Public Health Assessment: Final Release. Kalamazoo River/Enbridge Spill: Evaluation of People's Risk for Health Effects from Contact with the Submerged Oil in the Sediment of the Kalamazoo River, May 23, 2012.

摘要

The recovery and clean-up of crude oil has been on-going since the 2010 Enbridge Energy Partners, LLP (Enbridge) pipeline release. A majority of the oil that was floating on the surface of the water and on riverbanks has been collected. Some oil still remains in overbank (riverbank and flood plain) areas and submerged in sediment at the bottom of the Kalamazoo River and Morrow Lake. Current oil collection efforts are focused on removing this remaining oil. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Calhoun County Public Health Department have asked that MDCH review the possible health risks for people touching or accidentally eating the remaining oil. A person could accidentally eat the oil if they dont wash their hands well enough before eating or preparing food, or by not thoroughly cleaning food taken from their gardens2. MDCH calculated the non-cancer and theoretical cancer risk from contact with the submerged oil in the sediment. The results and conclusions in this health assessment are for public health purposes only and do not show compliance with, or satisfy, EPA or Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regulations or requirements.