Community Health Studies
The potential impacts to the surrounding community from past nuclear operations at the ETEC facility have been studied. These studies include offsite sampling, exposure assessments, and community health studies.
Offsite Sampling
During the 50 plus year history of nuclear research and later environmental restoration, on-site and off-site environmental monitoring and media sampling has been extensive as shown on this sampling map. This extensive off-site sampling program was terminated in 1989 when all nuclear research and operations except cleanup came to an end. See the map of these sampling locations.
Since 1990, extensive media sampling programs have been conducted on northern neighbors, including the Brandies-Bardin Institute and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, neighbors to the south, the Boeing Recreation Center in West Hills, various private homes in the Chatsworth and West Hills areas, and places further away such as Wildwood Park and Tapia Park.
The following links provide detailed information about the studies conducted in the surrounding areas.
- Ahmanson Ranch
- Bell Canyon
- Brandeis-Bardin and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
- Chatsworth Reservoir
- Dayton Canyon
- Rocketdyne Recreational Center
- Runkle Canyon
For more information about the offsite sampling history, please click here.
In December 2007, Boeing issued an Off-site Data Evaluation Report , compiling the results of prior environmental sampling programs.
Exposure Assessments
Exposure assessments at SSFL consist of evaluating data from existing studies to determine if there are any health effects to the communities surrounding SSFL. These evaluations did not include taking any new samples. The three environmental assessments at SSFL are:
- A public health assessment by the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry in 1999
- A study by UCLA focused on assessing exposure to the community from SSFL operations
- SSFL advisory panel reports regarding studies evaluating the potential for offsite impacts from SSFL operations
Community Cancer Studies
Different State and Local agencies have performed community cancer studies to determine whether any elevated cancer rates exist in the communities surrounding SSFL. These studies included:
- Cancer registry investigations and studies conducted in the 1990 and 1992 by DHS
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control review of state cancer registry studies in 1999
- Tri-Counties Cancer Surveillance Program 2006 evaluation
- University of Michigan School of Public Health study on Cancer incidence in the community
