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The Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is pleased to provide the
Spring Valley community with updates regarding our activities. As stated
in the February 2002 newsletter, ATSDR will update local residents every
6 months on its activities related to the Spring Valley site.
We are pleased
to announce the development of the ATSDR Spring Valley Web site, which
will also provide you with information regarding our past and present
activities. We continue to value and welcome your opinions and comments
regarding what you would like to see included in future newsletters.
Sincerely,
Robert
C. Williams, PE, DEE
Assistant Surgeon General
Director, Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
In 2001, ATSDR conducted
an Exposure Investigation of the Spring Valley community. Here are answers
to questions we received from community members.
Questions and Answers
Regarding ATSDR's Exposure Investigation
What Is an Exposure Investigation?
An exposure investigation
collects information on specific human exposures to hazardous substances
in the environment. For the Spring Valley site, ATSDR is collecting data
on people's exposure to elevated levels of arsenic in soils in their yards.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and partners have established a 20 parts
per million (ppm) remediation level for residential yards in Spring Valley.
Why Conduct an Exposure
Investigation?
An exposure investigation
provides useful information to help determine whether a health hazard
exists. It may tell us if significant exposures have occurred, those being
exposures that exceed what is normally found in the human population.
What Were the March 2002
Exposure Investigation Findings?
On December 7, 2001,
ATSDR staff met with the Spring Valley Scientific Advisory Panel to discuss
an exposure investigation proposal for the Spring Valley community. On
January 23, 2002, ATSDR held a public meeting to discuss the investigation
with the community. ATSDR then conducted the investigation during March
13-15, 2002.
Residents who lived at the 20 homes with the highest soil composite concentrations
of arsenic in their soil were invited to participate. Thirty-two people
(23 adults and 9 children) from 13 homes volunteered to participate. ATSDR
staff collected urine and hair samples from the participants, as well
as house dust samples from their homes. The urine samples were analyzed
for both inorganic forms of arsenic and total arsenic. These two separate
analyses can help to distinguish between dietary sources of arsenic (from
fish and shellfish) and environmental sources of exposure. ATSDR gave
participants their individual test results and presented a summary of
the findings to the Scientific Advisory Panel on May 29, 2002. The summary
is available on the Spring Valley Web site. ATSDR will release a report
about the findings later this year.
Arsenic in Urine
Individuals had their
urine tested for inorganic arsenic (which could be coming from naturally-occurring
arsenic in the soil or contaminated soil and dust) and total arsenic (which
could come from all sources -- food, water, air, soil, and dust).
ATSDR measures arsenic in urine
in parts per billion (ppb). Urine arsenic levels, which are a good measure
of recent arsenic exposure, were low in the people tested.
Only four individuals tested had detectable levels of inorganic arsenic
in their urine, ranging from 10 ppb to 15 ppb. Levels of inorganic arsenic
below 20 ppb usually indicate no significant exposure.
All individuals tested had
total urinary arsenic levels between 0 and 210 ppb. This value range is
what one might expect in the general population. The total urinary arsenic
is mostly organic arsenic from food sources and is much less toxic than
inorganic arsenic.
Arsenic in Hair
Individuals also had their hair tested for arsenic. Hair arsenic testing
is not as accurate as urine testing, but allows us to look at arsenic
exposure during the past months or years (depending on the length of the
hair). ATSDR measures arsenic in hair in parts per million (ppm). The
hair arsenic levels found during the Spring Valley testing show low levels
of exposure and would not be expected to cause any health problems.
All individuals tested had
hair arsenic levels between 0 ppm and 0.73 ppm. The average level was
0.1 ppm. Levels below 1 ppm usually indicate no significant exposure.
Arsenic in Household Dust
Household dust was tested in 13 homes. Interpreting the significance of
household dust levels is difficult. However, it is apparent from the hair
and urine tests that these levels do not appear to be causing elevated
arsenic levels, or any increased health risks, to individuals in these
homes.
Levels of arsenic in household
dust ranged from 0 ppm to 63 ppm.
The average level of arsenic in household dust was 9.9 ppm.
What's Next?
ATSDR is conducting
another exposure investigation beginning this month. This investigation
again focuses on residences with the highest soil arsenic levels. The
District of Columbia Department of Health (DCDOH) is helping ATSDR collect
urine samples. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether
people are being exposed to arsenic in the soil during remediation in
the Spring Valley area and to retest during summer months to determine
if any higher exposures were indicated.
What Else Is ATSDR Doing?
Elevated arsenic
concentrations have been detected in soils at and around American University
in Washington, D.C. People living and working in the Spring Valley neighborhood
have expressed concern that chemical exposures have led to illnesses in
the community. In response, ATSDR is reviewing the scientific literature
to see if existing data suggest a plausible relationship between site
contaminants, including chemical warfare agents, and self-reported illnesses.
The self-reported illnesses are those reported by residents to the D.C.
Department of Health Hotline.
ATSDR will release the review
findings in a health consultation planned for release in 2003.
Additional Information Related
to Arsenic
A major source of
elevated arsenic levels in Spring Valley surface soils is from chemical
warfare agents tested there during World War I. Area-wide soil sampling
results show that other breakdown products of the chemical warfare agents
did not remain in the surface soils; however some arsenic did stay in
the soil.
The army is removing contaminated soil from seven properties this summer
and will continue this activity over the next few years. The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and partners have established a 20 ppm remediation
level for residential yards in Spring Valley. Additional information about
arsenic can be found by visiting the ATSDR Spring Valley Information Repository
at Palisades Library or through the ATSDR Spring Valley Web site at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/springvalley.
What Health Resources Are Available to the Spring Valley Community?
Some Spring Valley
residents have expressed concern that their health problems may be related
to contaminants associated with World War I testing of chemical weapons.
ATSDR has developed a partnership with the Association of Occupational
and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) to provide medical education and training,
telephone consultative services, and specialty referral for individuals
who may have been exposed to environmental hazards.
AOEC also provides services
to children through the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units
(PEHSUs). AOEC and the PEHSU will work with your physician to clarify
exposure status and medically evaluate any associated health concerns
you may have. ATSDR cannot pay for medical treatment at an AOEC or PEHSU,
but we wish to inform you that these resources are available.
For more information about
AOEC, contact Kathy Kirkland at 202-347-4976.
For pediatric information, call the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's
Health and the Environment, George Washington University, at 1-866-622-2431
or 202-994-1166. Information is also available on PEHSU's Web site at
www.health-e-kids.org and on AOEC's Web site at www.aoec.org.
What if I Have More Concerns?
During the past few
months we have gathered your concerns through needs assessment questionnaires,
community meetings, focus group sessions, reviews of existing data, and
e-mail and phone contacts. The information you provided has been valuable
to help us understand the community's health concerns and health education
needs. ATSDR is now developing plans for health education and community
involvement activities.
If you have additional comments or concerns regarding the Spring Valley
site, write to Loretta Bush, ATSDR, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Mailstop
E-54, Atlanta, GA 30333 or e-mail her at lsbush@cdc.gov.
Where Can I Get More Information?
For more information,
contact any of the following ATSDR representatives.
Laura Frazier, Environmental Health Scientist
Lead Health Assessor for Spring Valley
1-888-422-8737
e-mail: lhfrazier@cdc.gov
Loretta Bush, Health Communications Specialist
Community Involvement Branch
1-888-422-8737
e-mail: lsbush@cdc.gov
Robert H. Johnson, Medical Officer
Exposure Investigation Branch
1-888-422-8737
e-mail: rhjohnson@cdc.gov
Richard Sullivan, Health Education Specialist
Health Education and Promotion Branch
1-888-422-8737
e-mail: rsullivan@cdc.gov
Tom Stukas, Regional Representative
ATSDR's Philadelphia Office
215-814-3142
e-mail: tstukas@cdc.gov
For more information about
other ATSDR activities, visit ATSDR's Internet
homepage.
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