ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Concludes Exposure to Contaminants Do Not Pose Health Risks at
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Concord

For Immediate Release: July 26, 2005

ATLANTA - Environmental contamination is not expected to cause harmful health effects for people who live or work on or near Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Concord, Calif. (NWS SBD Concord), says the public health assessment released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

ATSDR prepared this assessment to evaluate potential past and current exposures to contaminants originating from NWS SBD Concord. ATSDR met with state, local, and Navy officials and community members to identify how people might come in contact with contaminated soil, sediment, surface water or groundwater while at or near NWS SBD Concord. In addition, ATSDR reviewed documents and information available from the U.S. Navy, Environmental Protection Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency and other state and local agencies. The assessment details the history of environmental investigations, clean up, sampling and the extent of contamination at the site. ATSDR used this information to identify the type and amount of base-related contaminants people would most likely be exposed to during their normal activities.

ATSDR found that some areas of NWS SBD Concord have elevated concentrations of some environmental contaminants; however, the contaminants are at levels too low to cause harmful health effects. As a prudent public health action, ATSDR suggests that residents using private wells for domestic water supply periodically inspect the quality of the water in them.

The following are ways in which people may have come in contact with the contaminants; each exposure situation is discussed in detail in the assessment:

• Exposure from inhaling contaminated dust while operating dirt bikes or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in the Litigation Area.
• Exposure to arsenic-contaminated windblown dust by community members living near the Magazine Area/Site 22.
• Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) by community members using permitted or unpermitted groundwater wells.
• Ingestion of contaminants in beef from cattle grazing on the station.
• Exposure of off-base military housing residents to pesticide-contaminated soil.
• Exposure of Contra Costa County Mosquito and Vector Abatement District workers to contaminants in the Litigation Area.
• Exposure to contaminants in Suisun Bay resulting from recreational activities.

The assessment is available at

The health assessment was previously made available to the public for review and comment. The final version includes the comments made by members of the public and ATSDR's responses to the comments.

For more information, community members may contact Environmental Health Scientist Sue Neurath or Community Involvement Specialist Maria Teran-MacIver, toll-free, at 1-888-422-8737. ATSDR Regional Representative Libby Vianu also may be contacted at 415-947-4319.

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. Established by Congress in 1980 under the Superfund law, ATSDR conducts public health assessments at each of the sites on the EPA National Priorities List, as well as other sites when petitioned.

##

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