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Continued from previous page • • What is DDJC-Sharpe doing to address issues • Agricultural chemicals (fertilizers and the atmosphere. The HRA that affect me? pesticides) sprayed on crops in the determined that by the time TCE and area can also enter the groundwater PCE go through such a process, they In direct response to questions raised following rains. would no longer exceed the U.S. by the affected community about the EPA's health standard levels, and potential impacts of groundwater Based on the HRA's findings, Dr. would not pose a potential threat to migrating from the depot, DDJC-Sharpe Booze determined the following: human health. retained Dr. Thomas Booze, Senior Risk Assessor at Radian International, to Effects on Edible Plants and What does all this mean? conduct what is known as a Health Risk Vegetables Assessment. Dr. Booze holds a Ph.D. In brief, this means that in the opinion in Toxicology, and has 17 years of Because edible plants and vegetables of Dr. Booze,the presence of the experience performing human health do not produce root systems capable groundwater plume will have an and ecological risk assessments related of tapping into groundwater at depths insignificant impact, if any, on the to soil and groundwater contamination 9 feet below the ground surface,the health of an adult or child who might issues. roots do not have the potential to take 1) spend a lifetime eating fruits and/or up TCE and/or PCE from the affected vegetables grown in the area What is a Health Risk Assessment? groundwater. immediately west of DDJC-Sharpe, or 2) inhale groundwater vapors from Generally speaking, a Health Risk Effects on Fruit-Bearing Trees this area. Assessment (HRA) is a study prepared Though most backyard (non- to evaluate potential risks to human commercial) fruit-bearing trees are What should I do if I have more questions? health and the environment when likely to have roots only 2 to 3 feet exposure to hazardous substances deep, some trees have deep rooting If you find that you still have takes place. At DDJC-Sharpe,the HRA systems. Since the bioaccumulation questions or concerns regarding this used certain criteria to identify a "worst- factors for the chemicals of concern in issue, you are encouraged to contact case scenario" (the worst thing that edible portions of fruit trees are not Mr. Doug Imberi or Ms. Heidi Hansen could happen). These criteria included known, the HRA used the same at the numbers listed on the first page types of contaminants, concentration bioaccumulation factors as those used of this fact sheet. In addition, a copy levels, exposure pathways, and for edible plants and vegetables. of the Health Risk Assessment and duration of exposure. Using the "worst- other related documents about case scenario" formula, Dr. Booze Based on those factors, it was environmental issues at DDJC- determined the potential human health determined that if an adult or child Sharpe are available for review by the impacts, if any, that could be felt by an were to eat fruit over the course of a public at the Information Repository adult or child over a lifetime of constant lifetime from trees whose roots located at Building 100 at the DDJC- exposure to the chemicals of concern. reached the groundwater plume, there Tracy installation in Tracy, California. is less than a one in a million chance What were the Health Risk Assessment of increased ill health effects. If you have access to the internet and findings? would like to learn more about TCE Effects from Inhalation of and PCE, you can visit the U.S. EPA's Before Dr. Booze's findings are Groundwater Vapors Office of Ground Water and Drinking discussed further,there are a few Water at www.epa.gov/OGWD. general points you will want to keep in TCE and PCE have the potential to mind: vaporize from groundwater to soil to Schematic of Worst-Case Scenario • 'Area" refers to those locations affected by the groundwater plumeAft only (please refer to Figure 1). Vegetable Crops Fruit Trees • Groundwater is first encountered at 0 . 0 000 depths in this area from 9 feet to 28.4 r'• '=.w .. r', r' feet below the ground surface, Yyater.iahle] depending on the season. • Bio-accumulation is a process by y °� which some chemicals gradually Grogadwater FI& collect and increase in concentration in plants and animals. T"rtawianaT.rcua zatn.[aro„ carr@@47 XDB Del 7o IC1,1ano3 til gel O otaoba Syt `I �aaabat>yf 1lJl��i�0. ��1;, 1111m11bill 111n1111nifn1f11111111111Mill 11Ml111111.11 91£56 V) 'AMI el'ON 11W83d flul In VO dOHH1V1 DDf PI• fl Ordd 30v1Sod sn silop puowuao)Jo 031110 31vu xins edao4S-)faa