Physical Injury Risk Versus Risk from Hazardous Waste Remediation: a Case History

This study was conducted to estimate the transportation risks associated with the removal of contaminated soils near the ASARCO copper smelter in Ruston, Washington. Three remediation options involving removal of differing amounts of soil were considered. The risks of death, disabling, and nondisabling injury were estimated. Under the scenario requiring the greatest soil removal, 3.62 disabling injuries, 14.46 possibly disabling injuries, and 0.67 deaths are expected to result from transporting the contaminated soil to an approved hazardous waste disposal facility. If the contaminated soil is not removed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 2 arsenic-related skin cancers per 1000 lifetimes for exposed persons will occur.