Gowanus Canal Superfund Site Public Health Assessment Prepared by: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Public Meeting:

Gowanus Canal Superfund Site

Public Health Assessment

Prepared by:

New York State Department of Health (DOH)

Under a cooperative agreement with:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

DOH

 Chris Doroski – Gowanus Canal Project Manager

ATSDR

 Leah Escobar, Region 2 Representative

Presenters

What is ATSDR ?

Atlanta-based federal Public Health Service agency created by the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), or “Superfund Law”  Our top priority is to protect people from exposures to (contact with) hazardous chemicals  We build and apply the best science to understanding and preventing people’s exposure to toxic chemicals  Educate people about exposures to toxic chemicals and about the public health assessment process  Work with DOH under a cooperative agreement

 To determine if people are being exposed to chemicals at levels that might cause harm

Why are we here today ?

 To explain who we are and how we support EPA, NYS DOH and the Gowanus Canal Superfund site community  To share information about the public health assessment process  To listen to you and answer your questions

PHA Process

 Written for a specific site – Gowanus Canal

 Limited to public health implications of the site itself

 Defined in the NPL listing – Creek body and its tributaries

 PHAs are not health studies  PHAs are not risk assessments (EPA does them)

 PHAs answer

 how can people contact site contaminants?  are people contacting site contaminants?  how could people be affected by the contaminants?

Public Health Assessments

 Where did we get the information?

 USEPA

 Site Investigation

 National Grid

 Investigation of the Canal

 What we didn’t use…..

 Inactive Hazardous Waste sites

 Along the creek were not used.

 Terrestrial sites are not part of the USEPA defined site.  May not represent Creek-Wide conditions.

Data

 What are the Elements?

 Contaminant Source.  Environmental Media & Transport Mechanism.  A Point of Exposure.  A Route of Exposure.  People who are being exposed.

Elements of Exposure

 Swimming could Harm People’s Health

 Bacteria Exposure  Physical Hazards

 Recreational Boating is not expected to Harm People’s Health – No complete exposure pathway

 Use caution and wash afterward

 Eating fish and Crabs could Harm People’s Health

 Follow Fish Advisory

 Air

 Canal is not contributing to air quality of the community

Conclusions:

• DOH Fishing Advisory

– Upper Bay of New York Harbor – Specific Guidelines regarding consumption.

• Please visit:

– http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2784.pdf – http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2796.pdf

Fish

Women Under 50 & Children Under 15 Women Over 50 & Men Over 15

American eel don't eat DEC regulations prohibit the harvest/possession of American eel for food. Atlantic needlefish don't eat up to 1 meal/month Blue crabs don't eat don't eat tomalley up to 6 crabs/week don't eat tomalley Bluefish don't eat up to 1 meal/month Carp don't eat up to 1 meal/month Channel catfish don't eat don't eat Gizzard shad don't eat don't eat Goldfish don't eat up to 1 meal/month Rainbow smelt don't eat up to 1 meal/month Striped bass don't eat up to 1 meal/month White catfish don't eat don't eat White perch don't eat up to 1 meal/month Other fish not listed don't eat up to 4 meals/month

 Fact Sheet, document, comment form:

 http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/investigation s/newtown/

 DOH Questions: Chris Doroski

 (518) 402-7880

 ATSDR Questions: Leah

 732-906-6932

 Comment:

 email BEEI@health.state.ny.us

Contact us