PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
JASPER CREOSOTING COMPANY INCORPORATED
JASPER, JASPER COUNTY, TEXAS
EPA FACILITY ID: TX008096240
September 28, 1999
Prepared by:
Texas Department of Health
Under Cooperative Agreement with the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
INTRODUCTION
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was established under themandate of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act(CERCLA) of 1980. This act, also known as the "Superfund" law, authorized the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct clean-up activities at hazardous waste sites. EPA was directed to compile a list of sites considered hazardous to public health. This list is termedthe National Priorities List (NPL). The 1986 Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act(SARA) directed ATSDR to prepare a Public Health Assessment (PHA) for each NPL site. In1990, federal facilities were included on the NPL. (Note: Appendix A provides a listing ofabbreviations and acronyms used in this report.)
In conducting the PHA, three types of information are used: environmental data, community healthconcerns and health outcome data. The environmental data are reviewed to determine whetherpeople in the community might be exposed to hazardous materials from the NPL facility. If peopleare being exposed to these chemicals, ATSDR will determine whether the exposure is at levels thatmight cause harm. Community health concerns are collected to determine whether health concernsexpressed by community members could be related to exposure to chemicals released from the NPLfacility. If the community raises concerns about specific diseases in the community, health outcomedata (information from state and local databases or health care providers) can be used to address thecommunity concerns. Also, if ATSDR finds that harmful exposures have occurred, health outcomedata can be used to determine if illnesses are occurring which could be associated with the hazardouschemicals released from the NPL facility.
In accordance with the Interagency Cooperative Agreement between ATSDR and the TexasDepartment of Health (TDH), ATSDR and TDH have prepared this PHA for the Jasper CreosotingCompany NPL site. This PHA presents conclusions about whether exposures are occurring, andwhether a health threat is present. In some cases, it is possible to determine whether exposuresoccurred in the past; however, often a lack of appropriate historical data makes it difficult toquantify past exposures. If it is found that a threat to public health exists, recommendations are made to stop or reduce the threat to public health.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND OTHER HAZARDS
- Introduction
Environmental Contamination
Pathways Analysis
INDETERMINATE PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD
NO APPARENT PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD
NO PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD
COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS / HEALTH OUTCOME DATA
- Appendix A - Acronyms & Abbreviations
Appendix B - Figures
Appendix C - Tables
Appendix D - Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds
Appendix E - Toxicological Review
