008(h) order, EPA I.D. No. OKD000829440. Dallas, Texas: EPA; September 1, 1993.
Roberts/Schornick and Associates. Interim measures implementation report for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 3008 (h) administrative order on consent U.S. VI-006(h) 93-H: Zinc Corporation of America, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Roberts/Schornick and Associates; August 1994.
Zinc Corporation of America. Letter and enclosures to Barry Feldman from John R. Knapp, Jr. concerning the 1994 Progress Report on Interim Measures and the RCRA Facility Investigation Phase I at the Zinc Corporation of America facility in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. October 10, 1994.
EPA. Letter to Thomas L. Vogt from Robert B. Elliott concerning the results of analyses for samples collected at Zinc Corporation of America plant in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. August 21, 1981.
EPA. The environmental impact of emissions from the National Zinc Company, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Denver, Colorado: National Enforcement Investigations Center, EPA, 1978.
EPA. Toxic Chemical Release Inventory. Washington, D.C.: National Library of Medicine, 1987-91.
EPA. Analyses from samples collected at the proposed National Zinc Company National Priorities List site. 1991-3.
EPA. Final report, National Zinc site air assessment, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Emergency Response Division, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, EPA, 1992.
City of Bartlesville. Letters to Sven Rodenbeck from Richard E. Carter concerning water quality results from the City of Bartlesville drinking water distribution system. November 19, 1993; December 9, 1993; and January 3, 1994.
EPA. Chemical Releases and Chemical Risks. A Citizen's Guide to Risk Screening. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1989.
ATSDR. Public health assessment guidance manual. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, March 1992.
EPA. HRS Documentation Record, National Zinc Company (Region VI). Washington, D.C.: EPA, 1992.
ATSDR. Toxicological profile for cadmium. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1992.
ATSDR. Toxicological profile for lead. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1992.
ATSDR. Toxicological profile for zinc. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1993.
Dwyer DM, Pees N, Rhoades E. Preliminary summary of lead studies in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: OSDH, 1983.
EPA. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) file on Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET). Bethesda, MD: National Library of Medicine (NLM). January 1994.
NRC. Zinc. in Recommended Dietary Allowances - 10th Edition. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. 1989.
Amudur MO. Air Pollutants. In (Amudur MO, Doull J, and Klaassen CD, eds) Casarett and Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons. Fourth Edition. New York, NY: Pergamon Press. 1991.
ODEQ. Bartlesville Lead Project - Blood Lead Studies. Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). 1993.
Duggan MJ. Lead in urban dust: an assessment. Water, Air, Soil Pollut 14: 309-321, 1980.
Duggan MJ, Inskip MJ. Childhood exposure to lead in surface dust and soil: a community problem. Pub Hlth Rev 13: 1-54, 1985.
Madhaven S, Rosenman KD, Shehata T. Lead in soil: recommended maximum permissible levels. Env Res 49: 136-142, 1989.
Needleman HL et al. The long-term effects of exposure to low doses of lead in childhood: an 11-year follow-up report. NEJM 322: 83-88, 1990.
ATSDR. The Nature and Extent of Lead Poisoning in Children in the United States: a Report to Congress. Atlanta, GA: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 1988.
ATSDR. Case Studies in Environmental Medicine - Lead Toxicity. Atlanta, GA: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). June 1990.
Young RC, Fuks Z, Hoskins WJ. Cancer of the Ovary. in (Divita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds) Cancer - Principles and Practice of Oncology. 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott. 1989.
Salmon SE, Cassady JR. Plasma Cell Neoplasms. in (Divita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds) Cancer - Principles and Practice of Oncology. 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott. 1989.
Lilienfeld AM, Lilienfeld DE. Foundations of Epidemiology. Second Edition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 1980.
Adams RD, Victor M. Principles of Neurology. 5th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1993.
Next Section Table of Contents
