Due to the low levels of dioxin found in the sediments, it is unlikely that exposure to water from Blue Lake would result in any significant exposure to dioxin. The potential exposure to dioxin is minimal and these exposures are not of public health concern. The limited data do not indicate that humans are being or have been exposed to levels of contamination that would be expected to cause adverse health effects from the Blue Lake water supply. However, data or information are not available for all environmental media to which humans may be exposed. The residents expressed concerns about how past emissions from the APC facility might be impacting their health.
Blue Lake is the primary source of drinking water for the City of Sitka.
Low concentrations of dioxin have been detected in the sediments in Blue Lake. Because the City of Sitka is not required to filter water distributed to the public, community members are concerned that the contaminated sediments may be resuspended in the water delivered to their homes, thereby, resulting in exposure to dioxin. Community members are concerned that these potential exposures may affect the health of the community. The mill produced pulp for 34 years from its opening in 1959 until it suspended operations in 1993. APC is located at Sawmill Cove in Silver Bay, Alaska.