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Report to Congress October 2004: VII. Appendices

Table 1 - Major Lead Exposure Pathways at the Tar Creek Superfund Site

Pathway NameEnvironmental Media and Transport MechanismsPoint Of ExposureRoute Of ExposureExposure PopulationTimeNotesComplete Exposure Pathway?
Residential area soilLead present in soil as a result of use of tailings as fill or airborne transport of tailings from piles or pondsSurface soil outside and house dust inside homes in Tar Creek area with soil leads above 500 mg/kgIncidental ingestion, inhalationResidents (particularly children 6 and younger)Past, Present, FutureElevated soil lead concentrations and BLLs identified in children in Tar Creek Area prior to the clean up of residential soil by EPA. Exposure continues to occur at any home yet to be remediated.Yes
Mine tailingsLead present in mine tailings deposited in tailings piles, ponds, or embankmentsWalking or playing on the tailings piles, ponds, or embankmentsIncidental ingestion, inhalationResidents (particularly children 6 and younger)Past, Present, FutureMany homes in the Picher and Cardin area are within 250 feet of tailings deposits.Yes
Lead-based paint (LBP) Not site-relatedLead present in house dust, soil, and paint chips due to the use of LBPHouse dust, soil, and paint chips in or around homes with deteriorating LBPIncidental ingestionResidents (particularly children 6 and younger)Past, Present, FutureAvailable data indicate that 30% to 40% of the homes in the Tar Creek area are likely to have LBP.Yes


Table 2 - Other Lead Exposure Pathways at the Tar Creek Superfund Site

Pathway NameEnvironmental Media and Transport MechanismsPoint Of ExposureRoute Of ExposureExposure PopulationTimeNotesComplete Exposure Pathway?
Ingestion of homegrown produceUptake of lead from soil by fruits and vegetables grown in residential gardensProduce consumptionIngestionResidentsPast, Present, FutureEPA sampling identified low levels of lead in homegrown produce.Yes
Drinking water
Not site-related
Movement of lead from lead pipes or solder into waterMunicipal drinking waterIngestionWater supply usersPast, Present, FutureEPA sampling identified lead in the tap water of 13 of 100 homes.Yes
Airborne dustAirborne transport of mine tailings from piles, ponds, and embankments in the Tar Creek Site AreaResidential areas near tailings piles, ponds, and embankmentsInhalationIndividuals living near tailings piles, ponds, and embankmentsPast, Present, FutureEPA sampling identified low levels of lead in the air.Yes
Biota (wild animals & plants)Uptake or ingestion of lead which had come from mine tailings in the environmentConsumption of animals and plants contaminated with lead from the siteIngestionAnyone who eats animals & plants from site areaPast, Present, FutureMembers of the 9 tribes in Ottawa County may be at the greatest risk of exposure to contaminants in this pathway.Unknown


Table 3 - Demographics in Tar Creek Superfund Site Area*

CHARACTERISTICPICHER/CARDIN AREATAR CREEK SITE AREAUNITED STATES
Percent of People in Poverty261912.4
Percent of Homes Built Prior to 1950393222.3
*2000 Census Data

Table 4 - Characteristics of Blood Lead Testing Data Among Children Aged 1-5 Years Living within the Tar Creek Superfund Site*

All Tar Creek Superfund Site (also includes portion of North Miami that is outside the boundaries of Superfund site)
1995199619971998199920002001200220032004
(Jan, Feb only)
Oklahoma Child Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Total Elevated (=10 µg/dL) (%)20 (19.4)67 (31.2)50 (22.5)14 (19.2)9 (9.09)25 (6.9)16 (6.4)11 (4.5)
Geometric BLL Mean4.806.656.005.364.933.813.323.05
% Child Tested/Pop (actual number tested)16 (103)34 (215)36 (222)12 (73)16 (99)58 (361)40 (249)39 (242)
Sampling DesignCon-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
TEAL Surveys (Personal Conversation, Malcoe 2004)
Total Elevated (=10 µg/dL) (%)26 (18.2)14 (8.6)
Geometric BLL Mean5.774.25
% Child Tested/Pop (actual number tested)23 (143)26 (162)
Sampling DesignDoor-to-doorDoor-to-door
* n=625 (estimate based on 2000 Census)

Table 5 - Characteristics of Blood Lead Testing Data Among Children Aged 1-5 Years Living within the Tar Creek Superfund Site*

Picher and Cardin only
1995199619971998199920002001200220032004
(Jan, Feb only)
Oklahoma Child Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Total Elevated (=10 µg/dL) (%)17 (31.5)41 (44.6)34 (33.7)5 (29.4)3 (9.1)17 (13.2)7 (12.1)3 (7.0)
Geometric BLL Mean6.139.177.666.635.244.304.424.24
% Child Tested/Pop (actual number tested)36 (54)61 (92)67 (101)11 (17)22 (33)86 (129)39 (58)29 (43)
Sampling DesignCon-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
TEAL Surveys (Personal Conversation, Malcoe 2004)
Total Elevated (=10 µg/dL) (%)16 (25.0)10 (13.3)
Geometric BLL Mean6.634.76
% Child Tested/Pop (actual number tested)43 (64)50 (75)
Sampling DesignDoor-to-doorDoor-to-door
Ottawa Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Total Elevated (=10 µg/dL) (%)N/A6 (8.2)5 (12.2)2 (6.67)3 (3.4)N/A
Geometric BLL Mean4.993.864.764.643.822.43
% Child Tested/Pop (actual number tested)9 (13)49 (73)27 (41)20 (30)59 (88)11 (17)
Sampling DesignCon-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
Con-
venience
* n=150 (estimate based on 2000 Census)

Table 6 - Existing Health Study Information

Factors Associated with Elevated BLLs*Teal Study
(Lynch et al. 2000) OR (95% CI)
Teal Study
(Malcoe et al. 2002) OR (95% CI)
Floor lead dust ≥ 10 µg/ft28.1 (1.8, 37.8)11.4 (3.5, 37.3)
Yard soil lead
>500 mg/kg6.4 (1.4, 30.7)
>165.3 mg/kg (front yard)4.1 (1.3, 12.4)
Any interior lead paint3.0 (1.2, 7.8)
Superfund location3.4 (1.3, 8.8)5.6 (1.8, 17.8)
Hand-to-mouth behaviors
index 27.0 (3.0, 16.5)
index 348.9 (8.7, 272.7)
* Blood lead levels

Table 7 - Children Aged 1-5 Years Living in the Tar Creek Superfund Site with Known Elevated BLLs in 2003, Residential Assessment Lead Exposure Status

ChildKnown Exposure Status*Environmental Testing (Y/N)Environmental Testing DateAge in YearsRaceSexResidenceBlood Lead Level
1Unknown; frequent moverN3WMCommerce13.0
2Lead-based paintY12/16/20032WMQuapaw11.8
3Lead-based paintY11/15/20033WFPicher12.1
4Floor dust, soil, no electricity or running waterY2/9/20012WFPicher17.6
5Floor dust, soil, no electricity or running waterY2/9/20015WMPicher15.8
6Lead-based paint, floor dust, soilY9/12/20023WMQuapaw23.7
7Lead-based paint, floor dust, soilY9/12/20021WFQuapaw17.0
* Child may have moved and potential exposure source may have been remediated since testing date.
[Source: Ottawa County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Data, 2003]

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