Environmental Protection Agency Methodology Research Articles

High-resolution atmospheric emissions estimate from dredging activities during port expansion in Veracruz, Mexico

Maritime traffic has increased worldwide, generating the need to modernize and expand ports. The Port of Veracruz, a central hub on the Gulf of Mexico, is expanding to meet maritime demand. While the project has benefits, it can also have negative aspects, such as air pollution. One activity that can significantly impact air emissions during port expansion is dredging. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the atmospheric emissions of criteria pollutants, toxics, and greenhouse gases generated by the dredging activity. For this purpose, emissions estimates resulting from the in-situ dredged volume was integrated considering two types of dredges, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology with a bottom-up approach and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Automatic Identification System data with a 1 min resolution. The top emissions for criteria pollutants were 70 ± 4.7 Mg/yr of carbon monoxide, for toxics 13 ± 1 Mg/yr of volatile organic compounds, and for greenhouse gases 41,000 ± 4,034 Mg/yr of carbon dioxide, primarily in hotelling. These findings provide vital information for environmental management during port modernization, maintenance, and expansion.

Well-to-Wheels emission inventory for the passenger vehicles of Bogotá, Colombia

Emission inventories are essential in air quality management; they identify the main sources of atmospheric pollution and define mitigation strategies. Most vehicle emission inventories estimate direct emissions, including combustion and, in some cases, wear and dust resuspension emissions. However, emission inventories typically do not account for indirect fuel production, storage, and transportation emissions. This study quantifies the Well-to-Wheels emissions from all passenger transport vehicles in Bogotá, Colombia. This inventory estimates direct emissions from fuel combustion, wear and dust resuspension, and indirect emissions. This study analyzes all vehicle technologies and fuels used to transport passengers in the city and estimates PM2.5, SO2, CO, NOx, Volatile Organic Compounds, and greenhouse gas (CO2-Eq) emissions. COPERT model was adapted to local conditions to estimate direct combustion emissions and European Monitoring and Evaluation Program and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodologies to estimate wear and dust resuspension emissions. We used the OpenLCA® Software, the ecoinvent 3.4 database, and all locally available information to calculate indirect emissions. As far as is known, this is the first Well-to-Wheels emissions inventory considering all passenger vehicles in Bogotá. To evaluate the consistency of this study, we compared results from this inventory with those published in Bogotá and other cities worldwide. This study highlights the importance of including other emission sources than vehicle fuel combustion in emission inventories.

Potentially toxic elements in groundwater of the upper Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam, India: water quality and health risk.

This paper presents the groundwater quality assessment of the upper Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam on a seasonal basis. A total of 88 samples were analyzed for the presence of potentially toxic elements in two seasons. In addition, an attempt is made to identify any possible associated health risks to the residents via the drinking water pathway. The study reveals the presence of various potentially toxic elements, in particular, manganese, iron, nickel, and fluoride concentration exceeding the drinking water specifications set by BIS and WHO drinking water standards. The degree of groundwater contamination was assessed using the Water Quality Index, Heavy metal Pollution Index, Heavy metal Evaluation Index, and Degree of Contamination. The spatial distribution maps of groundwater quality were prepared using geographical information system. The non-carcinogenic health risk was evaluated using hazard quotients and hazard index as per the United States Environmental Protection Agency methodology. The hazard quotient of fluoride and manganese have values > 1, which exceeds USEPA recommended benchmark. The health risk assessment identified that the risk was highest during the pre-monsoon season, and the child population is more vulnerable to non-carcinogenic risk than the adults. Findings of cancer risk identified that pre-monsoon groundwater samples from the Golaghat District pose the highest health risks in the upper Brahmaputra floodplains. The risk is highest in the southwest of the study area, followed by the south and then by the north.

Fluoride exposure and its potential health risk assessment through ingestion of food in the mica mining areas of Jharkhand, India

The study was taken up to assess the fluoride concentration in the plant and animal based food items (cereals, pulses, vegetables, milk, chicken, egg and fish) in the vicinity of mica mining areas of Jharkhand which is rich in fluoride bearing minerals like biotite, muscovite, apatite, etc. The highest fluoride concentrations were observed in the wheat and chicken samples amongst the plant and animal origin foods, respectively. The leafy vegetables accumulated higher fluoride content as compared to other vegetables. The estimated daily intake (EDI) exceeded the Provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) of fluoride of 0.04 mg/kg/day in some of the wheat and rice samples. For the assessment of non-carcinogenic risk of fluoride, Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Indices (HI) were calculated as per United States Environmental Protection Agency methodology. The HQ of wheat and rice were highest amongst all the food items and contributed about 69% of the total risk. The hazard index (HI) for the adult population in view of the content of fluoride in the food samples ranged from 0.409 to 3.04 considering all the locations. HI exceeded unity in 60% of the locations, indicating non-carcinogenic risk to the populace. Higher HIs were assessed in the locations under the influence of mica mining activities.

Metal contamination of groundwater in the mica mining areas of Jharkhand: assessing seasonal variation, sources and human health risk

ABSTRACT The concentrations of metals in the groundwater were assessed on a seasonal basis to evaluate the possible risk on the local populace via the drinking water pathway in the mica mining areas of Jharkhand in India. Significant temporal variations were observed in the concentration of metals with the highest values being in the post-monsoon season. Spatial variations were also illustrated with higher metals observed in the areas with mining and vehicular activities. Al, Fe and Mn were the metals of major concern, which surpassed the drinking water quality standards at many locations. Considering all the seasons, Al, Fe and Mn exceeded the standards in 72%, 47% and 33% of samples, respectively. The metal concentrations in groundwater of the area can be ascribed to both natural sources and human activities as is depicted from principal component analysis, which resulted in extraction of four factors explaining 66.6% of data variance. For the evaluation of the non-carcinogenic human health risk, Hazard Quotients (HQ) and Hazard index (HI) were calculated as per United States Environmental Protection Agency methodology. Taking into account the geometric mean of the metal concentration in the groundwater, the hazard quotients did not exceed unity for any metal in any season advocating that the metals individually did not pose risk to the consumers of the groundwater. However, the cumulative risk of all the considered the metals as depicted by the Hazard Index suggests appreciable risk to the child population in the pre-monsoon (HI = 1.17) and post monsoon (HI = 1.18) seasons. The health risk assessment identified the child population being more vulnerable to non-carcinogenic risk as compared to the adults. Also, the risk was highest during the post-monsoon season as weighed against the other two seasons. Location-wise HI suggests the groundwater being unfit for drinking in more than 50% of the locations.

Non-carcinogenic health risk assessment for fluoride and nitrate in the groundwater of the mica belt of Jharkhand, India

Groundwater quality was investigated for fluoride and nitrate contamination in the mica mining areas of Jharkhand with special emphasis on seasonal fluctuation, source apportionment and human health risk assessment. Samples were collected from thirty-seven locations on a seasonal basis. The results indicated 31% and 32% samples of groundwater to exceed the Indian drinking water quality standards for F– and NO3 –, respectively. Marked seasonal variation was observed in the concentration of NO3 – with highest levels in monsoon season; however, the seasonal fluctuation was insignificant for F–. The NO3 – contamination can be attributed to agricultural activities while F– can be related to geogenic sources. For the evaluation of non-carcinogenic risk, Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Indices (HI) were calculated as per United States Environmental Protection Agency methodology. The results suggested the child population to be most vulnerable to health risks due to ingestion of F– and NO3 –. The HI values for men (0.34–18.4), women (0.29–15.8) and children (0.55–29.3) suggested considerable health risk related to F– and NO3 – to all the population groups. As high as 95% of the groundwater samples were likely to cause non cancer health effects in the child populace advocating upgraded water management plan for the residents.

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of arsenic exposure in drinking water in the rural environment

Carcinogenic and systemic health effects of arsenic exposure in drinking water are well documented. This study estimated the risk associated with chronic consumption of water with high concentrations of arsenic in children and adults living in six Andean locations, in Chile. Concentrations of arsenic in the drinking water were analyzed between 2014 and 2017 based on health authority reports and data collected during this study. Average daily arsenic intake was estimated, and systemic (HQ) and deterministic carcinogenic risk (CR) indices were calculated using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology. Threshold values ​​of HQ>1 and CR> 1 x 10–4 were considered to indicate high risk of adverse health effects. Four of the locations (Chucuyo > Putre > Humapalca = Visviri) had high concentrations of arsenic in the water, at levels 6.3–57.6 times the norm of 0.01 mg/L, Zapahuira and Belen, had values just below the threshold. Extremely high HQ values were estimated in children, at 1.3–119.8 times the threshold. Furthermore, CR values were several orders of magnitude (3.06–10790.6) above the tolerable value among all age strata. The locations studied have a high risk of adverse health effects from exposure to arsenic in drinking water. It is urgent to implement mitigation measures to improve water quality in these communities and to carry out probabilistic studies to provide more accurate assessment of exposure.

Top-Down Constraints on Methane Point Source Emissions From Animal Agriculture and Waste Based on New Airborne Measurements in the U.S. Upper Midwest.

Agriculture and waste are thought to account for half or more of the U.S. anthropogenic methane source. However, current bottom-up inventories contain inherent uncertainties from extrapolating limited in situ measurements to larger scales. Here, we employ new airborne methane measurements over the U.S. Corn Belt and Upper Midwest, among the most intensive agricultural regions in the world, to quantify emissions from an array of key agriculture and waste point sources. Nine of the largest concentrated animal feeding operations in the region and two sugar processing plants were measured, with multiple revisits during summer (August 2017), winter (January 2018), and spring (May-June 2018). We compare the top-down fluxes with state-of-science bottom-up estimates informed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology and site-level animal population and management practices. Top-down point source emissions are consistent with bottom-up estimates for beef concentrated animal feeding operations but moderately lower for dairies (by 37% on average) and significantly lower for sugar plants (by 80% on average). Swine facility results are more variable. The assumed bottom-up seasonality for manure methane emissions is not apparent in the aircraft measurements, which may be due to on-site management factors that are difficult to capture accurately in national-scale inventories. If not properly accounted for, such seasonal disparities could lead to source misattribution in top-down assessments of methane fluxes.

TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN MEXICO

According to the Minamata Convention it is necessary to determine the mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in Mexico due to Mexico’s responsibility to reduce its mercury emissions into the atmosphere. For this purpose, we used the coal consumption data provided directly by the Federal Electricity Commission of Mexico, which include emissions per day and per generating unit for the year 2013. To determine the mercury emissions from a coal-fired power plant in Mexico, we used the US Environmental Protection Agency methodology and focused on the Presidente Plutarco Elias Calles (CETEPEC) power plant, because in Mexico there are no methodologies to determine mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The results show that mercury emissions from units 1 to 6 of the CETEPEC plant range from 0.5 to 1.2 kg/day; however, emissions from unit 7 are as high as 2 kg/day. The total mercury emissions from the CETEPEC power plant in 2013 were 1942 kg, of which 1698 kg were gaseous elemental mercury (Hg 0 ), 243 kg gaseous oxidized mercury (Hg 2+ ), and 1.2 kg particle-bound mercury (Hg p ). This study is relevant in Mexico and indicates an advance on the control of mercury emissions from the CETEPEC power plant, in accordance to the Minamata Convention.

Characterization of particulate emissions from Australian open-cut coal mines: Toward improved emission estimates

ABSTRACTGiven the significance of mining as a source of particulates, accurate characterization of emissions is important for the development of appropriate emission estimation techniques for use in modeling predictions and to inform regulatory decisions. The currently available emission estimation methods for Australian open-cut coal mines relate primarily to total suspended particulates and PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm), and limited data are available relating to the PM2.5 (<2.5 μm) size fraction. To provide an initial analysis of the appropriateness of the currently available emission estimation techniques, this paper presents results of sampling completed at three open-cut coal mines in Australia. The monitoring data demonstrate that the particulate size fraction varies for different mining activities, and that the region in which the mine is located influences the characteristics of the particulates emitted to the atmosphere. The proportion of fine particulates in the sample increased with distance from the source, with the coarse fraction being a more significant proportion of total suspended particulates close to the source of emissions. In terms of particulate composition, the results demonstrate that the particulate emissions are predominantly sourced from naturally occurring geological material, and coal comprises less than 13% of the overall emissions. The size fractionation exhibited by the sampling data sets is similar to that adopted in current Australian emission estimation methods but differs from the size fractionation presented in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology. Development of region-specific emission estimation techniques for PM10 and PM2.5 from open-cut coal mines is necessary to allow accurate prediction of particulate emissions to inform regulatory decisions and for use in modeling predictions.Implications: Development of region-specific emission estimation techniques for PM10 and PM2.5 from open-cut coal mines is necessary to allow accurate prediction of particulate emissions to inform regulatory decisions and for use in modeling predictions. Comprehensive air quality monitoring was undertaken, and corresponding recommendations were provided.

Multiple linear regression models for predicting chronic aluminum toxicity to freshwater aquatic organisms and developing water quality guidelines.

The bioavailability of aluminum (Al) to freshwater aquatic organisms varies as a function of several water chemistry parameters, including pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and water hardness. We evaluated the ability of multiple linear regression (MLR) models to predict chronic Al toxicity to a green alga (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia), and a fish (Pimephales promelas) as a function of varying DOC, pH, and hardness conditions. The MLR models predicted toxicity values that were within a factor of 2 of observed values in 100% of the cases for P. subcapitata (10 and 20% effective concentrations [EC10s and EC20s]), 91% of the cases for C. dubia (EC10s and EC20s), and 95% (EC10s) and 91% (EC20s) of the cases for P. promelas. The MLR models were then applied to all species with Al toxicity data to derive species and genus sensitivity distributions that could be adjusted as a function of varying DOC, pH, and hardness conditions (the P. subcapitata model was applied to algae and macrophytes, the C. dubia model was applied to invertebrates, and the P. promelas model was applied to fish). Hazardous concentrations to 5% of the species or genera were then derived in 2 ways: 1) fitting a log-normal distribution to species-mean EC10s for all species (following the European Union methodology), and 2) fitting a triangular distribution to genus-mean EC20s for animals only (following the US Environmental Protection Agency methodology). Overall, MLR-based models provide a viable approach for deriving Al water quality guidelines that vary as a function of DOC, pH, and hardness conditions and are a significant improvement over bioavailability corrections based on single parameters. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:80-90. © 2017 SETAC.

Methane emissions from dairy lagoons in the western United States.

Methane generation from dairy liquid storage systems is a major source of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. However, little on-farm research has been conducted to estimate and determine the factors that may affect these emissions. Six lagoons in south-central Idaho were monitored for 1 yr, with CH4 emissions estimated by inverse dispersion modeling. Lagoon characteristics thought to contribute to CH4 emissions were also monitored over this time period. Average emissions from the lagoons ranged from 30 to 126 kg/ha per day or 22 to 517 kg/d. Whereas we found a general trend for greater emissions during the summer, when temperatures were greater, events such as pumping, rainfall, freeze or thaw of lagoon surfaces, and wind significantly increased CH4 emissions irrespective of temperature. Lagoon physicochemical characteristics, such as total solids, chemical oxygen demand, and volatile solids, were highly correlated with emission. Methane prediction models were developed using volatile solids, wind speed, air temperature, and pH as independent variables. The US Environmental Protection Agency methodology for estimating CH4 emissions from manure storage was used for comparison of on-farm CH4 emissions from 1 of the lagoon systems. The US Environmental Protection Agency method underestimated CH4 emissions by 48%. An alternative methodology, using volatile solids degradation factor, provided a more accurate estimate of annual emissions from the lagoon system and may hold promise for applicability across a range of dairy lagoon systems in the United States.

EPAs methodology to inform TSCA pre-manufacturing notification decision-making: a critical analysis based on chemicals regulated by consent order

Regulatory toxicology has emerged as a necessary discipline to ensure chemicals introduced into commerce are safe. The New Chemicals program is a regulatory toxicology program required under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) where the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluates new or significant new uses of existing chemicals. Submitters are not required to include human or environmental effects data, or undertake toxicity testing and so constrain the EPA and the basic data available to make informed decisions. We therefore sought to determine the methodology used by this program to inform regulatory, consent order decisions. We found that the EPA applied analogue analyses, or in silico methods to inform two-thirds of the decisions evaluated. No new tests were carried out. This study's findings are important for other regulators in the potential adoption of alternative testing methods to inform regulatory decisions going forward.

The Economic Costs of Environmental Regulation in U.S. Dairy Farming: A Directional Distance Function Approach

Analyses of the costs of regulating greenhouse gas emissions from dairy production, which could be used to assess the effectiveness of alternative policy measures, is a missing link in the literature. This article addresses this gap by establishing the economic impact associated with a hypothetical greenhouse gas environmental regulatory regime across major dairy producing counties in the United States. In doing so, the article makes three important contributions to the literature. First, it develops a comprehensive pollution index based on Environmental Protection Agency methodologies, which contrasts with previous studies that rely on partial measures based only on surplus nitrogen stemming from the over‐application of fertilizer. Second, the article uses a directional output distance function, an approach that has not been employed previously to evaluate polluting technologies in the U.S. dairy sector. Third, the article incorporates a four‐way error approach that accounts for unobserved county heterogeneity, time‐invariant persistent technical efficiency, time‐varying transient technical efficiency, and a random error. The results indicate that regulating greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farming would induce a 5‐percentage point increase in average technical efficiency. In addition, the economic costs of implementing this hypothetical regulatory framework exhibit significant spatial variation across counties in the United States.

A method for deriving water‐quality benchmarks using field data

The authors describe a methodology that characterizes effects to individual genera observed in the field and estimate the concentration at which 5% of genera are adversely affected. Ionic strength, measured as specific conductance, is used to illustrate the methodology. Assuming some resilience in the population, 95% of the genera are afforded protection. The authors selected an unambiguous effect, the presence or absence of a genus from sampling locations. The absence of a genus, extirpation, is operationally defined as the point above which only 5% of the observations of a genus occurs. The concentrations that cause extirpation of each genus are rank-ordered from least to greatest, and the benchmark is estimated at the 5th percentile of the distribution using two-point interpolation. When a full range of exposures and many taxa are included in the model of taxonomic sensitivity, the model broadly characterizes how species in general respond to a concentration gradient of the causal agent. This recognized U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology has many advantages. Observations from field studies include the full range of conditions, effects, species, and interactions that occur in the environment and can be used to model some causal relationships that laboratory studies cannot.

Air quality assessment of benzo(a)pyrene from asphalt plant operation

A study has been carried out to assess the contribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from asphalt plant operation, utilising Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) as a marker for PAHs, to the background air concentration around asphalt plants in the UK. The purpose behind this assessment was to determine whether the use of published BaP emission factors based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methodology is appropriate in the context of the UK, especially as the EPA methodology does not give BaP emission factors for all activities. The study also aimed to improve the overall understanding of BaP emissions from asphalt plants in the UK, and determine whether site location and operation is likely to influence the contribution of PAHs to ambient air quality. In order to establish whether the use of US EPA emissions factors is appropriate, the study has compared the BaP emissions measured and calculated emissions rates from two UK sites with those estimated using US EPA emission factors. A dispersion modelling exercise was carried out to show the BaP contribution to ambient air around each site. This study showed that, as the US EPA methodology does not provide factors for all emission sources on asphalt plants, their use may give rise to over- or under-estimations, particularly where sources of BaP are temperature dependent. However, the contribution of both the estimated and measured BaP concentrations to environmental concentration were low, averaging about 0.05 ng m(-3) at the boundary of the sites, which is well below the UK BaP assessment threshold of 0.25 ng m(-3). Therefore, BaP concentrations, and hence PAH concentrations, from similar asphalt plant operations are unlikely to contribute negatively to ambient air quality.

Microcystin kinetics (bioaccumulation and elimination) and biochemical responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) exposed to toxic cyanobacterial blooms

Two species of common edible fish, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), were exposed to a Microcystis spp.-dominated natural cyanobacterial water bloom for two months (concentrations of cyanobacterial toxin microcystin, 182-539 microg/g biomass dry wt). Toxins accumulated up to 1.4 to 29 ng/g fresh weight and 3.3 to 19 ng/g in the muscle of silver carp and common carp, respectively, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent immunoassay. Concentrations an order of magnitude higher were detected in hepatopancreas (up to 226 ng/g in silver carp), with a peak after the initial four weeks. Calculated bioconcentration factors ranged from 0.6 to 1.7 for muscle and from 7.3 to 13.3 for hepatopancreas. Microcystins were completely eliminated within one to two weeks from both muscle and hepatopancreas after the transfer of fish with accumulated toxins to clean water. Mean estimated elimination half-lives ranged from 0.7 d in silver carp muscle to 8.4 d in common carp liver. The present study also showed significant modulations of several biochemical markers in hepatopancreas of fish exposed to cyanobacteria. Levels of glutathione and catalytic activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase were induced in both species, indicating oxidative stress and enhanced detoxification processes. Calculation of hazard indexes using conservative U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology indicated rather low risks of microcystins accumulated in edible fish, but several uncertainties should be explored.

Health risk assessment maps for arsenic groundwater content: application of national geochemical databases

This investigation assesses the feasibility of calculating and visualizing health risk estimates from exposure to groundwater contaminated with arsenic (As) using data from national geochemical databases. The potential health risk associated with As-contaminated groundwater was assessed based on an elaboration of existing geochemical data in accordance with accepted methodological procedures established for human health risk assessment (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology). A screening analysis approach was used for estimating the contribution of As to the total chronic health risk from exposure to groundwater contaminated with potentially toxic elements, including As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn, and the results indicate that As contributes significantly (>50%) to this total health chronic risk in about 10% of Slovak territory. Based on the calculation of the potential risk level by exposure modelling, increased chronic as well as carcinogenic risk levels (medium to high) were documented in approximately 0.2 and 11% of the total Slovak area, respectively. The areas characterized by high health risk levels are mainly those geogenically contaminated. High and very high carcinogenic risk was determined in 34 of 79 districts and in 528 of 2924 municipalities.

Marine Water Quality Assessment Of Synthetic-Based Drilling Waste Discharges

Drilling muds or fluids used in drilling operations serve several functions: they lubricate the drill bit; maintain borehole pressure; clean and condition the hole; and flush rock cuttings to the surface. Drilling mud also adheres to rock cuttings, as can formation oil. Barite is used as a weighting agent, which approximately makes up approximately 33% of synthetic mud. It contains traces of heavy metals, which contribute to the toxicity of drilling waste. As environmental issues attract increasing public awareness, the treatment and disposal of spent drilling fluids and contaminated rock cuttings from drilling operations have become sensitive issues for offshore operations around the world. Within the last decade, the oil and gas industry has introduced synthetic-based drilling fluids as substitutes for oil-based fluids. This pollution prevention measure has been complemented by improvements in solid control systems technology. This paper adopts the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology for a hypothetical case study of an oil field on the East Coast of Canada to determine the water quality impacts of disposal of drilling wastes. The concentration of pollutants at the edge of the mixing zone in the water column and pore water are estimated and compared with Canadian water quality guidelines for protection of aquatic life.

Human health risk assessment case study: an abandoned metal smelter site in Poland

United States Environmental Protection Agency methodologies for human health risk assessment (HRA) were applied in a Brownfields Demonstration Project on the Warynski smelter site (WSS), an abandoned industrial site at Piekary Slaskie town, Upper Silesia, Poland. The HRA included the baseline risk assessment (BRA) and the development of risk-based preliminary remedial goals (RBPRGs). The HRA focused on surface area covered with waste materials, which were evaluated with regard to the potential risks they may pose to humans. Cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and zinc were proposed as the contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) at WSS based on archive data on chemical composition of waste located on WSS. For the defined future land use patterns, the industrial (I) and recreational (II) exposure scenarios were assumed and evaluated. The combined hazard index for all COPCs was 3.1E+00 for Scenario I and 3.2E+00 for Scenario II. Regarding potential carcinogenic risks associated with the inhalation route, only cadmium was a contributor, with risks of 1.6E−06 and 2.6E−07 for Scenario I and Scenario II, respectively. The results of the BRA indicated that the potential health risks at WSS were mainly associated with waste material exposure to cadmium (industrial and recreational scenarios) and lead (industrial scenario). RBPRGs calculated under the industrial scenario were 1.17E+03 and 1.62E+03 mg/kg for cadmium and lead, respectively. The RBPRG for cadmium was 1.18E+03 mg/kg under the recreational scenario. The BRA results, as well as RBCs, are comparable for both scenarios, so it is impossible to prioritize land use patterns for WSS based on these results. For choosing a future land use pattern or an appropriate redevelopment option, different factors would be decisive in the decision-making process, e.g., social, market needs, technical feasibility and costs of redevelopment actions or acceptance of local community.