PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

PANTEX PLANT
AMARILLO, CARSON COUNTY, TEXAS
CERCLIS NO. TX4890110527

September 30, 1998

Prepared by

Energy Section
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

I SUMMARY

II BACKGROUND

II.A Site Description and History
II.B Site Visits
II.C Demographics, Land Use, and Regional Hydrogeology

III COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS

IV ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND OTHER HAZARDS

IV.A Introduction
IV.B Toxic Chemical Release Inventory
IV.C Environmental Contamination
IV.C.1 Terminology Definitions
IV.C.2 Overview of the Pantex Plant Remediation Process
IV.C.3 Media-Specific Contamination (Non-Radiological)
IV.C.3.a Groundwater
IV.C.3.b Surface Waters
IV.C.3.c Soils
IV.C.3.d Air
IV.C.3.e Biota/Foodchain

IV.C.4 Media-Specific Contamination (Radiological)

IV.C.4.a Definitions of Radiological Terminology and Introduction
IV.C.4.b Groundwater
IV.C.4.c Surface Waters
IV.C.4.d Soils
IV.C.4.e Ambient Radiation
IV.C.4.f Air
IV.C.4.g Biota/Foodchain

IV.D Quality Assurance and Quality Control
IV.E Physical and Other Hazards

V PATHWAYS ANALYSIS

VI PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

VI.A Toxicological Evaluation
VI.B Health Outcome Data Sources
VI.B.1 Birth Defects
VI.B.2 Low Birthweight
VI.B.3 Cancer
VI.B.4 Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Lupus Erythematosus
VI.C Health Outcome Data Evaluation
VI.C.1 Birth Defects
VI.C.2 Low Birthweight
VI.C.3 Cancer
VI.C.4 Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Lupus Erythematosus
VI.D ATSDR Child Health Initiative

VII CONCLUSIONS

VIII RECOMMENDATIONS

IX PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN

X PREPARERS OF REPORT

XI CITED REFERENCES

APPENDIX A: Combined List of Environmental Monitoring Parameters for 1992 through 1997

APPENDIX B: Pantex Plant Reference Documents Reviewed

APPENDIX C: Pantex Plant Groundwater Treatability Study

APPENDIX D: Pantex Plant Solid Waste Management Units

APPENDIX E: Health Outcome Data Tables

APPENDIX F: Public Comments on the Pantex Plant Public Health Assessment and ATSDR's Responses

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Radioactivity Units

Table 2: Tritium Releases and Associated Doses

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Site Location

Figure 2: Demographic Variables in 1, 5, 10 and 25 Mile Increments from Site Boundary

Figure 3: Demographic Statistics Selected from a 1 Mile Site Buffer

Figure 4: Cumulative Population Density and Distribution in 1, 5 and 10 Mile Increments from Site Boundary

Figure 5: Total Population Density and Distribution 25 Miles from Site Boundary

Figure 6: Population of Children 6 Years and Younger in 1, 5 and 10 Mile Increments from Site Boundary

Figure 7: Population of Children 6 Years and Younger 25 Miles from Site Boundary

Figure 8: Population of Females Aged 15 - 44 in 1, 5 and 10 Mile Increments from Site Boundary

Figure 9: Population of Children 6 Years and Younger 25 Miles from Site Boundary

Figure 10: Population of Adults 65 Years and Older in 1, 5 and 10 Mile Increments from Site Boundary

Figure 11: Population of Adults 65 Years and Older 25 Miles from Site Boundary

Figure 12: Well Locations (15-20, Vance, and PT06-1038)

Next Section