If you worked, lived, or went to school on George AFB you were probably exposed to unsafe levels known carcinogens and respiratory sensitizers. George AFB had over a dozen unlined open-air burn pits and two old style incinerators (without an air scrubber to remove toxic chemicals). Known carcinogens and respiratory sensitizers were released into the atmosphere and pose both acute and chronic health hazards to civilians, and military personnel and their family members. A list of possible contaminants includes: acetaldehyde, acrolein, arsenic, benzene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, dichlorofluoromethane, dioxins, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, various heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and mercury), nitrogen dioxide, phosgene, sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, toluene, trichloroethane (methyl chloroform), trichloropropane (TCP), and xylene. See: Burn Pit Health Hazards Memo
Completed Exposure Pathway (CEP)
The Burn Pits and Incinerators at George Air Force Base provided a Completed Exposure Pathway (CEP). Burn Pits and Incinerators → known carcinogens and respiratory sensitizers → air → civilians, military personnel, and their family members
ATSDR’s Public Health Assessment (PHA) for George AFB
The Department of Defense (DOD) and Air Force failed to notify the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of this potential exposure pathway for the Health Assessment of George AFB. Additionally, because the Air Force did not correct the ATSDR during the Peer Review / Public Comments period or after the report was published in 1998, the Air Force lied by omission.
ATSDR - Public Health Assessment (PHA) for George AFB (PDF 3.36 MB)
George AFB’s Open-air Burn Pits
Old Incinerator Building
There are four references to an old incinerator building in the administrative record.
“… Herbicides and other pesticides were stored in the old incinerator building near the sewage treatment plant until 1968…” and “… Pesticides were originally stored in the old incinerator building until 1968…”
– Phase I, Records Search Report, Vol I of II
CH2M Hill – Jan 82
AR/IR File Number: 3– RI/FS, Draft Work Plan Addendum, OU-3
James M Montgomery, Inc. – Jan 92
AR/IR File Number: 525– Draft Final Work Plan Addendum, Vol I of II, OU-3
James M Montgomery, Inc. – Apr 92
AR/IR File Number: 572– RI/FS, Final Work Plan Addendum, Vol I of II, OU-3
James M Montgomery, Inc. – Jun 92
AR/IR File Number: 613
Source accessed on: 14 July 2012
Hospital Incinerator
“The hospital incinerator was active from 1963 to 1992; however, in 1989 the incinerator was inoperative and sharps were burned at the fire training area (IRP Site FT-i 9). In the past, hospital wastes were disposed of and burned at a waste burn pit at the fire training area. This area has been designated IRP Site FT-i9 and is currently undergoing an Rl/FS .” (see Section 3.3.2)
– Basewide Environmental Baseline Survey (EBS)
HQAFBDA/SP – Dec 93
AR/IR File Number: 817
Source accessed on: 14 July 2012
Definitions:
Complete Exposure Pathway
“A complete exposure pathway is how a chemical can be traced, or expected to travel, from a source to a plant or animal that can be affected by that chemical.” – EPA
General Information:
Burn Pits and Incinerators
- Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators (HMIWI) – EPA
- Dioxin Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Medical Waste Incinerators – CA EPA
Dioxins
- Dioxins – NIH (959KB)
- Dioxin exposure cause transgenerational health effects – NIH
- OEHAA’s report on dioxin health effects for children Important! PDF – OEHAA
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