PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

Plutonium 239 in Sewage Sludge
Used as a Soil or Soil Amendment in the Livermore Community

LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY, MAIN SITE (U.S. DOE)
LIVERMORE, ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
EPA FACILITY ID: CA2890012584

August 26, 2003

Prepared by:

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PATHWAYS

Site Description and History
Background and Previous Studies
Exposure Pathways
Exposed Population

SECTION 2: COMMUNITY CONCERNS RELATED TO PLUTONIUM IN SEWAGE SLUDGE

SECTION 3. EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF PU 239-CONTAMINATED SLUDGE

Exposure Assessment Method
Exposure Scenarios
Estimated Pu 239 Doses from Pu 239/240 Contaminated Soil
Maximum Pu 239 Concentrations in LWRP Sludge

SECTION 4. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

Toxicology of Pu 239/240
Health effects associated with exposure to ionizing radiation
Health Effects from background radiation
Incremental exposures above background radiation
Special Consideration of Women and Children
The Use of Dose for Public Health Assessments
Adequacy of Available Data for Public Health Determination
Exposure and Health Evaluation

SECTION 5. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN

Conclusions
Recommendations
Public Health Action Plan

REFERENCES

PREPARERS OF REPORT

Reviewers of Report
Regional Representative

APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS

APPENDIX 2: 1967 ASSESSMENT OF PU 239 RELEASE

APPENDIX 3: PEER REVIEW AND OTHER COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO PUBLIC COMMENT RELEASE

APPENDIX 4: OUTPUT FROM RESRAD DOSE ASSESSMENT

APPENDIX 5: GROSS ALPHA AND NUCLIDE-SPECIFIC MONITORING DATA

APPENDIX 6: EPA SOIL SCREENING GUIDANCE FOR RADIONUCLIDES

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