PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
SOLA OPTICAL USA, INC.
PETALUMA, SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Based on information reviewed, ATSDR and CDHS have concluded that the Sola Optical site poses no apparent public health hazard. As noted in the human exposure pathways section above, on-site worker exposure is predicted by an indoor air-model, but the exposure is at a level below that of health concern.
Future significant exposure to groundwater contaminants is unlikely if the groundwater extraction and treatment system
reduces concentrations of site related contaminants to below levels of health concern; no wells currently in place are used
for domestic purposes; the nearby municipal drinking water well is not used until the groundwater remediation is
complete; and future drinking water wells are not placed in areas of known contamination if groundwater remediation does
not clean up contaminants to drinking water standards.
In the areas of known groundwater contamination, implement institutional controls to prevent future use of contaminated aquifers for drinking water supplies until remediation has reduced contaminant concentrations to below levels of health concern.
Keep Station 5 city well out of operation until groundwater remediation is complete.
Continue monitoring the inactive wells in the area of Sola: Sola City, Stero, and the City of Petaluma Station 5 well.
The data and information developed in the Sola Optical public health assessment have been evaluated by the ATSDR
Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) for follow-up health activities. The available evidence does not indicate
that humans are or have been exposed to site related contaminants at levels which could cause illness or disease.
Therefore, follow-up health activities are not indicated at this time. However, if additional data become available, ATSDR
and CDHS will reevaluate this site for any indicated follow-up activities.
EPA has implemented institutional controls to prevent the drilling of wells for potable purposes within the contaminated aquifers.
The Record of Decision for clean-up of the Sola site was signed September 1991. In it Sola agreed to take the following actions:
- To monitor the Sola City, Stero, and the City of Petaluma Station 5 City well on a biannual basis until groundwater remediation is complete.
- To keep Station 5 City well out of service until groundwater remediation has progressed to a point where no threat to the water supply is anticipated. The City would then assume the responsibility for analyzing the water from that well and if any VOCs are detected during this monthly monitoring than the use of the City well would once again be discontinued.
Environmental and Health Effects Assessors:
- Marilyn C. Underwood, Ph.D.
Toxicologist
Impact Assessment, Inc., Consultant to
Environmental Health Investigations Branch
California Department of Health Services
Diana Lee, M.P.H.
Research Scientist
Environmental Health Investigations Branch
California Department of Health Services
Community Relations Coordinator:
- Jane Riggan, M.S.W.
Impact Assessment, Inc., Consultant to
Environmental Health Investigations Branch
California Department of Health Services
ATSDR Regional Representatives
Gwendolyn Eng
Regional Services, Region IX
Office of the Assistant Administer
William Nelson
Regional Services, Region IX
Office of the Assistant Administer
ATSDR Technical Project Officer
Burt J. Cooper, M.S.
Environmental Health Scientist
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Remedial Programs Branch, State Programs Section
This Public Health Assessment has been prepared by the California Department of Health Services 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 initiated.
Gail D. Godfrey
Technical Project Officer, SPS, RPB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health assessment and concurs with its findings.
Robert C. Williams
Director, DHAC, ATSDR
-
Levine-Fricke. Remedial investigation report. Prepared for Sola Optical USA, Inc.-Petaluma, CA. December
3, 1990
- CH2M Hill. Draft public health risk assessment for the Sola Optical Site. Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Petaluma, CA. March, 1991
- Levine-Fricke. Annual groundwater monitoring report. Prepared for Sola Optical USA, Inc.-Petaluma, CA. May 15, 1991
- Region IX, San Francisco. Community relations plan; Sola Optical site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989.
- Region IX, San Francisco. Remedial investigation complete; contamination largely limited to Sola property. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1991.
- Region IX, San Francisco. EPA announces proposed plan for cleanup at Sola Optical Superfund site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1991.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Draft Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 1990.
- Toxic chemical release inventory, TRI, available on the National Library of Medicine's TOXNET on-line computer service. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987.
- Toxic chemical release inventory, TRI, available on the National Library of Medicine's TOXNET on-line computer service. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988.
- Toxic chemical release inventory, TRI, available on the National Library of Medicine's TOXNET on-line computer service. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989.
- Preliminary site assessment- 1800 and 1805 S. McDowell Boulevard. Prepared for Mr. John Barella, c/o North Bay Construction, Inc.- February 28, 1991
- Department of Health Services. Cancer incidence and mortality. California, 1988. California Health and Welfare Agency. 1991.
- Epidemiologist, California Tumor Registry. California Department of Health Services. Personal communication by telephone. March 1, 1991.
- Epidemiologist, California Birth Defects Monitoring Program. California Department of Health Services. Personal communication by telephone. March 4, 1991.
