Health assessment for Torch Lake, Houghton County, Michigan, Region 5. CERCLIS No. MID980901946. Preliminary report
Torch Lake, a 2,700-acre lake located in the Keweenaw Waterway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is on the National Priorities List due to a high incidence of tumors found in certain species of game fish. The causative agent of the tumors is unknown. The high incidence of tumors in the fish resulted in a precautionary fish consumption advisory to be issued in 1982 by the Michigan Department of Public Health. Copper mining activities in the area from the 1890s to 1969 produced mill tailings which contaminated the lake sediments and shoreline. The lake has also received mine pumpage (chloride-rich mine water), leaching chemicals, explosives residues and by-products, municipal and industrial trash, and sanitary wastes (until 1980). The exposure pathway which has caused the most concern is the consumption of fish from Torch Lake. Nearly all of the sauger and a significant number of the walleye in the lake have tumors. The site is of potential public health concern because of the risk to human health that could result from the possible exposure to presently unknown etiologic agents at levels that may result in adverse health effects over time. Human exposure to a presently unknown agent may be occurring.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan Dept. of Public Health, Lansing, MI (USA). Center for Environmental Health Sciences
- OSTI ID:
- 5229791
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-104712/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
COPPER
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
FEDERAL REGION V
FISHES
FOOD CHAINS
HAZARDS
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LAKES
LAWS
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MILL TAILINGS
MINES
NEOPLASMS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POLLUTION LAWS
PROGRESS REPORT
PUBLIC HEALTH
RISK ASSESSMENT
SOLID WASTES
SUPERFUND
SURFACE WATERS
TAILINGS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION