ATSDR MEDIA
ANNOUNCEMENT Health Consultation Released
Today by ATSDR Says Hydrogen Sulfide Could Pose a Threat
to the Health of Warren Township Residents
For Immediate Release: September 17, 2002
In a health consultation released
today, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) concludes
that hydrogen sulfide levels in ambient (outdoor) air in Warren Township (Ohio) community could pose a health threat
to local residents and children. This conclusion is based on air data collected
in May and June 2002, and some 60 interviews with residents at a public availability
session Tuesday, August 6, 2002.
Health
concerns reported by residents consistently included headaches, nausea,
vomiting, conjunctivitis ("pink eye"), fatigue and
weight loss. Scientific data document that these symptoms can be caused by
hydrogen sulfide exposure. ATSDR determined that hydrogen sulfide levels
reported in Warren Township could potentially result in many of
these symptoms. The levels of hydrogen sulfide reported in the community are not
at levels that could cause permanent injury or serious harm, but could cause
discomfort and short-term illnesses, like those previously mentioned.
Elevated
hydrogen sulfide levels in outdoor air are likely caused by industrial sources,
such as the Warren Recycling facility on Martin Luther King Blvd. Construction
and demolition debris in landfills can produce hydrogen sulfide gas through the
breakdown of waste materials, such as gypsum wallboard. ATSDR and local
authorities have not identified all possible industrial sources of hydrogen
sulfide in the area.
Hydrogen sulfide
can also be occur naturally in groundwater and may be present in local drinking
water wells. Hydrogen sulfide gas in residential well water is more likely to
affect indoor air rather than outdoor air. Hydrogen sulfide may also be formed
by sulfur bacteria that can occur naturally in water. These bacteria use the
sulfur in decaying plants, rocks or soil as their food, and they produce hydrogen
sulfide as a by-product. In Ohio, geologic deposits of sulfur are usually
in the same places as oil and gas deposits, as well as in coal deposits.
The
identification of these sources and their contribution to exposure to both
adults and children warrants further investigation.
ATSDR is
recommending the following follow-up activities:
Collect and evaluate additional outdoor air data.
Collect and evaluate indoor
air samples from homes both near the landfill and away from the landfill.
Collect and evaluate groundwater from homes using private wells.
Install hydrogen sulfide alarms in Leavitt Elementary and LaBrae High Schools.
ATSDR is currently working with federal, state and local
agencies to address local residents' health concerns. A multi-agency team has
been assembled to determine the next steps to further assess hydrogen sulfide
exposure and to protect the health of the public.
ATSDR's public health consultation will be available for
public review at the following repository(s) on or about
Wednesday, September 18, 2002.
For more information about the health consultation, community
members may contact Lynn Wilder or Michelle Colledge, toll
free, at 1-888-422-8237. Callers should refer to the Warren Township site when requesting assistance.ATSDR is a federal public health agency under the Department
of Health and Human Services.
Editors:A fact sheet
is available on this topic.If you want a copy sent to you please e-mail us at atsdrmediainquiries@cdc.gov or call
770-488-0700.
This page
last updated on September 19, 2002
For more information, contact ATSDR at: 1-888-422-8737 or e-mail: atsdric@cdc.gov
(public
inquiries)
770-488-0700 or e-mail
(news media)
