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1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

PETER COOPER
GOWANDA, CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK

APPENDIX A

Figure 1. Gowanda Location Plan

Figure 2. Gowanda Site

APPENDIX B

mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
ND = not detected
* indicates that contaminant selected for further evaluation -
    See Table 7 for Public Health Assessment Comparison Values


Table 2. Summary of Subsurface Soil Sample Results

Compound		Range of Detection mg/kg			Number of Detects	Total Samples
Table 2a - Subsurface Soil
Volatile & Semi-volatile Organics
benzo(a)pyrene		0.061			1	2
flouranthene		0.07			1	2
pyrene		0.059-0.43			2	2
Inorganics
arsenic		4.6-19			4	4
chromium (total)		23-730			4	4
hexavalent chromium		ND			0	4
zinc		77			1	1
Table 2b -Shallow Soil
Inorganics
arsenic		3-25			23	23
*chromium (total)		13-33000			23	23
hexavalent chromium		0.019-24			8	23
zinc		54-480			8	8
NOTE: Shallow soil samples were collected from surface to a depth of one foot.

mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
ND = not detected
* indicates that contaminant selected for further evaluation -
     See Table 7 for Public Health Assessment Comparison Values


Table 3. Summary of Surface Soil Sample Results

Compound		Range of Detection mg/kg			Number of Detects	Total Samples	Range of Detection mg/kg			Number of Detects	Total Samples
Volatile & Semi-volatile Organics		On-site Samples					Background
acetone		0.022-0.5			3	3	NA
anthracene		0.1-0.92			3	13	ND			0	1
benzo(a)anthracene		0.043-10			7	13	0.16			1	1
benzo(b)flouranthene		0.088-8.8			7	13	0.31			1	1
benzo(k)flouranthene		0.12-3.8			3	13	ND			0	1
benzo(ghi)perylene		0.073-2.8			5	13	0.13			1	1
* benzo(a)pyrene		0.043-7.8			7	13	0.17			1	1
2-butanone		0.11-0.12			2	3	NA
carbon disulfide		0.004-0.004			1	5	ND			0	1
carbazole		0.052			1	13	ND			0	1
chrysene		0.074-9.1			7	13	0.19			1	1
* dibenzo(ah)anthacene		0.056-1.6			3	13	ND			0	1
1,2-dichlorobenzene		0.62-9.8			2	3	NA
1,1-dichloroethane		0.18			1	3	NA
flouranthene		0.037-14			9	13	0.37			1	1
indeno(123cd)pyrene		0.065-4.2			5	13	0.13			1	1
methylene chloride		0.18			1	3	NA
2-methylnapthalene		0.13-0.13			1	13	ND			0	1
2-methylphenol		4.3			1	3	NA
4-methylphenol		0.47			1	3	NA
napthalene		0.078-5.4			3	13	ND			0	1
2-nitrophenol		0.58-0.58			1	13	ND			0	1
phenanthrene		0.056-2.9			7	13	0.16			1	1
phenol		97-97			1	13	ND			0	1
pyrene		0.047-12			8	13	0.28			1	1
toluene		0.019			1	3	NA
Inorganics
antimony		98.6			1	8	ND			0	1
* arsenic		0.98-417			61	62	11-18			4	4
chromium (total)		0.99-6220			63	63	17-34			4	4
hexavalent chromium		0.014-24			35	55	ND			0	3
zinc		8-1100			16	16	72-85.5			4	4
NOTE: Surface soil samples were collected from either 0 to 3 inches in depth or 0 to 6 inches in depth

mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
ND = not detected
NA = not analyzed
* indicates that contaminant selected for further evaluation -
     See Table 7 for Public Health Assessment Comparison Values


Table 4. Summary of Groundwater Sample Results

Compound		Range of Detection mcg/L			Number of Detects	Total Samples
Unfiltered Groundwater
Inorganics
arsenic		2-180			17	19
chromium (total)		4-1100			18	19
hexavalent chromium		5-420			18	19
zinc		20-11000			4	4
Filtered Groundwater
Volatile & Semi-volatile Organics
chlorobenzene		26-130			2	4
2-chlorophenol		2.9			1	7
chrysene		9			1	7
dichlorobenzenes (total)		11			1	4
2-methylphenol		69			1	7
4-methylphenol		1200-42000			2	7
napthalene		1-16			2	7
phenol		99-8000			2	7
Inorganics
arsenic		13-100			10	17
chromium (total)		4-890			16	19
hexavalent chromium		6-18			2	8
zinc		10-220			8	9

mcg/L = micrograms per liter
ND = not detected
* indicates that contaminant selected for further evaluation -
See Table 7 for Public Health Assessment Comparison Values


Table 5. Summary of Creek Water and Creek Sediment Sample Results

Compound		Range of Detection (units below)			Number of Detects	Total Samples	Range of Detection (units below)			Number of Detects	Total Samples	Range of Detection (units below)			Number of Detects	Total Samples
		Upstream					Adjacent					Downstream
Table 5a - Cattaraugus Creek Water
Volatile & Semi-volatile Organics
		mcg/L					mcg/L					mcg/L
2-methylphenol		ND			0	2	800			1	1	ND			0	3
phenol		ND			0	2	160			1	1	ND			0	3
Inorganics
* arsenic		2.8-3.1			2	12	4.2-123			2	2	2.3-4.6			3	10
chromium (total)		6-12			7	12	8-225			2	2	7-19			5	10
hexavalent chromium		8-11			3	10	8			1	1	8-16			4	7
zinc		14-110			6	10	274			1	1	10-122			6	7
Table 5b - Cattaraugus Creek Sediment
Volatile & Semi-volatile Organics
		mg/kg					mg/kg					mg/kg
acetone		0.04			1	2	0.13			1	1	0.015-0.089			3	3
benzo(a)anthracene		0.065			1	3	0.043			1	1	0.028-0.071			3	5
benzo(b)flouranthene		0.034			1	3	ND			0	1	0.041-0.089			2	5
benzo(k)flouranthene		ND			0	3	0.043			1	1	0.049-0.081			2	5
benzo(ghi)perylene		ND			0	3	ND			0	1	0.023			1	5
benzo(a)pyrene		0.04			1	3	ND			0	1	0.041-0.078			2	5
2-butanone		ND			0	2	0.033			1	1	0.018			1	3
chrysene		0.055			1	3	0.046			1	1	0.025-0.11			3	5
dibenzo(ah)anthracene		ND			0	3	ND			0	1	0.025			1	5
flouranthene		0.056-0.11			2	3	0.019			1	1	0.095-0.2			2	5
2-MP		ND			0	3	ND			0	1	6.7			1	5
phenanthrene		0.05			1	3	0.047			1	1	0.044-0.084			2	5
pyrene		0.068			1	3	0.067			1	1	0.055-0.15			2	5
toluene		ND			0	2	0.009			1	1	0.004			1	3
Inorganics
arsenic		5.6-7.5			4	4	4.4-4.8			2	2	6.3-9			6	6
chromium (total)		7.3-393			4	4	10-314			2	2	6.5-17.6			6	6
hexavalent chromium		6.2-7.4			2	2	6.1			1	1	6.1-6.8			2	3
zinc		74.5-1050			2	2	136			1	1	48.9-126			3	3

mcg/L = micrograms per liter
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
ND = not detected
* indicates that contaminant selected for further evaluation -
See Table 7 for Public Health Assessment Comparison Values


Table 6. Summary of Leachate Sample Results

Compound		Range of Detection mcg/L			Number of Detects	Total Samples
Volatile & Semi-volatile Organics
acetone		20-29			4	4
chlorobenzene		1-14			2	4
2,4-dimethylphenol		2			1	3
2-methylphenol		26			1	3
napthalene		2			1	4
phenol		1			1	3
toluene		10			1	4
zinc		2.9-52			8	8
Inorganics
arsenic		10.2-98.8			8	10
chromium (total)		22.1-607			10	11
hexavalent chromium		0.65-116			10	11
magnesium		86500-160000			4	4

mcg/L = micrograms per liter
ND = not detected
* indicates that contaminant selected for further evaluation -
See Table 7 for Public Health Assessment Comparison Values


Table 7. Public Health Assessment Site-Specific Comparison Values (#) that are Exceeded by Contaminants Found in Leachate, Subsurface Waste, Soil, and/or Surface Water at or near the Peter Cooper Corporation Site

Contaminant		Soil Typical Background Range (mg/kg)	Soil Comparison Values* (in mg/kg)				Water Comparison Values** (in mcg/L)
			Cancer	Basis***	Noncancer	Basis***	Cancer	Basis***	Noncancer	Basis***
Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organics
benzo(a)pyrene		+	6.2	EPA CPF	60,000	b	NA	--	NA	--
Inorganics
arsenic		2-20C	31	EPA CPF	600	EPA RfD	31	EPA CPF	1,800	EPA RfD
chromium		10-60C	--	--	16,000	d	NA	--	NA	--

mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
mcg/L - micrograms per liter

* Comparison values for cancer risk are determined for a 70 kg adult who ingests 50 mg soil per day, 2 days per week for 3 months per year for 30 yrs out of a 70 yr lifetime. Comparison values for noncancer risk are determined for a 21 kg child who ingests 100 mg soil per day, 5 days per week for 6 months per year.

** Comparison values for cancer risk for are determined for a 70 kg adult who swallows 0.05 L of leachate or surface water per day, 2 days per week for 3 months per year for 30 yrs out of a 70 year lifetime. Comparison values for noncancer risk are determined for a 21 kg child and a 70 kg adult who swallow 0.05 L of leachate or surface water per day, 2 days per week for 3 months per year.

*** EPA CPF=EPA Cancer Potency Factor
EPA RfD=EPA Reference Dose

NA=not applicable
+ Based on reported background levels for total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of 1 to 13 mg in soil (Edwards, 1983).
a- Comparison value based on EPA CPF for benzo(a)pyrene and the US EPA (1993) interim relative potency factors for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
b- Based on US EPA oral reference dose for pyrene.
c- References: Clarke et al. (1985), Connor et al. (1957), McGovern (1988), Shacklette and Boerngen (1984).
d- Based on dermal irritation
# These are site-specific comparison values for the pathway(s) identified for this public health assessment.
These comparison values should not be used for other site evaluations.

APPENDIX C

ATSDR Public Health Hazard Categories

APPENDIX D

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATING POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS
FOR CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN

To evaluate the potential health risks from contaminants of concern associated with the Peter Cooper Corporation site, the New York State Department of Health assessed the risks for cancer and noncancer health effects.

Increased cancer risks were estimated by using site-specific information on exposure levels for the contaminant of concern and interpreting them using cancer potency estimates derived for that contaminant by the US EPA or, in some cases, by the NYS DOH. The following qualitative ranking of cancer risk estimates, developed by the NYS DOH, was then used to rank the risk from very low to very high. For example, if the qualitative descriptor was "low", then the excess lifetime cancer risk from that exposure is in the range of greater than one per million to less than one per ten thousand. Other qualitative descriptors are listed below:

An estimated increased excess lifetime cancer risk is not a specific estimate of expected cancers. Rather, it is a plausible upper bound estimate of the probability that a person may develop cancer sometime in his or her lifetime following exposure to that contaminant.

There is insufficient knowledge of cancer mechanisms to decide if there exists a level of exposure to a cancer-causing agent below which there is no risk of getting cancer, namely, a threshold level. Therefore, every exposure, no matter how low, to a cancer-causing compound is assumed to be associated with some increased risk. As the dose of a carcinogen decreases, the chance of developing cancer decreases, but each exposure is accompanied by some increased risk.

There is general consensus among the scientific and regulatory communities on what level of estimated excess cancer risk is acceptable. An increased lifetime cancer risk of one in one million or less is generally considered an insignificant increase in cancer risk.

For noncarcinogenic health risks, the contaminant intake was estimated using exposure assumptions for the site conditions. This dose was then compared to a risk reference dose (estimated daily intake of a chemical that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of health effects) developed by the US EPA, ATSDR and/or NYS DOH. The resulting ratio was then compared to the following qualitative scale of health risk:

Qualitative Descriptions for Noncarcinogenic Health Risks
Ratio of Estimated Contaminant Intake to Risk Reference Dose	Qualitative Descriptor
equal to or less than the reference dose or minimal risk level	minimal
greater than one to five times the reference dose or minimal risk level	low
greater than five to ten times the reference dose or minimal risk level	moderate
greater than ten times the reference dose or minimal risk level	high

Noncarcinogenic effects unlike carcinogenic effects are believed to have a threshold, that is, a dose below which adverse effects will not occur. As a result, the current practice is to identify, usually from animal toxicology experiments, a no-observed-effect-level (NOEL). This is the experimental exposure level in animals at which no adverse toxic effect is observed. The NOEL is then divided by an uncertainty factor to yield the risk reference dose. The uncertainty factor is a number which reflects the degree of uncertainty that exists when experimental animal data are extrapolated to the general human population. The magnitude of the uncertainty factor takes into consideration various factors such as sensitive subpopulations (for example, children or the elderly), extrapolation from animals to humans, and the incompleteness of available data. Thus, the risk reference dose is not expected to cause health effects because it is selected to be much lower than dosages that do not cause adverse health effects in laboratory animals.

The measure used to describe the potential for noncancer health effects to occur in an individual is expressed as a ratio of estimated contaminant intake to the risk reference dose. If exposure to the contaminant exceeds the risk reference dose, there may be concern for potential noncancer health effects because the margin of protection is less than that afforded by the reference dose. As a rule, the greater the ratio of the estimated contaminant intake to the risk reference dose, the greater the level of concern. A ratio equal to or less than one is generally considered an insignificant (minimal) increase in risk.

APPENDIX E

This summary was prepared to address comments and questions on the public comment draft of the Peter Cooper - Gowanda Public Health Assessment. The public was invited to review the draft during the public comment period, which ran from February 29, 2000 -- April 14, 2000. We received one response, which was from a public agency. Some statements were reworded for clarity and brevity. If you have any questions about this summary, you can contact the New York State Department of Health's (NYS DOH) Outreach Unit at the toll free number: 1-800-458-1158, extension 27530.

Comment #1 - In Section D, Health Outcome Data, health outcome data bases are described. Are they available to the public, and where can the public obtain information in these databases?

Response #1 - These databases contain confidential medical information that is protected from public disclosure by law. The databases are used by health agencies and researchers. To provide information to the public, while at the same time protecting confidentiality, the data are often aggregated and provided to the public at the county level. As part of the NYS DOH Cancer Surveillance Initiative, the number of observed and expected cases of cancer are being provided at the ZIP code level for some of the common types cancers. For more information on the availability of summary level health outcome data the public can either check the NYS Department of Health's Web site at www.health.state.ny.us or call 1-800-458-1158.

For the ATSDR public health assessment program, we use the databases to evaluate possible adverse health outcomes when there is documentation of significant exposures to chemicals at waste sites.

Comment #2 - In the Recommendations Section, are there other remedies, such as removal, that would also be protective of public health?

Response #2 - The Recommendations Section indicates that any remedy that prevents public exposures will be considered. Removal of the wastes from the site could be an alternative to encapsulating the wastes on-site. However, the final remedy will be selected after the environmental investigations are complete.

APPENDIX F

Absorption:

How a chemical enters a person's blood after the chemical has been swallowed, has come into contact with the skin, or has been breathed in.

Acute Exposure:

Contact with a chemical that happens once or only for a limited period of time. ATSDR defines acute exposures as those that might last up to 14 days.

Additive Effect:

A response to a chemical mixture, or combination of substances, that might be expected if the known effects of individual chemicals, seen at specific doses, were added together.

Adverse Health Effect:

A change in body function or the structures of cells that can lead to disease or health problems.

Antagonistic Effect:

A response to a mixture of chemicals or combination of substances that is less than might be expected if the known effects of individual chemicals, seen at specific doses, were added together.

ATSDR:

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ATSDR is a federal health agency in Atlanta, Georgia that deals with hazardous substance and waste site issues. ATSDR gives people information about harmful chemicals in their environment and tells people how to protect themselves from coming into contact with chemicals.

Background Level:

An average or expected amount of a chemical in a specific environment. Or, amounts of chemicals that occur naturally in a specific environment.

Biota:

Used in public health, things that humans would eat - including animals, fish and plants.

CAP:

See Community Assistance Panel.

Cancer:

A group of diseases which occur when cells in the body become abnormal and grow, or multiply, out of control

Carcinogen:

Any substance shown to cause tumors or cancer in experimental studies.

CERCLA:

See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.

Chronic Exposure:

A contact with a substance or chemical that happens over a long period of time. ATSDR considers exposures of more than one year to be chronic.

Completed Exposure Pathway:

See Exposure Pathway.

Community Assistance Panel (CAP):

A group of people from the community and health and environmental agencies who work together on issues and problems at hazardous waste sites.

Comparison Value (CVs):

Concentrations or the amount of substances in air, water, food, and soil that are unlikely, upon exposure, to cause adverse health effects. Comparison values are used by health assessors to select which substances and environmental media (air, water, food and soil) need additional evaluation while health concerns or effects are investigated.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA):

CERCLA was put into place in 1980. It is also known as Superfund. This act concerns releases of hazardous substances into the environment, and the cleanup of these substances and hazardous waste sites. ATSDR was created by this act and is responsible for looking into the health issues related to hazardous waste sites.

Concern:

A belief or worry that chemicals in the environment might cause harm to people.

Concentration:

How much or the amount of a substance present in a certain amount of soil, water, air, or food.

Contaminant:

See Environmental Contaminant.

Delayed Health Effect:

A disease or injury that happens as a result of exposures that may have occurred far in the past.

Dermal Contact:

A chemical getting onto your skin. (see Route of Exposure).

Dose:

The amount of a substance to which a person may be exposed, usually on a daily basis. Dose is often explained as "amount of substance(s) per body weight per day".

Dose / Response:

The relationship between the amount of exposure (dose) and the change in body function or health that result.

Duration:

The amount of time (days, months, years) that a person is exposed to a chemical.

Environmental Contaminant:

A substance (chemical) that gets into a system (person, animal, or the environment) in amounts higher than that found in Background Level, or what would be expected.

Environmental Media:

Usually refers to the air, water, and soil in which chemical of interest are found. Sometimes refers to the plants and animals that are eaten by humans. Environmental Media is the second part of an Exposure Pathway.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

The federal agency that develops and enforces environmental laws to protect the environment and the public's health.

Epidemiology:

The study of the different factors that determine how often, in how many people, and in which people will disease occur.

Exposure:

Coming into contact with a chemical substance.(For the three ways people can come in contact with substances, see Route of Exposure.)

Exposure Assessment:

The process of finding the ways people come in contact with chemicals, how often and how long they come in contact with chemicals, and the amounts of chemicals with which they come in contact.

Exposure Pathway:

A description of the way that a chemical moves from its source (where it began) to where and how people can come into contact with (or get exposed to) the chemical.

ATSDR defines an exposure pathway as having 5 parts:

1. Source of Contamination,


2. Environmental Media and Transport Mechanism,


3. Point of Exposure,


4. Route of Exposure; and,


5. Receptor Population.

When all 5 parts of an exposure pathway are present, it is called a Completed Exposure Pathway. Each of these 5 terms is defined in this Glossary.

Frequency:

How often a person is exposed to a chemical over time; for example, every day, once a week, twice a month.

Hazardous Waste:

Substances that have been released or thrown away into the environment and, under certain conditions, could be harmful to people who come into contact with them.

Health Effect:

ATSDR deals only with Adverse Health Effects (see definition in this Glossary).

Indeterminate Public Health Hazard:

The category is used in Public Health Assessment documents for sites where important information is lacking (missing or has not yet been gathered) about site-related chemical exposures.

Ingestion:

Swallowing something, as in eating or drinking. It is a way a chemical can enter your body (See Route of Exposure).

Inhalation:

Breathing. It is a way a chemical can enter your body (See Route of Exposure).

LOAEL:

Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level. The lowest dose of a chemical in a study, or group of studies, that has caused harmful health effects in people or animals.

Malignancy:

See Cancer.

MRL:

Minimal Risk Level. An estimate of daily human exposure - by a specified route and length of time -- to a dose of chemical that is likely to be without a measurable risk of adverse, noncancerous effects. An MRL should not be used as a predictor of adverse health effects.

NPL:

The National Priorities List. (Which is part of Superfund.) A list kept by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the most serious, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country. An NPL site needs to be cleaned up or is being looked at to see if people can be exposed to chemicals from the site.

NOAEL:

No Observed Adverse Effect Level. The highest dose of a chemical in a study, or group of studies, that did not cause harmful health effects in people or animals.

No Apparent Public Health Hazard:

The category is used in ATSDR's Public Health Assessment documents for sites where exposure to site-related chemicals may have occurred in the past or is still occurring but the exposures are not at levels expected to cause adverse health effects.

No Public Health Hazard:

The category is used in ATSDR's Public Health Assessment documents for sites where there is evidence of an absence of exposure to site-related chemicals.

PHA:

Public Health Assessment. A report or document that looks at chemicals at a hazardous waste site and tells if people could be harmed from coming into contact with those chemicals. The PHA also tells if possible further public health actions are needed.

Plume:

A line or column of air or water containing chemicals moving from the source to areas further away. A plume can be a column or clouds of smoke from a chimney or contaminated underground water sources or contaminated surface water (such as lakes, ponds and streams).

Point of Exposure:

The place where someone can come into contact with a contaminated environmental medium (air, water, food or soil). For examples:
the area of a playground that has contaminated dirt, a contaminated spring used for drinking water, the location where fruits or vegetables are grown in contaminated soil, or the backyard area where someone might breathe contaminated air.

Population:

A group of people living in a certain area; or the number of people in a certain area.

PRP:

Potentially Responsible Party. A company, government or person that is responsible for causing the pollution at a hazardous waste site. PRP's are expected to help pay for the clean up of a site.

Public Health Assessment(s):

See PHA.

Public Health Hazard:

The category is used in PHAs for sites that have certain physical features or evidence of chronic, site-related chemical exposure that could result in adverse health effects.

Public Health Hazard Criteria:

PHA categories given to a site which tell whether people could be harmed by conditions present at the site. Each are defined in the Glossary. The categories are:

• Urgent Public Health Hazard


• Public Health Hazard


• Indeterminate Public Health Hazard


• No Apparent Public Health Hazard


• No Public Health Hazard

Receptor Population:

People who live or work in the path of one or more chemicals, and who could come into contact with them (See Exposure Pathway).

Reference Dose (RfD):

An estimate, with safety factors (see safety factor) built in, of the daily, life-time exposure of human populations to a possible hazard that is not likely to cause harm to the person.

Route of Exposure:

The way a chemical can get into a person's body. There are three exposure routes:
- breathing (also called inhalation),
- eating or drinking (also called ingestion), and
- or getting something on the skin (also called dermal contact).

Safety Factor:

Also called Uncertainty Factor. When scientists don't have enough information to decide if an exposure will cause harm to people, they use "safety factors" and formulas in place of the information that is not known. These factors and formulas can help determine the amount of a chemical that is not likely to cause harm to people.

SARA:

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act in 1986 amended CERCLA and expanded the health-related responsibilities of ATSDR. CERCLA and SARA direct ATSDR to look into the health effects from chemical exposures at hazardous waste sites.

Sample Size:

The number of people that are needed for a health study.

Sample:

A small number of people chosen from a larger population (See Population).

Source (of Contamination):

The place where a chemical comes from, such as a landfill, pond, creek, incinerator, tank, or drum. Contaminant source is the first part of an Exposure Pathway.

Special Populations:

People who may be more sensitive to chemical exposures because of certain factors such as age, a disease they already have, occupation, sex, or certain behaviors (like cigarette smoking). Children, pregnant women, and older people are often considered special populations.

Statistics:

A branch of the math process of collecting, looking at, and summarizing data or information.

Superfund Site:

See NPL.

Survey:

A way to collect information or data from a group of people (population). Surveys can be done by phone, mail, or in person. ATSDR cannot do surveys of more than nine people without approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Synergistic effect:

A health effect from an exposure to more than one chemical, where one of the chemicals worsens the effect of another chemical. The combined effect of the chemicals acting together are greater than the effects of the chemicals acting by themselves.

Toxic:

Harmful. Any substance or chemical can be toxic at a certain dose (amount). The dose is what determines the potential harm of a chemical and whether it would cause someone to get sick.

Toxicology:

The study of the harmful effects of chemicals on humans or animals.

Tumor:

Abnormal growth of tissue or cells that have formed a lump or mass.

Uncertainty Factor:

See Safety Factor.

Urgent Public Health Hazard:

This category is used in ATSDR's Public Health Assessment documents for sites that have certain physical features or evidence of short-term (less than 1 year), site-related chemical exposure that could result in adverse health effects and require quick intervention to stop people from being exposed.

Table of Contents

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345
Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348 

Department of Health and Human Services