ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Public Health Assessment Finds No Health Hazard
From Contaminants at Naval Air Station Jacksonville

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2005

ATLANTA - A final report released by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) says that past practices at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Fla., resulted in the release of contaminants into the environment but not at locations or levels harmful to human health.

The report, however, cautions NAS Jacksonville residents to follow Navy catch-and-release and no-swimming restrictions at all lakes and ponds on the station. ATSDR also recommended residents heed Navy signs restricting access to certain areas.

In response to comments received during the health assessment's public comment period, ATSDR has added the following recommendation:

• Although evidence suggests that contaminants from NAS Jacksonville are not affecting the private wells located south of the base, because of the uncertainty and unpredictability of hydrogeology, ATSDR recommends monitoring these private wells periodically (either annually or every 2 years) to ensure that water in these wells remains safe to drink.

ATSDR environmental health scientists looked for evidence of contaminants in groundwater, surface soil, surface water and sediment, and fish and shellfish at the station. Discovered contaminants were not expected to cause illness because their levels were too low or they were in areas not accessible to residents.

The ATSDR public health assessment can be viewed at Webb West Connett Public Library, 6887 103rd St., Jacksonville.

For more information, community members can contact Environmental Health Scientist Katherine Hanks toll-free at 1-888-422-8737. Senior Regional Representative Bob Safay also may be contacted at 404-562-1782.

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.

Headquartered in Atlanta, ATSDR is staffed by more than 400 health professionals including epidemiologists, physicians, toxicologists, engineers and public health educators.

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