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Library: Letters: EPA | |||||||||||||||
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY December 5, 1997 Subject: Health Concerns from PCBs in Clear Creek Fish From: J. Milton Clark, Ph.D. To: Daniel Hopkins Per your request, attached are PCB health reports which provide the basis for U. S. EPA' s and the State of Indiana's health concerns regarding PCBs in Clear Creek fish. The first report, a summary of studies, was prepared by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ("Public Health Implications of PCB Exposures", December, 1996). The second report is by the National Cancer Institute and John's Hopkins University ("A nested case-control study of non Hodgkin lymphoma and serum organochlorine residues", Lancet, July 26, 1997). The information in these two reports indicate that PCBs will cause or has the potential to cause (1) adverse neurological effects in the offspring of children (whose mothers were exposed to PCBs from the consumption of sport caught fish from the Great Lakes) (2) cancer (3) immune and (4) endocrine effects. Actual or potential adverse health effects exist with PCB exposures similar to those found in the general population who have been non-occupationally exposed to PCBs. In 1993, due to concerns regarding PCB exposures via sport fish consumption the Great Lakes States, including the State of Indiana, developed a new fish consumption advisory method ("Protocol for a Uniform Great Lakes Sport Fish Consumption Advisor,v", Anderson, H. et al.). As shown in the attachment, the Indiana State Department of Health, has recommended that persons not consume any fish in any amount from Clear Creek, due to unacceptably high levels of PCBs. Clear Creek is one of only ten water bodies in the State of Indiana having a Group 5 ("No consumption") classifications. Persons consuming fish, even a few meals per year (e.g., bottom feeders such as carp or suckers) from Clear Creek would be at unacceptable risk levels from adverse effects on the reproductive (neurological effects in infants and children) and immune system, as well as have cancer risks above one in 10,000. To place the cancer risks in perspective, under Superfund U.S. EPA has determined that cancer risks greater than one in a million are to serve as a starting point for assessing the need for remedial actions. If appropriate, this memo and attached information may be provided to the federal Magistrate Judge, Kennard P. Foster and the federal Judge, S. Hugh Dillin, overseeing the Bloomington remediation. Attachments cc. Sheila Sullivan |
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