ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

Resident Fish in Portland Harbor Contain Pollutants

Public may comment on the health assessment through September 15

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2005

ATLANTA - A report released by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) advises people to avoid eating resident fish caught in Portland Harbor, such as carp, bass, and bullhead catfish, because it could lead to health problems.

The ODHS, under a cooperative agreement with ATSDR, has evaluated health risks associated with eating fish from the Portland Harbor. The results were included in the recently released public health assessment. The ODHS worked with other agencies to collect fish tissue samples to determine which contaminants were present and at what levels. The report concludes :

• People should avoid eating resident fish caught in Portland Harbor, such as carp, bass and bullhead catfish
• The primary pollutants of concern found in resident fish were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are most harmful to the developing fetus and infants. Other contaminants found include dioxins, furans, arsenic, methyl mercury and persistent pesticides like DDT.
• Eating migratory fish, such as salmon and steelhead, from Portland Harbor, is not likely to result in adverse health effects.

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 is available for public review and comment through September 15, 2005.

The public health assessment can be viewed at:

Portland Central Library
801 SW 10^th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205
503-988-5123

St. John's Public Library
7510 N. Charleston Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97203
503-988-5123

Comments on the public health assessment must be made in writing. Mail comments to

Records Center, ATSDR
ATTN: Portland Harbor Superfund Site
1600 Clifton Road, N.E. (MS E-60)
Atlanta, GA 30333

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged in to ATSDR's administrative record for the assessment. Comments received, without the names of individuals who submitted them, and ATSDR's responses to the comments will appear in an appendix to the final public health assessment. Names of those who submit comments, however, will be subject to release to requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

For more information, community members can contact ATSDR Senior Environmental Health Scientist Greg Ulirsch toll-free, at 1-888-422-8737, or ODHS program coordinator Amanda Guay at 503-731-4025. Callers should refer to the Portland Harbor Superfund site. Regional Representative Karen Larson can also be contacted at 206-553-6978.

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. The agency also determines how hazardous a site is and recommends actions that need to be taken to safeguard people's health. Established by Congress in 1980 under the Superfund law, ATSDR conducts public health assessments and consultations at each of the sites on the EPA National Priorities List, as well as other sites when petitioned.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, ATSDR is staffed by more than 400 health professionals including environmental health scientists, 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 ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.