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ATSDR MEDIA
ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR Releases Final
Public Health Assessment for
the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky
For Immediate Release: June 10, 2002
What: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today announced the release of the final Public Health Assessment for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site in Paducah, Kentucky.
Following an evaluation of available relevant information, ATSDR concluded that, under existing conditions and normal operations, this site poses no apparent public health hazard for the surrounding community from current (1990-present) exposures to groundwater, surface water, soil and sediment, biota, or air. No apparent public health hazard means that people might be exposed to contaminated environmental media (e.g., air, water, soil) near the site, but this exposure is not expected to cause any adverse health effects.
ATSDR determined that a future urgent public health hazard could result from the rupture or destruction of one, or more, depleted uranium cylinders during a transportation accident involving fire, a plane crash, severe weather, or other natural disaster. Although such incidents are unlikely, they must be recognized as possible.
ATSDR determined that historical groundwater exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) and lead is a public health hazard for children who routinely drink water from any of four residential wells.
ATSDR determined that past and potential future exposures to vinyl chloride from groundwater, and uranium and hydrogen fluoride from acute air exposures, are an indeterminate public health hazard, because existing information is insufficient to make any other determination. However, ATSDR concluded that past long-term (chronic) exposures to airborne uranium and hydrogen fluoride were below levels of public health concern.
Among ATSDR's recommendations included in the public health assessment are the following:
Where: The public health assessment is available for public review at the following repositories:
McCracken County Library 555 Washington Street Paducah, Kentucky |
Library Paducah Community College Paducah, Kentucky |
Waterfield Library Murray State University Murray, Kentucky |
Metropolis Public Library 317 Metropolis Street Metropolis, Illinois |
Paducah Environmental Information Center 115 Memorial Drive Paducah, Kentucky |
Requests for a copy of the public health assessment should be sent to the following address:
Chief Program Evaluation, Records and
Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, NE (MS E-60)
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Background: ATSDR public health assessments report information about hazardous substances in the environment and evaluate whether exposure to those substances in the past, present or future could be harmful to people in the area. They identify health studies or other activities that might be needed and make recommendations to other
government agencies, such as the US Environmental Protection Agency and state and local health and environmental departments, regarding actions to protect public health.
For More Information:Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of the public health assessment should contact Carol Connell, ATSDR health assessor, toll free, at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
Members of the news media can request an interview by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.
Back to On-Line Media Home Page
This page last updated on July 11, 2002
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
770-488-0700 or e-mail: atsdmediainquiries@cdc.gov (news media)
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