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ATSDR MEDIA
ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR releases Orote (Guam) Landfill site health consultation
For Immediate Release: December 4, 2002
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today is releasing a health consultation that evaluates exposure and health concerns from chemical contamination near the Orote (Guam) Landfill.
In October 2001, ATSDR was asked by the US Navy, the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (Guam Public Health), and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) to evaluate contaminant levels detected in fish collected in an area from Orote Point at the Spanish Steps to Facpi Point and to determine if people who ate seafood from these areas would be exposed to levels of contaminants that could cause illness. Sampling of fish by the Navy in June 2001 had revealed that fish in the area contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins), metals, and pesticides. This finding prompted Guam Public Health to issue a fish and seafood advisory in September 2001.
In March 2002, ATSDR conducted a site visit to meet with local, state and federal government officials and with community members to identify community health concerns. ATSDR also evaluated all available environmental data. As a result, the agency issues the following findings and recommendations:
ATSDR's health consult on the Orote Landfill and surrounding areas will be available on or about December 4th, at these public repositories:
Nieves Flores Memorial Library, 254 Martyr Street, Hagatna, GU 96910 |
University of Guam RFK Library, Mangilao, GU 96923 |
University of Guam, Micronesia Area Research Center, MARC Learning Resources, (UOG Station), Mangilao, GU 96923 |
Community members who have comments or questions on the procedures or the content of the public health consultation should contact Health Assessor Charles Grosse, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737, or Community Involvement Specialist Maria MacIver at 1-800-422-8737, ext. 1754. Callers should refer to the Orote, Guam, site.
Members of the news media can request an interview by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.This page
updated December 3, 2002
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
770-488-0700 or e-mail
(news media)
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