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  • Original Article
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Risks to the public from historical releases of radionuclides and chemicals at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 12, pages 355–372 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper summarizes the methods and results of estimating risks of cancer incidence resulting from plutonium, carbon tetrachloride, and beryllium releases from operations at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site, near Denver, Colorado, from 1953 through 1989. The key findings show that people who lived near the facility were exposed to plutonium mainly through inhalation during routine operations, from a major fire in 1957, and from plutonium resuspended from contaminated soil from an outdoor drum storage area, called the 903 Area. Results were presented for five exposure scenarios that were location-independent. Individuals described by the laborer scenario received the highest risk of all scenarios considered. Upper bound (95th percentile) incremental lifetime cancer incidence risks for the laborer scenario were in about the 10−4 range (1 chance in 10,000) for developing cancer from Rocky Flats plutonium releases during a lifetime. At the 5th percentile level, the maximum cancer risk was about 10−7 (1 chance in 10 million) for developing cancer during a lifetime. Estimated cancer risks at the 95th percentile level are within the range of for acceptable risks established by the US Environmental Protection Agency of 10−6 to 10−4. Carbon tetrachloride was found to be the chemical that presented the highest risk to the public. The 5th and 95th percentile risk values for exposure to carbon tetrachloride were 9.2×10−7 and 2.5×10−5, respectively.

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Notes

  1. ChemRisk was sold to J.A. Jones Environmental Services in October of 2000.

  2. In 1998, Radiological Assessments Corporation changed its name to Risk Assessment Corporation. For consistency throughout the project, all reports were published under the name of Radiological Assessments Corporation.

  3. The name given to the glove box exhaust filters. This system employed eight CWS filters in two stages to remove plutonium from the glove box exhausts and was located before the main filter plenum.

  4. Later known as the Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML). This laboratory, located in New York City and operated by the DOE and its predecessors, is known for long-term global monitoring of radionuclides in the environment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the members of the HAP who provided guidance and direction throughout the course of the Rocky Flats Historical Public Exposures Studies. Grateful acknowledgment is also given to the DOE, which funded the work and facilitated access to historical documents. This work was performed under contract with the CDPHE whose support during the Phase II Historical Public Exposures Study is recognized and appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Risk Assessment Corporation, 417 Till Road, Neeses, 29107, South Carolina, USA

    JOHN E TILL

  2. K-SPAR Inc., 493 North 4154 East, Rigby, 83442, Idaho, USA

    ARTHUR S ROOD

  3. MJP Risk Assessment, Inc., 7085 East Bayaud Avenue, Denver, 80230, Colorado, USA

    PAUL G VOILLEQUÉ

  4. Environmental Risk Assessment, Inc., 795 River Heights, Meridian, 83642, Idaho, USA

    PATRICIA D MCGAVRAN

  5. Keystone Scientific, 5009 Alder Ct., Fort Collins, 80525, Colorado, USA

    KATHLEEN R MEYER & H ROBERT MEYER

  6. Cascade Scientific, Inc., 1678 NW Albany Avenue, Bend, 97701, Oregon, USA

    HELEN A GROGAN

  7. Warren K Sinclair, Inc., 236 Tampico Glen, Escondido, 92025, California, USA

    WARREN K SINCLAIR

  8. Scientific Consulting, Inc., Box 760, 1103 East 4th Street, Freeman, 57029, South Dakota, USA

    JILL W AANENSON

  9. Bridger Scientific, Inc., 125 Jackpot Lane, Belgrade, 59714, Montana, USA

    H JUSTIN MOHLER

  10. Environmental Perspectives, Inc., 5800 South Marbrisa Lane, Idaho Falls, 83406, Idaho, USA

    SUSAN K ROPE

  11. Eagle Rock Scientific, Inc., 2804 Meadowlark Lane, Idaho Falls, 83402, Idaho, USA

    MARILYN J CASE

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  1. JOHN E TILL
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  2. ARTHUR S ROOD
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  3. PAUL G VOILLEQUÉ
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  4. PATRICIA D MCGAVRAN
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  8. JILL W AANENSON
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  12. MARILYN J CASE
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Correspondence to JOHN E TILL.

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TILL, J., ROOD, A., VOILLEQUÉ, P. et al. Risks to the public from historical releases of radionuclides and chemicals at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 12, 355–372 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500237

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