Communities surrounding the Eielson Air Force Base (EAFB) outside Fairbanks, Alaska, have been exposed to no contaminants from base materials released into the environment at levels considered harmful to human health, says the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In a newly released report, the agency addresses the concerns of on-base anglers’ potential exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish captured from the Garrison Slough, and to fuel-related and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the groundwater.

Over the years, waste fuel, oils, solvents, pesticides, plating wastes and paints were released into the environment. For the report, called a public health assessment, ATSDR:

• reviewed environmental information including results from on-site soil, groundwater, drinking water and surface water samples and cleanup actions performed by EAFB.
• determined possible contamination sources, pathways of contaminant migration, and the potential for human exposure to contaminants.
• toured EAFB and met with EAFB representatives, regulatory agencies and community members.

ATSDR identified and evaluated five possible potential past, current and potential future exposures to environmental contaminants from EAFB. They are:

Fish contamination at Garrison Slough. People who consume 48 ounces or less of fish annually from the off-base section of Garrison Slough are not expected to be exposed to harmful levels of PCBs. People who consume fish from the on-base section of Garrison Slough could be exposed to PCBs at levels above ATSDR’s comparison values. The base currently informs anglers seeking on-base fishing permits not to eat fish from Garrison Slough, and has placed fish advisory signs along the slough. As a health precaution, ATSDR recommends that people follow base policy.

• Past ingestion of VOCs and arsenic in EAFB drinking water. Some groundwater contaminants were identified near active drinking water supply wells. The on-base drinking water wells that were affected by these contaminants are no longer used. Though contaminant concentrations were above regulatory standards at these sites, people using the on-base drinking water were not exposed to contaminants at levels known to cause health problems.
• Ingestion of VOCs in off-base drinking water sources. Though some groundwater contamination has been identified on base near off-base communities, available information indicates that off-base drinking water wells have not been affected by base-related contaminants. EAFB plans to continue monitoring groundwater to ensure that residents of Moose Creek Village are not exposed to contaminants at levels that could cause health problems. Environmental investigations planned by the Army Corps of Engineers should also ensure that private drinking water wells near Eielson Farm Road are not affected by base-related contaminants.
• Vapor intrusion to indoor air. VOC-contaminated groundwater has traveled near certain on-base buildings. ATSDR determined that occupants of on-site buildings were not exposed to indoor air vapors from VOC-contaminated groundwater at high enough levels for long enough periods to develop long-term health problems. EAFB’s process for investigating future concerns is expected to protect human health.

The public health assessment can be viewed at:

University of Alaska
Elmer E. Rasmuson Library-Archive Section
310 Tanana Dr.
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775

Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, Archives Section (Administrative Records)
Alaska & Polar Regions Department
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775

To request a copy of the public health assessment or for more information, community members may contact ATSDR staff Environmental Health Scientist Sue Neurath at 1-888-422-8737 or ATSDR Regional Representative Ric Robinson at 206-553-5114. Callers should refer to the EAFB study in Alaska.