ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Report: Savannah River Site Contaminants in
Off-Site Water Pose No Health Threat

For Immediate Release: December 21, 2007

ATLANTA - The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has found no contamination in off-site groundwater from the Savannah River Site (SRS).  While site-related contaminants were detected in off-site surface water, they pose no health concern.  In the course of its investigation, ATSDR also found naturally occurring radium in the municipal drinking water at levels that could pose health concerns, especially for infants drinking formula and juice mixed with tap water.   In December 2006, authorities removed from service the well where radium was found.

ATSDR released the final assessment on the 310 square-mile U.S. Department of Energy-owned facility bordering the Savannah River today.

In the assessment, ATSDR looked at possible exposure since 1993 to chemical and radioactive materials transported off SRS in groundwater or surface water, or released into off-site surface water, as well as the possibility of future exposure to these materials.

Key findings include:

• ATSDR’s evaluation found no groundwater contamination from the site beyond the SRS boundary or in off-site private wells.  The agency did find on-site contamination close to the northwest boundary which could potentially affect off-site groundwater in the future. 

• ATSDR concludes that the surface water releases of tritium and other radioactive contaminants did not pose a health concern after 1993; nor do they pose a current or future health concern as long as SRS present operations continue. 

• In addition to finding naturally occurring radium in a Jackson drinking water supply well, investigators also found naturally occurring lead in the same well.  Concentrations of lead in this well were high enough to potentially cause blood lead levels in children in excess of the Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention’s level of concern.  The concentrations of lead detected in this well were below levels that would cause adverse health effects in other age groups.  The well was removed from service in December 2006. 

The final assessment can be viewed on the Internet at: http: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/pha/index.asp or at:

U.S. Department of Energy                                       
Savannah River Operations Office                            
Office of External Affairs                                          
Public Reading Room                                                
Aiken, SC, 29802                                                      

U.S. Department of Energy
Public Reading Room
471 University Parkway
Aiken, SC, 29801
Contact:  Paul Lewis

U.S. Department of Energy
Public Reading Room
U.S. DOE Southeast Power Administration
2 South Public Square
Elberton, GA 30635

Copies of the assessment can also be requested from:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
ATTN: Records Center
1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Mailstop E-60
Atlanta, Ga.  30333

Community members wanting more information may contact Health Assessor Carol Connell at 404-498-0361 or ccc8@cdc.gov.  ATSDR and CDC maintain a general toll-free number (1-800-CDC-INFO); callers to this number must reference the Savannah River Site.

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.

###

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