HUMAN HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT FACT SHEET - HOUSATONIC RIVER REST OF RIVER - EPA RELEASES HUMAN HEALTH

June 2003 United States EPA Releases Human Health Risk Assessment Environmental Protection AgencyNew England Region for GE/Housatonic River Site, Rest of River, 1 Congress StreetBoston, MA 02114 for Public Comment and Peer Review EPA has released the Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) report for the GE/Housatonic PUBLIC COMMENT River, Rest of River, for public comment and Peer Review. The HHRA is one of a series of PERIOD reports being prepared by EPA under a Consent Decree negotiated with General Electric EPA is holding a 30-day Public Company, EPA and other government agencies. Comment Period on the Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) The Human Health Risk Assessment characterizes the cancer and noncancer risks to adults and from June 13 through July 14, 2003. children who are exposed to PCBs and other contaminants from the GE facility in Pittsfield, After the Comment Period, the MA, while living or working near the Housatonic River, or using the river and floodplain for HHRA will be reviewed by a panel recreation or agricultural purposes. of nationally recognized experts in the field. All input is welcomed, and The report evaluates three primary routes through which people may be exposed to PCBs and EPA encourages everyone to partici­other contaminants that originated from the GE facility in Pittsfield, MA. These include: pate. The public is encouraged to: • Direct contact with soil and sediment during recreational, residential, ...