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State of California . • Department of Health Services <br /> Memo rand urn <br /> Date May 7, 1987 <br /> Lynn Goldman <br /> Environmental Epidemiology Subject: <br /> 2151 Berkeley Way, Room 515 Marley Cooling <br /> Berkeley, CA 94704 Towers <br /> via : David Siegel <br /> Hazardous Waste Unit <br /> 714 P Street, Room 1392 <br /> Sacramento, CA 95814 <br /> From : David Morry <br /> Hazardous Waste Unit <br /> 714 P Street, Room 1392 <br /> Sacramento, CA 95814 <br /> 8/454-2829 <br /> Soil samples were taken by DHS staff at Marley Cooling Towers in Stockton at <br /> positions around the perimeter of the site. Upon analysis by HML, these samples <br /> were found to contain metals (arsenic, chromium, copper and zinc) at levels above <br /> background. We have been asked whether these levels may pose a health hazard, <br /> particularly to children who may play in the area. <br /> The highest levels found in the soil samples were as follows: <br /> Arsenic 253 ppm <br /> Chromium 1200 ppm <br /> Copper 662 ppm <br /> Zinc 1390 ppm <br /> Acute Effects <br /> Based on the maximum levels found, I calculated the amount of each metal. that <br /> would be absorbed by a 10 kg child (12 months old) if he/she ingests 10 grams of <br /> soil (assuming 100% absorption) . <br /> As 0.25 mg/kg <br /> Zn 1.4 mg/kg <br /> Cu 0.7 mg/kg <br /> Cr 1. 2 mg/kg <br /> The level for copper is about six times the oral human TDLo for copper (120 <br /> ug/kg) recorded in Sax. This 1'DLo is based on gastrointestinal effects. The AIS <br /> for Cu (see following section) is based on an LOAEL of 5. 3 mg/d. This LOAEL is <br /> the lower extreme of a range (5. 3 - 32 mg) which resulted in gastrointestinal <br /> disturbances (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) in humans. A safety factor of only 2 <br /> was used in calculating the ADI (later adopted as the AIS) because copper is an <br />