What is a Public Health Assessment?

“The evaluation of data and information on the release of harmful

substances into the environment in order to assess any past,

current, or future impact on public health, develop health

advisories or other recommendations, and identify studies or

actions needed to evaluate and mitigate or prevent human health

effects.”

42 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 90, published in 55 Federal

Register 5136, February 13, 1990

Purpose

A public health assessment is conducted to determine whether

and to what extent people have been, are being, or may be

exposed to hazardous substances associated with a hazardous

waste site and, if so, whether that exposure is harmful and

should be stopped or reduced.

Goals

Evaluate site conditions and determine the nature and extent of environmentalcontamination.

Define potential human exposure pathways related to site-specific environmental contaminants.

Identify who may be or may have been exposed to environment

Examine the public health implications of exposures through the examination of environmental and health effects data.

Address implications by recommending relevant public health actions to prevent harmful exposures.

Identify and respond to community health concerns and communicate the findings of the assessment.

Factors

• Nature and extent of contamination

• Demographics (population size and susceptibility)

• Pathways of human exposure

• Health effects and disease-related data

Partners

Local Community

EPA and DEP

Health Assessors

Toxicologist

Epidemiologist

Health Physicist

Statistician

Health Educator

Communication Specialists

Community Participation

• Informing and educating

• Involving in planning, implementing, and outreach

• Collecting community health concerns

• Gathering information on how people interact with the site

• Providing opportunities for comments and input

• Analyzing health outcomes

Findings

Describes how people have been exposed to the site or are likely to be exposed to the site

Determines whether or not exposures are likely to lead to illness

Recommends ways to protect public health

What a Public Health Assessment is NOT

• A medical evaluation

• A statement about meeting regulatory standards

• Does not determine cleanup levels or the method of cleanup

• Does not evaluate the effects of the site on the environment itself

How is the public health assessment useful?

• PADOH will work with EPA in filling any critical data gaps identified in the public health assessment

• The results can tell the community what to expect in terms of their health as a result of the site-specific conditions

 • The report provides information to government agencies

responsible for public health protection and to the residents, parents, community leaders, and health care professionals

• Recommendations may be made to conduct health education activities, pilot studies of health effects, epidemiological investigations, or research on a specific hazardous substance

Community Involvement

 

Public availability sessions

Public meetings

Stakeholder meetings

Site updates

Public comment period

Final public health assessment

6/05Community

Request

Documents

Health Professional Education

Public Meeting

Community Activity

20052005

1/09Community

Open House

4/09Earth Day Community

Cleanup

7/08Health

Consultation &

Community Fact Sheet

2008200820062006

12/06 – 1/07Historical Review

& Community Fact Sheet

20072007

3/09Health

Consultation

3/07Grand

Rounds(2)

8/08Public Meeting

8/11Cancer Update

Factsheet

3/09Public Meeting

20092009

5-6/09Doctor

Visits and Patient Poster

9/11Nurse

Association Presentation

20102010

Public Health Activities

20112011 20122012

1/09Health

Consultation &

Community Fact Sheet

8/10Phase 1 Air Data

Review & Spring

Cleanup Flyer

Monthly CAG Meetings and HERS Workgroup MeetingsMonthly CAG Meetings and HERS Workgroup Meetings

2012Public Health Assessment

(planned)

12/10Nurse

Association Presentation

9/09Grand

Rounds

11/11Senior Center Presentation

Questions?