ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Releases Report about Current, Future Off-Site Exposure to Chemicals
at Oak Ridge Reservation, TN

For Immediate Release: January 31, 2007

ATLANTA - Current and future exposure to site-related chemicals in the off-site area surrounding the Oak Ridge Reservation is not expected to cause adverse health effects, says the public health assessment released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

ATSDR evaluated environmental sampling data collected from 1990-2003 to evaluate whether exposure to chemicals in off-site soil, sediment, surface water, fish, game, vegetation and air poses a public health hazard. ATSDR concluded that off-site exposure to site-related chemicals in the eight-county area surrounding the site may occur; however, the amount of chemicals detected does not cause harmful health effects.

Because there was not enough sampling data, ATSDR could not determine whether the amount of dioxins in fish near the Oak Ridge Reservation is harmful. As a public health precaution, the agency suggests residents continue to follow the state of Tennessee’s current fishing advisories.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury, as well as the groundwater pathway of exposure are not addressed in this health assessment; these topics are evaluated individually in separate reports. To date, ATSDR scientists have completed health assessments on iodine 131 releases from the X-10 site, PCB releases, radionuclide releases from White Oak Creek, uranium releases from the Y-12 plant and other topics such as contaminant releases from the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator and contaminated off-site groundwater. These reports and ATSDR activities at the site are available online at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/oakridge.

The public health assessment is available at the following locations:

Oak Ridge Public Library    Civic Center Oak Ridge, Tenn.		Harriman Public Library 1 Waldon Ave. Harriman, Tenn.
Kingston City Library        1004 Bradford Way               Kingston, Tenn.		Roane State Community College 276 Patton Lane   Harriman, Tenn.
Rockwood Public Library 117 N. Front Ave. Rockwood, Tenn.		Department of Energy Information Center 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike    Oak Ridge, Tenn.      865-241-4780

The ATSDR Oak Ridge Field Office is now closed. Members of the community with questions about this public health assessment may contact Environmental Health Scientist Jack Hanley at 404-498-0358 or jhanley@cdc.gov; or Health Communication Specialist Marilyn Palmer Horton at 404-498-1751 or mpalmer@cdc.gov.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

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Members of the news media can request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.