PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
JASPER CREOSOTING COMPANY INCORPORATED
JASPER, JASPER COUNTY, TEXAS
EPA FACILITY ID: TX008096240
September 28, 1999
Prepared by:
Texas Department of Health
Under Cooperative Agreement with the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
INTRODUCTION
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was established under the mandate of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980. This act, also known as the "Superfund" law, authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct clean-up activities at hazardous waste sites. EPA was directed to compile a list of sites considered hazardous to public health. This list is termed the National Priorities List (NPL). The 1986 Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) directed ATSDR to prepare a Public Health Assessment (PHA) for each NPL site. In 1990, federal facilities were included on the NPL. (Note: Appendix A provides a listing of abbreviations and acronyms used in this report.)
In conducting the PHA, three types of information are used: environmental data, community health concerns and health outcome data. The environmental data are reviewed to determine whether people in the community might be exposed to hazardous materials from the NPL facility. If people are being exposed to these chemicals, ATSDR will determine whether the exposure is at levels that might cause harm. Community health concerns are collected to determine whether health concerns expressed by community members could be related to exposure to chemicals released from the NPL facility. If the community raises concerns about specific diseases in the community, health outcome data (information from state and local databases or health care providers) can be used to address the community concerns. Also, if ATSDR finds that harmful exposures have occurred, health outcome data can be used to determine if illnesses are occurring which could be associated with the hazardous chemicals released from the NPL facility.
In accordance with the Interagency Cooperative Agreement between ATSDR and the Texas Department of Health (TDH), ATSDR and TDH have prepared this PHA for the Jasper Creosoting Company NPL site. This PHA presents conclusions about whether exposures are occurring, and whether a health threat is present. In some cases, it is possible to determine whether exposures occurred in the past; however, often a lack of appropriate historical data makes it difficult to quantify past exposures. If it is found that a threat to public health exists, recommendations are made to stop or reduce the threat to public health.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND OTHER HAZARDS
COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS / HEALTH OUTCOME DATA