ATSDR in Partnership With New York
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is the lead
public health agency responsible for implementing the health-related provisions
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980 (CERCLA). ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more than 400
employees and a budget for 2004 of approximately $73 million. ATSDR assesses the
presence and nature of health hazards at specific Superfund sites, helps to
prevent or reduce further exposure and illnesses resulting from those hazards,
and expands the knowledge base about the health effects of exposure to hazardous
substances.
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry out its mission to serve the
public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and
providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and disease
related to toxic substances. ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance to
states and other partners through cooperative agreements and grants to identify
and evaluate environmental health threats to communities. These resources enable
state and local health departments and other grantees to further investigate
environmental health concerns and to educate communities. From
fiscal
years 1987 through 2003, ATSDR awarded more than
$32.2 million—more
than
$8.2 million in the last 2 years—in direct funds and
services to New York for comprehensive support of its environmental health unit.
In addition to direct funds and services, ATSDR staff provides technical and
administrative guidance for state-conducted site activities.
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
In the weeks after the
World Trade Center (
WTC)
disaster, several ATSDR staff members were sent to assist the agency's
New York office staff and the
New York City Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene (
NYC DOHMH). ATSDR staff
members detailed to the city health department provided technical assistance in
environmental medicine, including sharing the most current information about air
quality and environmental issues with groups of building owners, tenants,
business owners, workers, homeowners, and other community members.
ATSDR also assisted
NYC DOMH in developing and implementing a
residential sampling plan for lower Manhattan. ATSDR provided the draft sampling
plan and conducted a technical review of the analytical results from this
effort. The purpose of the sampling was to assess the composition of both
outdoor and indoor settled surface and airborne dust within residential areas
around the WTC. Sampling focused on building materials that have irritant
properties (e.g., synthetic vitreous fibers) and are associated with long-term
health concerns (e.g., asbestos). This information was used to help determine
whether additional public health actions were needed. ATSDR released its
Final Report of the Public Health Investigation to Assess Potential Exposures to
Airborne and Settled Surface Dust in Residential Areas of Lower Manhattan
in September 2002. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted
several follow-up activities to address the public health actions identified by
ATSDR's investigation. Information about the World Trade Center Health Registry
can be found in the Health Studies section of this fact sheet.
Residents of the village of
Endicott are concerned about
exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from inhalation of vapor
emanating from the IBM groundwater plume and from other potential sources of
exposure. Moreover, residents are concerned about the incidence of cancer in
both children and adults in the village and the incidence of cancers in former
workers at the IBM plant.
ATSDR is working with the
New York State Department of Health (
NYS
DOH), the
Broome County Health Department, and local
citizen groups to develop a public health response plan that will begin the
process of addressing the concerns about community exposures to VOCs in
Endicott. The draft plan was released for public comment in early 2004. The plan
describes historic, ongoing, and planned public health actions by the health and
environmental agencies to address specific human exposures to environmental
contaminants in Endicott. Specific items in the plan include review of ongoing
environmental investigations and exposure mitigation efforts, review and
analysis of cancer and birth outcomes in the village, public health implications
of low-level exposures to VOCs in drinking water, evaluation of the community
outreach and education activities, and health care provider outreach and
education activities. ATSDR and NYS DOH also are working with the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to address community
concerns about worker exposures at the former IBM facility. NIOSH is assessing
the feasibility of a study to evaluate the potential health effects of worker
exposures at the former IBM facility.
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
public health
assessments of all National Priorities List (NPL) sites and of other
sites where a significant threat to public health might exist.
One
hundred eight sites have been designated to the NPL in
New York.
A public health assessment is a written, comprehensive
evaluation of available data and information about the release of hazardous
substances into the environment in a specific geographic area. Such releases are
assessed for current or future impact on public health. ATSDR, in collaboration
with public health and environmental officials from New York,
has conducted 158 public health assessments in the state,
including the following recent examples.
Jackson Steel—This site in Mineola
is a former steel product manufacturer that contaminated the groundwater
with VOCs. NYS DOH and the Nassau County Health
Department found that indoor air of nearby buildings also was
contaminated with VOCs at levels above the health department's guideline for
indoor air. At the request of NYS DOH and ATSDR, measures were taken to
reduce levels of VOCs within those buildings, including a former day-care
facility. VOC levels are now significantly below health department indoor
air guidelines.
To help the public understand the exposures and public health actions, ATSDR
and NYS DOH developed and distributed fact sheets about the site. ATSDR and
NYS DOH are working together to complete a public health assessment to
update information about indoor air quality, on-site and off-site
groundwater contamination, and on-site soil contamination. Although the
day-care facility ceased operation at the affected building in April 2002,
residents, workers, and parents are interested in the outcome of the public
health assessment, which is expected to be released for public comment in
March 2004.
Diaz Chemical Corporation—On January 5, 2002, this specialty
organic chemical manufacturer in Holley unintentionally
released a mixture of primarily toluene, water (steam), and
2-chloro-6-fluorophenol (CFP) into outdoor air. Soon after the release,
residents complained of acute health effects; the company relocated some
residents. NYS DOH, in consultation with ATSDR, conducted
both environmental sampling (air, soil, and surface water) and extensive
biomonitoring of urine. Sampling and biomonitoring results indicated
exposure to CFP, particularly for residents and properties immediately
northeast of the facility. ATSDR assisted NYS DOH in characterizing the
health risks of exposure to CFP, and documented these findings in a public
health assessment finalized in September 2003. In response to community
concerns about long-term health effects from the CFP release, NYS DOH has
offered enrollment in the New York State Volatile Organic Compounds
Registry. EPA assumed control of the site in June 2003 and has conducted
environmental sampling to consider including the site on the NPL.
A health consultation is a written or oral response from
ATSDR to a specific request for information about health risks related to a
specific site, chemical release, or hazardous material. A health consultation is
a more limited response than a public health assessment is. To date, 184
documented health consultations have been conducted at 105
sites in New York, including the following recent examples.
Hickory Woods Subdivision (Abby
Street)—Many homes in the Hickory Woods neighborhood in
Buffalo are built on old fill material that possibly contains waste
from a nearby former steel and coke plant. Community members are concerned
about possible health effects from exposure to chemicals in the soil in
their yards. EPA found several chemicals in residential yards at levels
above typical soil background levels but not exceeding public health hazard
levels. NYS DOH and ATSDR prepared two health consultations
that were released to the public.
ATSDR and NYS DOH worked with EPA to sample surface soil and evaluate the
public health implications of the results and to release the data and
evaluation to the homeowners. Because of the evaluations, EPA completed
limited soil removal at two of these homes. ATSDR and NYS DOH also
recommended that measures be taken to prevent exposure to arsenic in surface
soil at a community park in the neighborhood. The city of Buffalo accepted
these measures, fenced the park, and obtained an environmental restoration
grant from New York State. The city also is developing a plan for cleanup of
the park. ATSDR and NYS DOH conducted an exposure/health survey in which the
results suggest more thyroid conditions might exist among Hickory Woods
residents than among the general U.S. population. On the basis of these
findings, NYS DOH conducted a follow-up health survey and reviewed medical
records. The report summarizing findings of the follow-up on thyroid
conditions will be released as a health consultation in early 2004. The
draft health consultation will be released for public comment and will be
provided to the participants and then to the community and other
stakeholders.
Southside High School—Southside High School is on land that
straddles the border of Elmira and Southport.
The school was built on land previously used by various industries. In
response to community concerns about a perceived unusually high occurrence
of cancer in current and former students, New York State
collected soil samples from the school grounds, and NYS DOH
initiated a cancer study, collected air samples inside the school and soil
gas samples from under the school, assisted with some soil sampling, and
evaluated the environmental sample results.
Findings of the initial cancer study, which relied on community reports and
on the state's system of mandatory cancer reporting, were released in 2000.
This study found no excess of cancer among students at the high school;
however, an excess of testicular cancer was diagnosed between 1997 and 2000
among males 15-19 years of age living in the area served by the school. A
follow-up study was released in 2001. This follow-up study found no unusual
conditions or exposures that were shared by all of the young men. In
addition, the number of testicular cancer cases this group was similar to
the number expected. An update on the initial study, which included a survey
of both past and present students who attended the school between 1980 and
2002, was released in November 2003. Although several additional cancer
cases were identified, no excesses of any type of cancer were observed with
the exception of the previously described excess of testicular cancer.
In cooperation with ATSDR, NYS DOH prepared a health consultation to
evaluate public health implications of exposure to soil and indoor air at
Southside High School. The final health consultation was released in
September 2003.
W.R. Grace—NYS DOH, in cooperation with
ATSDR, prepared a health consultation to evaluate the public health
implications of exposure to asbestos related to the former Zonolite
Company/W.R. Grace exfoliating facility in Brutus. The
health consultation recommends that former employees of the exfoliating
facility and their household contacts consult a physician with expertise in
asbestos-related lung disease if they believe they have been exposed to
asbestos. The health consultation is expected to be released to the public
for comments in spring 2004.
National Lead Inc. (Colonie Site)—Between
1958 and 1984, National Lead Industries (NL) used depleted uranium (DU) in
manufacturing processes at its facility in Colonie. Before
1958, the site was used as a brass and lead foundry. These operations
generated stack emissions, which released DU and lead into the air.
Community members are concerned about potential adverse health effects from
past operations at the facility. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which
controls the site and is responsible for clean-up activities, asked ATSDR to
conduct a public health evaluation of potential exposures to the community
from past site operations.
ATSDR released the public comment version of the Colonie Site health
consultation in August 2003 and presented the findings of the consultation
to over 200 community members in September 2003. ATSDR concluded that past
emissions from DU could have increased the risk for kidney disease and,
among smokers, lung cancer. However, ATSDR did not find a public health
hazard from contact with or incidental ingestion of DU or lead-contaminated
soil. For past lead emissions, ATSDR concluded an indeterminate health
hazard because of the lack of data.
During the public comment period, which was extended an extra 30 days, ATSDR
received many phone calls, letters, and e-mails from community members
concerned about their health. ATSDR is responding to the public comments and
updating sections of health consultation. In addition, ATSDR is determining
potential follow-up public health activities. The final version of the
health consultation is expected in the next few months. All public comments
and ATSDR responses will be in an appendix of the final health consultation.
Health Education and Community Activities
New York has participated in ATSDR's cooperative agreement
program since 1987. Under this program,
NYS DOH has received
funding and technical assistance for development of community education and
activities associated with human exposure to hazardous substances in the
environment. Under the cooperative agreement, almost 18,000 New York health
professionals and residents have received over 11,000 pieces of environmental
health information at 14 training and informational events during 2002.
In cooperation with the NYS DOH, ATSDR conducted a number of educational
activities support the
Shenandoah Road Groundwater
Contamination site. Added to the NPL in June 2001, this
East Fishkill
(Dutchess County) site is concerned with health impacts of tetrachloroethene
(PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) exposures. ATSDR sponsored focused training for
physicians on PCE and TCE. Environmental health specialists from the Association
of Occupational and Environmental Clinics provided this training in September
2002.
The
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe has participated in a cooperative
agreement with ATSDR since 1994 to develop environmental health education
programs and promote health in their communities. Under this program, the St.
Regis Tribe developed a community relations/risk communication plan related to
the General Motors/Massena site; produced several articles, brochures, and fact
sheets on the health effects of PCBs; and conducted a workshop for 25 local
health care providers. ATSDR completed a public health assessment in 1999 that
identified the site as a public health hazard because of past and continued
human exposures to hazardous substances at levels of health concerns. Human
exposure, primarily ingestion of PCB-contaminated fish and wildlife has occurred
and can continue to occur.
Health Studies
Health studies are investigations conducted to determine the relation between
exposures to hazardous substances and adverse health effects. Health studies
also define health problems that require further investigation through, for
example, health surveillance or an epidemiologic study. Following are examples
of health studies or investigations that ATSDR conducted or supported in
New York.
World Trade Center Health Registry—The
World Trade Center Health Registry is a collaborative effort involving
NYC DOHMH and ATSDR, as well as academic institutions, public
agencies, and community groups. The registry was created because the
long-term health effects, if any, among people who lived or worked near the
WTC site on September 11, 2001, are not known. The registry is a
comprehensive and confidential health survey of persons most directly
exposed to the events of September 11.
People enrolled in the registry will be contacted periodically over the next
20 years to track any changes in their physical or mental health. Interviews
are being conducted through August 2004; more than 25,000 have been
completed to date.
Exposure to Tremolite Asbestos in Vermiculite Ore—ATSDR
awarded a cooperative agreement to NYS DOH to conduct a
health statistics review of communities in New York that
received contaminated vermiculite ore from the W.R. Grace mine in Libby,
Montana. NYS DOH is reviewing cancer incidence data and mortality data for
asbestos-related diseases among residents of seven communities in New York
who received the contaminated vermiculite. The results are being compared
with national and statewide rates to determine whether potential exposures
to asbestos may be associated with adverse health outcomes in these
communities. A draft report of the study is expected in early 2005.
Multistate Case-Control Study of Childhood Brain Cancer—ATSDR
conducted this population-based case-control study to examine the
association between the risk for childhood brain cancer and residence near
NPL sites. The draft final report has been completed and is undergoing
external peer review.
Asthma and Hazardous Substances—In fiscal year 2002, ATSDR
awarded a cooperative agreement to Hunter College to
research the impact of hazardous substances on asthma.
PCB-Hudson River Study—ATSDR awarded a grant to NYS
DOH to study exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls in older
residents of affected communities on the Hudson River. Data
analysis began in mid-2003 and will be completed in late 2004. A draft
report of the study will be completed in late 2005.
Love Canal Follow-up Study—ATSDR granted funds to NYS
DOH and Health Research Inc. to comprehensively
follow up residents of the Love Canal Emergency Declaration
Area to determine whether they are at increased risk for adverse health
outcomes associated with residential exposure to environmental contaminants
in the Love Canal Superfund sites. Data analysis and report generation are
under way.
Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance System (HSEES)—ATSDR
established HSEES in 1990 to collect and analyze information about releases
of hazardous substances that need to be cleaned up or neutralized according
to federal, state, or local law and about threatened releases that result in
a public health action, such as evacuation. The goal of HSEES is to reduce
the morbidity and mortality of first responders, employees, and the general
public from hazardous substances emergencies. Fifteen state health
departments, including New York, participate in HSEES.
HSEES captures data on over 8,000 events annually. Of these, 80% occur at
fixed facilities, and 20% are transportation-related events. Most events
occur from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Persons most often
injured are employees.
HSEES generates information for use by states to conduct presentations on
planning prevention strategies for industries that account for a substantial
number of spills; conduct hazardous materials (HazMat) training courses,
including information about the risk for injury from methamphetamine labs;
establish and maintain protection areas for municipal water systems; assist
with the proper placement of HazMat teams; develop fact sheets on frequently
spilled chemicals or chemicals that cause a disproportionate number of
injuries (e.g., chlorine and ammonia); develop newsletters for industry,
responders, and environmental groups; and conduct presentations for state
and local emergency planners. A public-use dataset will be available on the
ATSDR HSEES Web site in the future.
Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program
In support of the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act, this program's six
objectives are to
(1) |
build on and extend results from past and ongoing research
in the Great Lakes region; |
(2) |
develop information databases or research methodology, or
both, that will provide long-term benefits to the human health effects
research efforts in the Great Lakes basin; |
(3) |
provide direction for future health effects research; |
(4) |
provide health information to state and local health
officials, the concerned public, and their medical health care
professionals; |
(5) |
increase public awareness about the potential health
implications of toxic pollution in the Great Lakes; and |
(6) |
coordinate as necessary with relevant government research
programs and activities to ameliorate adverse public health impacts of
persistent toxic substances in the Great Lakes basin. |
Four institutions in New York have been awarded funds by
ATSDR to conduct studies. These are
NYS DOH—PCB, DDE, Mirex, and HCB Exposure
Among Native American Men and Women From Contaminated Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence River Basin Fish and Wildlife and Neurological Effects of
Environmental Exposure to PCBs.
The Research Foundation of State University of New York at Buffalo—The
New York State Angler Cohort Study: Exposure Characterization and
Reproductive Developmental Health.
State University of New York at Oswego—Behavioral Effects
of Consumption of Lake Ontario Fish: Two Methodological Approaches:
Continuation of a Longitudinal Study Testing 4- and 6-Year-Olds.
State University of New York at Albany—PCB Congener and
Metabolite Patterns in Adult Mohawks: Biomarkers of Exposure and Individual
Toxicokinetics.
Neurodevelopmental Test Methods Research
ATSDR awarded a research grant to the
University of Rochester
to determine and validate a battery of neurodevelopmental tests for use in
assessing neurologic effects of prenatal or postnatal exposure to toxicants at
waste sites and in the environment. Deficits in specific developmental domains
will be evaluated in this battery and validation of this testing method will
enhance ATSDR's ability to detect subtle neurodevelopmental effects in children.
These research methods will address an ATSDR goal to develop methods and tools
for evaluating human health consequences of exposure to toxic substances in the
environment. The research is funded through partnerships with other federal
agencies and industry.
Resource Materials
ATSDR develops materials that public health professionals and medical care
providers can use to assess the public health impacts of chemical exposures.
Resources are available in print, on the ATSDR Web site, and on CD-ROM. For
example, medical management guidelines are available for acute chemical
exposures to more than 50 chemicals. These guidelines were designed to aid
emergency department physicians and other emergency health care professionals,
such as first responders, who manage acute exposures resulting from chemical
incidents. ATSDR's toxicological profiles comprehensively describe health
effects; pathways of human exposure; and the behavior of more than 250 hazardous
substances in air, soil, and water at hazardous waste sites. The toxicological
profiles are primarily used as a comprehensive resource by health professionals
at all levels. In the last 5 years, more than
36,100 of these
profiles have been sent to requesters, including representatives of federal,
state, and local health and environmental departments; academic institutions;
private industries; and nonprofit organizations in
New York.
ATSDR also has developed extensive resources for community members.
February 2004