ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Releases Report about Current, Future Chemical Exposure
Near Oak Ridge Reservation

Public may comment on the public health assessment through November 18

For Immediate Release: October 5, 2005

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently released its public health assessment about current and future exposures to off-site chemicals near the Oak Ridge Reservation. The assessment is available for public comment and review through Nov. 18.

ATSDR evaluated current environmental data (1990-2003) to determine if the chemicals found off-site need further assessment. Records reviewed included off-site air, soil, sediment, surface water, vegetation and fish samples; all analyzed for more than 300 chemicals. ATSDR concluded that the chemicals detected (individually or in combination) in the environment near the Oak Ridge Reservation do not pose a public health hazard.

To address the concern of Scarboro residents, ATSDR screened and evaluated environmental data previously collected by the Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University and the US Environmental Protection Agency. None of the samples collected from the Scarboro community contained chemicals at levels that are a public health hazard.

ATSDR also looked at dioxins in fish, but cannot determine if there is an association between health hazards and eating fish from Clinch River. This is because limited dioxin data are available for fish. ATSDR recommends residents follow the state's current fish advisories to reduce exposure to contaminants in fish.

Although none of the estimated exposure doses for the chemicals screened in this assessment were found at levels associated with health effects, ATSDR is conducting separate evaluations for additional chemical and radiological substances. The additional assessments include iodine 131, mercury releases from the Y-12 plant, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), uranium and fluoride releases from the K-25 complex, off-site groundwater, radiological releases from the White Oak Creek and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) incinerator.

Public health assessments on Y-12 uranium releases, radiological releases from White Oak Creek, and TSCA incinerator are available on the ATSDR web site for the Oak Ridge Reservation at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/oakridge.

"Evaluation of Current (1990 to 2003) and Future Chemical Exposures in the Vicinity of the Oak Ridge Reservation" will be available for public comment and review through Nov. 18. The public comment period is an opportunity for residents to review and comment on agency findings or proposed activities noted in the assessment. The assessment can be viewed online at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA or at:

Please send requests for copies of the public health assessment and comments concerning the document to:

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged into the ATSDR administrative record. All comments that are received along with ATSDR responses will appear in an appendix to the final version of the report. The names of individuals and groups who submit comments will not appear in the report. However, the names will be subject to release for requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

The Oak Ridge Field Office is now closed. Members of the community who have questions about this public health assessment or ATSDR activities at the Oak Ridge Reservation may contact the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee Designated Federal Official, Marilyn Palmer Horton; toll free at 1-888-422-8737 or
404-498-1751.

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.

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