PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AREA
a/k/a EL VADO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
TUCSON, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, ADHS concludes that no current or future public health hazard exists for residents, children or transients as a result of ingestion, dermal, or inhalation exposures to the remediated soil in the residential areas on El Vado Road.

The confirmatory soil samples from the remediated yards, vacant lot, and areas near the church did not contain elevated levels of PCBs when compared to the respective SRLs. This indicates that the public health hazard that had existed prior to the remediation has been eliminated. Therefore, current and future residential exposures via inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposures to the remediated soil do not pose a health hazard.

Results of the health outcome data suggest that, despite the elevated levels of PCBs before the remediation activities in the residential yards, no significant exposures had occurred. Because the

PCB contamination in the residential areas has now been removed, there is no future threat of exposure. The residents whose yards were remediated are satisfied with the remediation results and have no further concerns regarding exposures to the PCBs.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN

The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the El Vado Residential Site contains a description of actions taken, to be taken, or under consideration by ATSDR and ADHS at and near the site. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment not only identifies public health hazards, but also provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. ADHS and ATSDR will follow up on this plan to ensure that actions are carried out.

Actions Completed

1. In May 1996, ADHS staff arranged to have blood tests conducted for serum PCB levels on 16 members of the two families whose yards were found to have elevated levels of PCBs.
   
   
2. In July 1996, ADHS staff sent letters to the residents explaining test results.
   
   
3. In 1996, the ADHS conducted a health consultation addressing the health concerns at the site.
   
   
4. In March 1997, USEPA remediated the residential yards at the El Vado Residential site.
   
   
5. In January 1999, ADHS staff met with the El Vado residents on a one-to-one basis in order to discuss the public health assessment and to address their concerns and questions. ADHS also attended a public meeting at the Tucson Unified Community Action Board (UCAB) to speak with members about the public health assessment and their concerns.
   
   
6. In February 1999, ADHS submitted a public health assessment for El Vado Residential Site to ATSDR.
   
   
7. In June 1999, ADHS staff sent out notices to area newspapers and radio stations to announce the public comment period on the public health assessment.
   
   
8. In June 1999, ADHS staff was interviewed by a Tucson radio station and a newspaper on the El Vado Site public health assessment.
   
   
9. In September 1999, ADHS staff attended the UCAB meeting in Tucson to answer any questions on the El Vado Site. The staff also met with residents at the El Vado site to discuss the results of the public health assessment and to answer any questions.
   

Actions Proposed

1. ADHS will continue to meet with the community residents at the UCAB meetings on a regular basis to inform the residents about the ADHS activities being conducted at the Tucson site.
   
   
2. ADHS will conduct health education activities with this community regarding site-related contaminants and physical hazards.
   
   
3. ADHS will continue to work with USEPA on any additional health concerns at the El Vado site.

PREPARERS OF REPORT

Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Environmental Health

Jan McCormick, Environmental Epidemiologist
Will Humble, Chief, Office of Environmental Health, Principal Investigator

ATSDR Regional Representative

William Nelson
Regional Services, Region IX
Office of the Assistant Administrator

ATSDR Technical Project Officer

Tammie McRae
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Superfund Site Assessment Branch

CERTIFICATION

This Tucson International Airport, El Vado Residential Site Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Arizona 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 this public health assessment was begun.

Tammie McRae, MS
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC

The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health assessment and concurs with the findings.

Richard Gillig
Chief, State Program Section, DHAC, ATSDR

 

REFERENCES

1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Petitioned Public Health Assessment Update to the 1988 Public Health Assessment. Tucson International Airport Area, Tucson, AZ, May 20, 1996.
   
   
2. Arizona Department of Health Services. Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment, Tucson International Superfund Site. December 1, 1996a.
   
   
3. Arizona Department of Health Services. Health Consultation for PCBs. 1996b
   
   
4. Arizona Department of Health Services. Arizona Soil Remediation Levels. January 30, 1997a.
   
   
5. Arizona Department of Health Services. Deterministic Risk Assessment Guidance. May 5, 1997c.
   
   
6. Conestoga-Rovers & Associates. PCB Removal Action Report. July 1997.
   
   
7. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. Memo: To Craig Cooper, USEPA. February 26, 1996.
   
   
8. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. Memo: To Craig Cooper, USEPA. April 26, 1996.
   
   
9. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. Memo: To Craig Cooper, USEPA. July 2, 1996.
   
   
10. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. "Summary of Limited Investigation Regarding the Distribution of PCBs in Off-Site Areas Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) Superfund Site". April 26, 1996.
    
    
11. Pacific Toxicology Laboratories. Human Toxic Chemical Exposure. Vol. 1, Section B, Issue 7.
    
    
12. Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. Southside TCE Private Well Investigation for the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site (TIAASS), Tucson, AZ. November, 1994.
    
    
13. The Earth Technology Corporation. Valuation of Natural Background Metals Concentrations in Arizona Soils. Tempe, AZ. June, 1991.
    
    
14. Sonora Labs. 3401 E. Harbour Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034. 1996.
    
    
15. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for PCBs. August 1999.
    
    
16. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Petitioned Public Health Assessment Addendum, Tucson International Airport Area, Tucson, Pima County, AZ. November 5, 1996.
    
    
17. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Southside TCE Private Well Investigation: Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site, Tucson, AZ. November, 1994.
    
    
18. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Memo: From Craig Cooper to Keith Takata. Sept. 10, 1996.

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