PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
RUSTON FOUNDARY
ALEXANDRIA, RAPIDES PARISH, LOUISIANA
APPENDIX A-1: GLOSSARY OF TERMS
- ATSDR:
- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ATSDR is a federal health agency in Atlanta, Georgia that deals with hazardous substance and waste site issues. ATSDR gives people information about harmful chemicals in their environment and tells people how to protect themselves from coming into contact with chemicals.
- CERCLA:
- The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act was put into place in 1980. It is also known as Superfund. This act concerns releases of hazardous substances into the environment, and the cleanup of these substances and hazardous waste sites. ATSDR was created by this act and is responsible for looking into the health issues related to hazardous waste sites.
- Comparison Value (CVs):
- Concentrations or the amount of substances in air, water, food, and soil that are unlikely, upon exposure, to cause adverse health effects. Comparison values are used by health assessors to select which substances and environmental media (air, water, food and soil) need additional evaluation while health concerns or effects are investigated. Also known as Comparison (Health Assessment Comparison)Values.
- CREG:
- The Cancer Risk Evaluation Guide is an estimated contaminant concentration that would result in no more than one excess cancer in a million (10E-6) persons exposed over a lifetime. CREGs are calculated from EPA's cancer slope factors (CSFs).
- EMEG:
- Environmental Media Evaluation Guides are based on ATSDR's minimal risk levels (MRLs). An MRL is an estimate of a daily human exposure to a chemical that is likely to be without an appreciable risk for noncarcinogenic effects over a specified duration of exposure (acute, intermediate, chronic).
- LDEQ:
- Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
- LDHH:
- Louisiana Department of Health & Hospials
- LTHA:
- The Lifetime Health Advisory represents a contaminant concentration that EPA considers to be protective of noncarcinogenic health effects during a lifetime (70 years) of exposure.
- LTR:
- Louisiana Tumor Registry
- MRL:
- Minimal Risk Level. An estimate of daily human exposure - by a specified route and length of time -- to a dose of chemical that is likely to be without a measurable risk of adverse, noncancerous effects. An MRL should not be used as a predictor of adverse health effects.
- NPL:
- The National Priorities List. (Which is part of Superfund.) A list kept by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the most serious, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country. An NPL site needs to be cleaned up or is being looked at to see if people can be exposed to chemicals from the site.
- PHA:
- Public Health Assessment. A report or document that looks at chemicals at a hazardous waste site and tells if people could be harmed from coming into contact with those chemicals. The PHA also tells if possible further public health actions are needed.
- OPH:
- Office of Public Health
- PRP:
- Potentially Responsible Party. A company, government or person that is responsible for causing the pollution at a hazardous waste site. PRP's are expected to help pay for the clean up of a site.
- Reference Dose (RfD):
- An estimate, with safety factors (see safety factor) built in, of the daily, life-time exposure of human populations to a possible hazard that is not likely to cause harm to the person.
- RMEG:
- Similar to the EMEG but derived from EPA's reference dose. It is the concentration in a specific media at which daily human exposure is unlikely to result in adverse noncancerous effects.
- SEET:
- Section of Environmental Epidemiology & Toxicology
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
- The federal agency that develops and enforces environmental laws to protect the environment and the public's health.
| ATSDR | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry |
|---|---|
| LDHH | Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals |
| OPH | Office of Public Health |
| SEET | Section of Environmental Epidemiology & Toxicology |
| LDEQ | Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality |
| EPA | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| PHA | Public Health Assessment |
| CERCLA | Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1990 |
| SARA | 1986 Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act |
| NPL | National Priorities List |
| HACV | Health Assessment Comparison Value |
| EMEG | Environmental Media Evaluation Guide |
| CREG | Carcinogenic Risk Evaluation Guide |
| RfD | Reference Dose |
| RMEG | Reference Dose-Based Media Evaluation Guide |
| MRL | Minimal Risk Level |
| MCL | Maximum Contaminant Level |
| LTHA | Lifetime Health Advisory |
| MCLG | Maximum Contaminant Level Goal |
| PMCLG | Proposed Maximum Contaminant Level Goal |
| µg/L | Micrograms per Liter |
| µg/kg | Micrograms per Kilogram (equal to parts per billion) |
| mg/kg | Milligrams per Kilogram (equal to parts per million) |
| VOCs | Volatile Organic Compounds |
| Semi-VOCs | Semi Volatile Organic Compounds |
| Explanation of Comparison Values | |
|---|---|
| Background | Levels reported to exist in an uncontaminated environment. |
| Child | A subscript child adjacent to the EMEG or RMEG indicate that the comparison value was determined using a child exposure scenario. Child EMEGs and RMEGs are lower for children. |
| EMEG | Environmental Media Evaluation Guides are based on ATSDR's minimal risk levels (MRLs). An MRL is an estimate of a daily human exposure to a chemical that is likely to be without an appreciable risk for noncarcinogenic effects over a specified duration of exposure (acute, intermediate, chronic). |
| CREG | The Cancer Risk Evaluation Guide is an estimated contaminant concentration that would result in no more than one excess cancer in a million (10E-6) persons exposed over a lifetime. CREGs are calculated from EPA's cancer slope factors (CSFs). |
| LTHA | The Lifetime Health Advisory represents a contaminant concentration that EPA considers to be protective of noncarcinogenic health effects during a lifetime (70 years) of exposure. |
| MCL | The maximum permissible level of a contaminant in a public water system. |
| RMEG | Similar to the EMEG but derived from EPA's reference dose. It is the concentration in a specific media at which daily human exposure is unlikely to result in adverse noncancerous effects. |
Figure 1. Location of Ruston Foundry
Figure 2. Sketch of the Ruston Foundry Site
| Distance Categories | Population |
|---|---|
| 0 to ¼ mile | 1,178 |
| >¼ mile to½ mile | 1,750 |
| >½ to 1 mile | 6,111 |
| >1 to 2 miles | 21,047 |
| >2 to 3 miles | 14,681 |
| >3 to 4 miles | 19,597 |
| Pathway Name | Contaminants of Concern | Media | Point of Exposure | Route of Exposure | Exposed Population | Time | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potential Exposure Pathways | |||||||
| Foodchain | Possibly Heavy Metals Possibly VOCs | Fish / Shellfish | Chatlin Lake Canal | Ingestion | People who eat fish and shellfish caught in Chatlin Lake Canal | Past Present Future | No apparent public health hazard. Contaminants do not readily bioaccumulate. Water bodies nearby limit amount and type of biota possibly ingested. Water from canal is from upstream and would wash away contaminants. Sediments don't contain levels of concern |
| Air | Heavy Metals Possibly VOCs | Air | On-Site Off-Site | Inhalation | Residents On-Site Workers | Past Present Future | Indeterminate public health hazard. Lead was found 3X above background in some samples. |
| Groundwater | Possibly Heavy Metals Possibly VOCs | Groundwater | Municipal and Domestic Wells | Ingestion Dermal Contact | Those utilizing water near the site. | Past Present Future | Indeterminate public health hazard since groundwater has not been analyzed. |
| Surface Water | Heavy Metals Possibly VOCs | Surface Water | Chatlin Lake Canal adjacent to the site | Incidental Ingestion Dermal Contact | People who use the Chatlin Lake Canal for fishing and other recreational activities | Past Present Future | No apparent public health hazard. Although contact with the surface water is possible it would most likely be minimal. Current contaminant concentrations are not known. |
| Sediment | Heavy Metals Possibly VOCs | Sediment | Off-Site (Chatlin Lake Canal) | Incidental Ingestion Dermal Contact | On-Site Workers Trespassers Recreational Users | Past Present Future | No apparent public health hazard. Although people theoretically could contact contaminated sediment, such contact would be minimal and infrequent. Contamination levels are minimal |
| Surface Soil | Arsenic Chromium Copper Lead Zinc | Surface Soil | On-Site Off-Site | Incidental Ingestion Dermal Contact | Residents On-Site Workers Trespassers | Past Present Future | Public health hazard. People could contact contaminated soils, and children are susceptible to health hazards based on levels of contamination. |
| Constituent | Background Level (µg/m3) | Maximum Concentration Detected | Comparison Value (CV) (ppm) | Exceeds CV? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 0.023 | 0.103 | - | NA |
| Lead | 0.0051 | 0.039 | - | NA |
| Manganese | 0.0126 | 0.059 | 0.05 EMEG | Yes |
| Zinc | 0.505 | 1.06 | - | NA |
EMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides (Derived from Reference Dose)
NA - Not Applicable
- - Designates that Comparison Value is not available
Background concentrations were taken from off-site locations within the site area.
| Constituent | Background Level (ppm) | Maximum Concentration Detected (ppm) | Comparison Value (CV) (ppm) | Exceeds CV? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 20,800 | 20,000 | - | NA |
| Antimony | 2 | 3.6 | 20 RMEG (child) | No |
| Arsenic | 10.5 | 11.6 | 0.5 CREG | Yes** |
| Barium | 257 | 501 | 4000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Beryllium | 1.2 | 1.4 | 100 RMEG (child) | No |
| Cadmium | 0.31 | 1.2 | 10 EMEG (child) | No |
| Calcium | 14,700 | 31,200 | - | NA |
| Chromium* | 27.5 | 44.8 | 200 RMEG (child) | No |
| Cobalt | 10.5 | 13.9 | - | NA |
| Copper | 25.3 | 60.1 | - | NA |
| Iron | 23,000 | 20,200 | - | NA |
| Lead | 114 | 302 | 400 EPA Action Level | No |
| Magnesium | 11,400 | 12,600 | - | NA |
| Manganese | 530 | 949 | 7000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Mercury | 0.13 | 0.22 | - | NA |
| Nickel | 21.5 | 64.5 | 1000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Potassium | 6,180 | 7,140 | - | NA |
| Selenium | 2.8 | 5.1 | 300 EMEG (child) | No |
| Silver | 0.32 | 0.61 | 300 EMEG (child) | No |
| Sodium | 330 | 524 | - | NA |
| Thallium | 0.66 | 0.97 | - | NA |
| Vanadium | 34.4 | 34.6 | 200 EMEG (child) | No |
| Zinc | 126 | 359 | 20000 EMEG (child) | No |
* Assume Hexavalent Chromium (Poses Greater Hazard)
** Arsenic exceeds the Comparison Value, however, the amount found is not greater than 2X the background level.
ppm - parts per million
EMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides
RMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides (Derived from Reference Dose)
NA - Not Applicable
Background concentrations were taken from off-site locations within the site area.
Bold type indicates an exceedence of a comparison value.
| Constituent | Background Level (ppm) | Maximum Concentration Detected (ppm) | Comparison Value (CV) (ppm) | Exceeds CV? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 12900 | 3930 | - | NA |
| Antimony | 1.6 | 3.8 | 20 RMEG (child) | No |
| Arsenic | 5.5 | 8.5 | 0.5 CREG | Yes** |
| Barium | 187 | 66.7 | 4000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Beryllium | 1 | 0.19 | 100 RMEG (child) | No |
| Cadmium | 0.32 | 0.61 | 10 EMEG (child) | No |
| Calcium | 5050 | 1240 | - | NA |
| Chromium* | 17.2 | 16.9 | 200 RMEG (child) | No |
| Cobalt | 9.2 | 2.8 | - | NA |
| Copper | 48 | 144 | - | NA |
| Iron | 13400 | 15400 | - | NA |
| Lead | 74.2 | 217 | 400 EPA Action Level | No |
| Magnesium | 8900 | 641 | - | NA |
| Manganese | 522 | 215 | 7000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Mercury | 0.13 | 0.35 | - | NA |
| Nickel | 19.4 | 58.2 | 1000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Potassium | 4020 | 1470 | - | NA |
| Selenium | 2.1 | 4.1 | 300 EMEG (child) | No |
| Silver | 0.31 | 0.25 | 300 EMEG (child) | No |
| Sodium | 170 | 271 | - | NA |
| Thallium | 0.65 | 0.53 | - | NA |
| Vanadium | 23.6 | 9.6 | 200 EMEG (child) | No |
| Zinc | 130 | 192 | 20000 EMEG (child) | No |
* Assume Hexavalent Chromium (Poses Greater Hazard)
** Arsenic exceeds the Comparison Value, however, the amount found is not greater than 2X the background level.
ppm - parts per million
EMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides
RMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides (Derived from Reference Dose)
NA - Not Applicable
Background concentrations were taken from off-site locations within the site area.
Bold type indicates an exceedence of a comparison value.
| Constituent | Background Level (ppm) | Maximum Concentration Detected (ppm) | Comparison Value (CV) (ppm) | Exceeds CV? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 12900 | 13500 | - | NA |
| Antimony | 1.6 | 17.9 | 20 RMEG (child) | No |
| Arsenic | 5.5 | 76.2 | 0.5 CREG | Yes |
| Barium | 187 | 237 | 4000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Beryllium | 1 | 0.81 | 100 RMEG (child) | No |
| Cadmium | 0.32 | 8.9 | 10 EMEG (child) | No |
| Calcium | 5050 | 9450 | - | NA |
| Chromium* | 17.2 | 156 | 200 RMEG (child) | No |
| Cobalt | 9.2 | 30.2 | - | NA |
| Copper | 48 | 27200 | - | NA |
| Iron | 13400 | 207000 | - | NA |
| Lead | 74.2 | 35200 | 400 EPA Action Level | Yes |
| Magnesium | 8900 | 8990 | - | NA |
| Manganese | 522 | 2170 | 7000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Mercury | 0.13 | 0.22 | - | NA |
| Nickel | 19.4 | 177 | 1000 RMEG (child) | No |
| Potassium | 4020 | 4850 | - | NA |
| Selenium | 2.1 | 41.6 | 300 EMEG (child) | No |
| Silver | 0.31 | 5.7 | 300 EMEG (child) | No |
| Sodium | 170 | 16700 | - | NA |
| Thallium | 0.65 | 7.6 | - | NA |
| Vanadium | 23.6 | 30.7 | 200 EMEG (child) | No |
| Zinc | 130 | 13800 | 20000 EMEG (child) | No |
* Assume Hexavalent Chromium (Poses Greater Hazard)
ppm - parts per million
EMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides
RMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides (Derived from Reference Dose)
NA - Not Applicable
Background concentrations were taken from off-site locations within the site area.
Bold type indicates an exceedence of a comparison value.
| Constituent | Background Level (ppm) | Maximum Concentration Detected On-Site (ppm) | Maximum Concentration Detected Off-Site (ppm) | Comparison Value (CV) (ppm) | Exceeds CV? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 12900 | 5710 | 25000 | - | NA |
| Antimony | 1.6 | 38 | 30.7 | 20 RMEG (child) | Yes |
| Arsenic | 5.5 | 84.8 | 87.5 | 0.5 CREG | Yes |
| Barium | 187 | 130 | 585 | 100 RMEG (pica child) 4000 RMEG (child) | Yes No |
| Beryllium | 1 | 0.37 | 1.6 | 4 RMEG (pica child) 100 RMEG (child) | No No |
| Cadmium | 0.32 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 0.4 EMEG (pica child) 10 EMEG (child) | Yes No |
| Calcium | 5050 | 2010 | 18000 | - | NA |
| Chromium* | 17.2 | 129 | 55.3 | 6 RMEG (pica child) 200 RMEG (child) | Yes No |
| Cobalt | 9.2 | 20.6 | 21.6 | - | NA |
| Copper | 48 | 4300 | 5790 | - | NA |
| Iron | 13400 | 336000 | 189000 | - | NA |
| Lead | 74.2 | 2250 | 1560 | 400 EPA Action Level | Yes |
| Magnesium | 8900 | 1470 | 14000 | - | NA |
| Manganese | 522 | 2520 | 1040 | 300 RMEG (pica child) 7000 RMEG (child) | Yes No |
| Mercury | 0.13 | 0.91 | 0.21 | - | NA |
| Nickel | 19.4 | 58.5 | 30.9 | 40 RMEG (pica child) 1000 RMEG (child) | Yes No |
| Potassium | 4020 | 2930 | 7520 | - | NA |
| Selenium | 2.1 | 60.7 | 38.8 | 10 EMEG (pica child) 300 EMEG (child) | Yes No |
| Silver | 0.31 | 1.1 | 0.33 | 10 EMEG (pica child) 300 EMEG (child) | No No |
| Sodium | 170 | 924 | 1310 | - | NA |
| Thallium | 0.65 | 9.6 | 7.7 | - | NA |
| Vanadium | 23.6 | 37.6 | 43.1 | 6 EMEG (pica child) 200 EMEG (child) | Yes No |
| Zinc | 130 | 811 | 1260 | 600 (pica child) 20000 EMEG (child) | Yes No |
* Assume Hexavalent Chromium (Poses Greater Hazard)
NA-Not Applicable
ppm - parts per million
EMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides
RMEG - Environmental Media Evaluation Guides (Derived from Reference Dose)
| CATEGORY A. URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD This category is used for sites that pose an urgent public health hazard as the result of short-term exposures to hazardous substances. Criteria: Evidence exists that exposures have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur in the future; and the estimated exposures are to a substance or substances at concentrations in the environment that, upon short-term exposures (less than 1 year), can cause adverse health effects to any segment of the receptor population. The adverse health effect can be the result of either carcinogenic or noncarcinogenic toxicity from a chemical exposure. For a noncarcinogenic toxic effect, the exposure exceeds an acute or intermediate minimal risk level (MRL) established in the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles or other comparable value; and /or community-specific health outcome data indicate that the site has had an adverse impact on human health that requires rapid intervention; and /or physical hazards at the site pose an imminent risk of physical injury. | CATEGORY B. PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD This category is used for sites that pose a public health hazard as the result of long-term exposures to hazardous substances. Criteria: Evidence exists that exposures have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur in the future; and the estimated exposures are to a substance or substances at concentrations in the environment that, upon long-term exposures (greater than 1 year), can cause adverse health effects to any segment of the receptor population. The adverse health effect can be the result of either carcinogenic or noncarcinogenic toxicity from a chemical exposure. For a noncarcinogenic toxic effect, the exposure exceeds a chronic MRL established in the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles or other comparable value; and/or community-specific health outcome data indicate that the site has had an adverse impact on human health that requires intervention. | CATEGORY C. INDETERMINATE PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD This category is used for sites with incomplete information. Criteria: The limited available data do not indicate that humans are being or have been exposed to levels of contamination that would be expected to cause adverse health effects. However, data or information are not available for all environmental media to which humans may be exposed; and there are insufficient or no community-specific health outcome data to indicate that the site has had an adverse impact on human health. | CATEGORY D. NO APPARENT PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD This category is used for sites where human exposure to contaminated media is occurring or has occurred in the past, but the exposure is below a level of health hazard. Criteria: Exposures do not exceed an ATSDR chronic MRL or other comparable value; and data are available for all environmental media to which humans are being exposed; and there are no community-specific health outcome data to indicate that the site has had an adverse impact on human health. | CATEGORY E. NO PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD This category is used for sites that do not pose a public health hazard. Criteria: There is no evidence of current or past human exposure to contaminated media; and future exposures to contaminated media are not likely to occur; and there are no community-specific health outcome data to indicate that the site has had an adverse impact on human health. |
This Ruston Foundry Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures exisiting at the time the public health assessment was begun.
Alan W. Yarbrough
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health consultation and concurs with the findings.
Roberta Erlwein
Chief, State Program Section, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
