PETITIONED PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

YAWORSKI LANDFILL
AND
YAWORSKI WASTE LAGOON
(ALIASES: YAWORSKI DUMP AND PACKER ROAD LANDFILL)
CANTERBURY, WINDHAM COUNTY, CONNECTICUT

APPENDIX A: MAPS AND FIGURES

Figure 1. Site Location Map

Figure 2. Site Map Yaworski Lagoon Site

Figure 3. Yaworski Site

Figure 4. Potentiometric Surface Contours, Shallow Flow Zone

Figure 5. Potentiometric Surface Contours, Intermediate Flow Zone

Figure 6. Potentiometric Surface Contours, Deep Flow Zone

Figure 7. Groundwater Sampling Locations

Figure 8. Intro Map

APPENDIX B: TABLES

1. Data obtained from the United States Environmental Protection Agency , contained in the Final Predesign Engineering Report of the Yaworski Lagoon Superfund Site , prepared by Metcalf & Eddy, Inc December 1999.

QMR = Quarterly Compliance Monitoring Round

! = Data validated to Tier I; the result is at or below the validation blank action level, and is considered to be attributed to blank contamination.

If the data had been validated to Tier II, then it may have been qualified with a "J" or "U J" (M&E data only).

B = Organics: Analyte detected in a laboratory blank (laboratory qualifier)

Inorganics: Analyte detected at a concentration greater than the Instrument Detection Limit (IDL) but less than the Contract Required Detection Limit (laboratory qualifier).

E = Results reported outside calibration range (laboratory qualifier).

J = Value reported is either an estimated value which is below the sample-specific detection limit or is considered approximate due to limitations identified in the data validation review (laboratory or data validation qualifier).

P = Analysis performed using two gas chromatography columns. The higher detected value was reported because the RPD between the detected values was greater than 25 (laboratory qualifier).

ppb = parts per billion
CLHA = Child Longterm Health Advisory, drinking water (EPA)
EMEG (C) = Chronic Environmental Media Evaluation Guide
EMEG (I) = Intermediate Environmental Media Evaluation Guide
LTHA = Longterm Health Advisory
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level for Drinking Water (EPA)
MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Drinking Water (EPA)
NA = Not Available (No comparison values reported by ATSDR or EPA
RMEG = Reference Dose Media Evaluation Guide
^a Comparison Value of 1,4-dichlorobenzene
^b MCL for tetrachloroethylene is 2 ppb
^c MCL for vinyl chloride is 5 ppb
^d MCL for arsenic is 5 ppb

ppb = parts per billion
CLHA = Child Long-term Health Advisory, drinking water (EPA)
EMEG (C) = Chronic Environmental Media Evaluation Guide
EMEG (I) = Intermediate Environmental Media Evaluation Guide
LTHA = Long-term Health Advisory
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level for Drinking Water (EPA)
MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Drinking Water (EPA)
NA = Not Available (No comparison values reported by ATSDR or EPA)
REG. = Reference Dose Media Evaluation Guide

ppb= parts per billion
EMEG (C) = Chronic Environmental Media Evaluation Guide
EMEG (I) = Intermediate Environmental Media Evaluation Guide
LTHA = Long-term Health Advisory
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level for Drinking Water (EPA)
MCLG =Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Drinking Water (EPA)
NA = Not Applicable (No comparison values reported by ATSDR or EPA)
REG. = Reference Dose Media Evaluation Guide
^bMCL for tetrachloroethylene is 5 pp
^aMCL for 1,1-dichloroethene is 7 ppb
^cMCL for vinyl chloride is 2 ppb

APPENDIX C: ATSDR'S COMPARISON VALUES

ATSDR comparison values are media-specific concentrations that are considered to be "safe"under default conditions of exposure. They are used as screening values in the preliminaryidentification of "contaminants of concern" at a site. The latter is, perhaps, an unfortunate termsince the word "concern" may be misinterpreted as an implication of "hazard". As ATSDR usesthe phrase, however, a "contaminant of concern" is merely a site-specific chemical substance thatthe health assessor has selected for further evaluation of potential health effects.

Generally, a chemical is selected as a contaminant of concern because its maximumconcentration in air, water, or soil at the site exceeds one of ATSDR's comparison values. However, it cannot be emphasized strongly enough that comparison values are not thresholds oftoxicity. While concentrations at or below the relevant comparison value may reasonably beconsidered safe, it does not automatically follow that any environmental concentration thatexceeds a comparison value would be expected to produce adverse health effects. Indeed, thewhole purpose behind highly conservative, health-based standards and guidelines is to enablehealth professionals to recognize and resolve potential public health problems before theybecome actual health hazards. The probability that adverse health outcomes will actually occuras a result of exposure to environmental contaminants depends on site specific conditions andindividual lifestyle and genetic factors that affect the route, magnitude, and duration of actualexposure, and not on environmental concentrations alone.

Screening values based on non-cancer effects are obtained by dividing NOAELs or LOAELsdetermined in animal or (less often) human studies by cumulative safety margins (variouslycalled safety factors, uncertainty factors, and modifying factors) that typically range from 10 to1,000 or more. By contrast, cancer-based screening values are usually derived by linearextrapolation from animal data obtained at high doses, because human cancer incidence data forvery low levels of exposure simply do not exist, and probably never will. In neither case can theresulting screening values (i.e., EMEGs or CREGs) be used to make realistic predictions ofhealth risk associated with low-level exposures in humans.

Listed and described below are the various comparison values that ATSDR uses to select chemicals for further evaluation, along with the abbreviations for the most common units of measure.

Cancer Risk Evaluation Guides (CREGs) are estimated contaminant concentrations in water, soil, or air that would be expected to cause no more than one excess cancer in a million persons exposed over a lifetime. CREGs are calculated from EPA's cancer slope factors.

Minimal Risk Levels (MRL) are estimates of daily human exposure to a chemical (i.e., dosesexpressed in mg/kg/day) that are unlikely to be associated with any appreciable risk ofdeleterious non-cancer effects over a specified duration of exposure. MRLs are derived for acute(< 14 days), intermediate (15-364 days), and chronic (>365 days) exposures, and are published inATSDR's Toxicological Profiles for specific chemicals.

Environmental Media Evaluation Guides (EMEGs) are concentrations of a contaminant inwater, soil, or air that are unlikely to be associated with any appreciable risk of deleterious non-cancer effects over a specified duration of exposure. AMBAGIOUS are derived from ATSDRminimal risk levels by factoring in default body weights and ingestion rates. SeparateAMBAGIOUS are computed for acute (< 14 days), intermediate (15-364 days), and chronic (> 365days) exposures.

Intermediate Environmental Media Evaluation Guides (IEMEG) are media-specificconcentrations that correspond to a minimal risk level, factoring in body weight and ingestionrates for intermediate exposures (i.e., >14 days and <1 year).

Reference Dose Media Evaluation Guide (RMEG) is the concentration of a contaminant in air,water or soil that corresponds to EPA's RfD of RfC for that contaminant when default values forbody weight and intake rates are taken into account.

EPA's Reference Dose (RfD) is an estimate of the daily exposure to a contaminant unlikely tocause non-carcinogenic adverse health effects over a lifetime of exposure. Like ATSDR's MRL,EPA's RfD is a dose expressed in mg/kg/day.

Reference Concentrations (RfC) is a concentration in air expected to be associated with nodeleterious health effects over a lifetime of exposure, assuming default body weights andinhalation rates.

Environmental Protection Agency Region III (EPAIII) values are similar to ATSDR'sAMBAGIOUS in that they are risk-based concentrations (RBCs) derived for carcinogens andnon-carcinogens from RfDs and Cancer Slope Factors, respectively, assuming default values forbody weight, exposure duration and frequency, etc. Unlike AMBAGIOUS, however, they areavailable for fish, as well as for water, soil, and air.

Drinking Water Equivalent Levels (DWEL) are based on EPA's oral RfD and representcorresponding concentrations of a substance in drinking water that are estimated to havenegligible deleterious effects in humans over a lifetime of exposure, at an intake rate of 2 L/day,and assuming that drinking water is the sole source of exposure to the contaminant. Similar toATSDR's RMEG for drinking water.

Child Longer-Term Health Advisories (CLHAs) are contaminant concentrations in water thatthe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems protective of public health (taking intoconsideration the availability and economics of water treatment technology) over a period ofabout 7 years, using a child's weight (10 Kg) and ingestion rate (1 L/day).

Lifetime Health Advisories (LTHA) are calculated from the DWEL and represent theconcentration of a substance in drinking water estimated to have negligible deleterious effects inhumans over a lifetime of 70 years, assuming 2 L/day water consumption for a 70-kg adult, andtaking into account other sources of exposure. In the absence of chemical-specific data, theassumed fraction of total intake from drinking water is 20%. Lifetime HAs are not derived forcompounds which are potentially carcinogenic for humans.

Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) represent contaminant concentrations in drinkingwater that EPA deems protective of public health (considering the availability and economics ofwater treatment technology) over a lifetime (70 years) at an exposure rate of 2 liters of water perday.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) are drinking water health goals set at levels atwhich no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs, allowing for anadequate margin of safety. Such levels consider the possible impact of synergistic effects, long-term and multi-stage exposures, and the existence of more susceptible groups in the population. When there is no safe threshold for a contaminant, the MCLG should be set at zero.

Maximum Contaminant Level Action (MCLA) are levels set by EPA under Superfund thattrigger a regulatory response when the contaminant concentration exceeds this value.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are established by the EPA, as mandatedin the Clean Air Act, for six criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogendioxide, ozone, particulate, and lead). NAAQS are classified as either primary, which defininglevels deemed protective of public health, or secondary, which in some instances establishinglower levels to prevent adverse effects on vegetation, property, or other elements of theenvironment.

Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) are air standards developed by the Occupational Safetyand Health Administration for the workplace. They are time-weighted average concentrations ofcontaminants considered safe for healthy workers over the course of an 8-hr workday and a 40-hrworkweek. A PEL may be exceeded for brief periods, but the sum of the exposure levelsaveraged over 8 hours must be equal to or below the PEL.

Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) are established by the National Institute forOccupational Safety and Health and are similar to OSHA's PELs. They are time-weightedaverage concentrations for the workplace deemed to be safe for up to 10 hours/day, for 40-hours/week.

Threshold Limit Values (TLV) are established by the American Conference of GovernmentalIndustrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The TLV is the time-weighted average concentrations for anormal 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek, to which nearly all workers may be repeatedlyexposed, day after day, without adverse effect. Many of ACGIH's TLVs were adopted by OSHAfor use as PELs. TLVs and PELs, which were designed to protect healthy workers, are usuallymuch higher than the health-based values of ATSDR and EPA, which were designed to protectthe health of the general population, including the very young and the elderly. Although theATSDR does not base any of its community health decisions on TLVs or PELs, it sometimescites such values in Public Health Assessments merely as a means of putting concentrations ofsite-specific contaminants into a meaningful perspective for the reader.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended concentration levels for certainsubstances in food, including fish. Levels above the FDA levels mean the food may be unsafefor human consumption.

COMPARISON VALUE REFERENCES

1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Health assessment guidance manual.Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 1992 Oct.


2. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Pocket guide to chemical hazards.Washington D. C: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services; 1994 Jun.


3. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. New interim region IV guidance for toxicityEquivalent factors methodology for carcinogenic PAHs. Washington, D. C: 1992 Feb.

APPENDIX D: PUBLIC COMMENTS

ATSDR released the Yaworski Waste Lagoon Superfund Site and the Yaworski Landfill PublicHealth Assessment for review and comment from January 26 through March 12, 2001.Suggested editorial changes have been made within the text, where appropriate. No writtencomments were received by the community during this period and the document has beenfinalized.

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