PETITIONED HEALTH CONSULTATION

GROUNDWATER PATHWAY EVALUATION

BRUNSWICK WOOD PRESERVING
BRUNSWICK, GLYNN COUNTY, GEORGIA

CONCLUSIONS

Based on a review of available data and discussions with local, state, and federal environmental and health officials, ATSDR developed the following conclusions and assigned public health hazard categories to human exposure pathways of concern at the site. A description of ATSDR conclusion categories is provided in Appendix B.

• Consumption of contaminated groundwater associated with BWP is a potential pathway that is difficult to assess at this time. Although environmental media on the BWP property is known to be contaminated, the extent and magnitude of the groundwater contamination in the area has not been fully characterized. EPA completed groundwater monitoring during RI activities in March 1997. The forthcoming data should provide a clearer picture of the extent of contamination in the site area. ATSDR cannot determine whether potential public health hazards exist via this pathway until groundwater data that define the magnitude and extent of contamination are available.
• The Brunswick public drinking water supply poses no apparent public health hazard due to site-related contamination. Site related contaminants were not detected at levels associated with public health effects in EPA's sampling of the Brunswick municipal wells in 1995 and 1996.
• Private wells near the site pose an indeterminate public health hazard. EPA has identified and tested more than 50 private wells located in the immediate vicinity of the site and near Burnett Creek. However, the MQLs used for PCP and benzo(a)pyrene were inappropriate to determine the health risk associated with exposure to these contaminants. In addition, the extent and magnitude of groundwater contamination beneath the site has not been fully and adequately characterized. Many of the private wells have not been regularly sampled for site-related compounds since 1991.
• Consumption of fish from Burnett Creek pose an indeterminate public health hazard. Contaminated groundwater appears to be migrating toward and releasing into Burnett Creek. Therefore, fish in Burnett Creek may accumulate site-related contaminants. Environmental data characterizing contamination of Burnett Creek are needed to complete the evaluation of this pathway.

RECOMMENDATIONS

These recommendations identify actions that ATSDR has determined are necessary to reduce potential health hazards identified and to characterize further potential public health hazards associated with BWP.

• Implement analytical protocols for sampling of potable water using MQLs that are protective of public health.
• Restrict the use of groundwater at the site until extent and characterization of the potential contamination is completed.
• Verify that there are no additional private wells adjacent and down gradient of BWP than those identified in 1991. Determine if private wells immediately adjacent and down gradient of the BWP have been impacted by site related contaminants since 1991 and if the levels are a public health concern. Health standards should be considered when establishing the analytical protocol for sampling of private wells.
• Determine the extent of contamination in Burnett Creek and if fish are accumulating site-related contaminants to levels that might pose health hazards to individuals consuming the fish.

ATSDR will review additional data available from the forthcoming RI and include in the PHA.

PREPARERS OF REPORT

Susan McAfee Moore
Environmental Health Scientist
Petition Response Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

ATSDR Regional Representative

Carl Blair
Regional Services
Office of the Assistant Admiinstrator

REFERENCES

Adams, G. 1995. Memorandum from Glenn Adams, Toxicologist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Jek Jimenez, Drinking Water Section, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. RE: Results of Potable Wells Water Samples. Brunswick Wood Preserving Site. July.

ATSDR. 1989. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Public Health Service. Toxicological Profile for 2,3,7,8-Tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (June).

ATSDR. 1990. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Public Health Service. Toxicological Profile for Creosote. TP-90-09. December.

ATSDR. 1992a. The Brunswick Wood Preserving Site Health Consultation. Brunswick Glynn County, Brunswick, Georgia. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. May 15.

ATSDR. 1992b. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Public Health Service. Draft Toxicological Profile for Pentachlorophenol. October. (Update).

ATSDR. 1993a. The Brunswick Wood Preserving Site Petition Decision Summary. Brunswick, Glynn County, Brunswick, Georgia. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. December 15.

ATSDR. 1993b. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Public Health Service. Draft Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. October. (Update).

ATSDR. 1993c. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Public Health Service. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. TP-92/02. April.

ATSDR. 1993d. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Public Health Service. Toxicological Profile for Chromium. TP-92/08. April.

BWD. 1997. Personal correspondence between Eastern Research Group, Inc. and Bill Francis, Brunswick City Water Department. January.

EPA. 1991a. Memorandum from Greer C. Tidwell, Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Don Clay, Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Re: Request for a $2 Million Exemption for the Escambia Wood Preserving-Brunswick Site in Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.

EPA. 1991b. Removal Action Fact Sheet. Escambia Wood Preserving-Brunswick Site in Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.

EPA. 1991c. Groundwater Sample Log. Brunswick Wood Preserving. Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.

EPA. 1992. Private Well Water Sample Log. Brunswick Wood Preserving, Glynn County, Georgia.

EPA. 1995. Brunswick/Glynn County Community Based Environmental Project Brunswick, Glynn County Workplan. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. November.

EPA. 1996. Personal correspondence between Eastern Research Group, Inc. and Brian Farrier, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA. 1997a. Personal correspondence between Eastern Research Group, Inc. and Brian Farrier, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

GCHD. 1997. Personal correspondence between Eastern Research Group, Inc. and Jane Britt, Glynn County Health Department. January.

Lewis, R. 1993. Personal Correspondence between Richard Lewis, Thorton Laboratories, and Jennie Miller, Environmental Technology. August.

Permar, J. 1996. Toxic Wastes. The Islander. November 4.

EPA. 1997b. Personal correspondence between Eastern Research Group, Inc. and Dorothy Rayfield. Community Based Environmental Protection Agency. January.

Taylor, H. 1992. Letter from Howard Taylor, Removal Operations Section, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Rev. Tillman, Glynn County Commissioners January.

Next Section          Table of Contents