Open AccessHealth effects of SRS non-radiological air emissions
Author(s) -
James Stewart
Publication year - 1997
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/578575
Subject(s) - environmental science , radiological weapon , atmospheric dispersion modeling , air quality index , environmental health , health risk , air pollution , health risk assessment , meteorology , medicine , geography , chemistry , organic chemistry , radiology
This report examines the potential health effects of non radiological emissions to the air resulting from operations at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The scope of this study was limited to the 55 air contaminants for which the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has quantified risk by determining unit risk factors (excess cancer risks) and/or reference concentrations (deleterious non cancer risks). Potential health impacts have been assessed in relation to the maximally exposed individual. This is a hypothetical person who resides for a lifetime at the SRS boundary. The most recent (1994) quality assured SRS emissions data available were used. Estimated maximum site boundary concentrations of the air contaminants were calculated using air dispersion modeling and 24-hour and annual averaging times. For the emissions studied, the excess cancer risk was found to be less than the generally accepted risk level of 1 in 100,000 and, in most cases, was less than 1 in 1,000,000. Deleterious non cancer effects were also found to be very unlikely