ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

Local Dioxin Levels Match National Average

For Immediate Release: May 2, 2006

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has released its studies of blood dioxin levels in Calcasieu Parish and Mossville. The parish-wide study showed that Calcasieu residents have blood dioxin levels similar to those found in people nationally. The Mossville follow-up exposure investigation on a group of 22 residents with high exposures found elevated dioxin levels in participants ages 45 and older while participants younger than 45 had normal levels.

In March 2006, the federal public health agency presented results of the exposure investigation [PDF, 1.5 MB], and the parish-wide study in Lafayette and Lake Charles. Representatives from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality also attended the meetings to answer questions and hear community concerns.

The parish-wide exposure study determined the amount of dioxin in people’s bodies by analyzing their blood samples. For comparison, ATSDR conducted the same study in Lafayette Parish.

Among the findings of the Calcasieu Parish study:

• Calcasieu Parish residents have blood dioxin levels similar to people in Lafayette Parish, the comparison population for the study.
• Eighty-nine percent of the residents tested in Calcasieu and Lafayette Parishes ages 68 years and below have blood dioxin levels similar to U.S. population estimates. Eleven percent of residents over the age of 68 have blood dioxin levels higher than U.S. population estimates.
• Blood dioxin levels were about half the national average among the youngest age group evaluated (ages 15 to 29) in either Calcasieu or Lafayette Parishes. Blood dioxin levels decreased as age and length of time living in the parish decreased. These findings indicate no unusual current dioxin exposure to people in those parishes.

The Mossville follow-up dioxin exposure investigation showed:

• Blood dioxin levels decreased in most participants between initial and follow-up testing.
• Older participants had elevated blood dioxin levels compared to the U.S. population. This elevation is not expected to result in illness.
• The elevated blood dioxin levels in older participants are likely from past exposures. Data indicate that currently there is no unusual exposure to dioxin.

Limited environmental sampling in Calcasieu Parish of some participants’ well water, soil, indoor dust and locally raised fruits, vegetables and nuts did not reveal dioxin levels of health concern. However, some fish caught locally did have dioxin concentrations at levels of concern. ATSDR recommends parish residents follow the state’s fishing advisories.

Health effects from exposure to low levels of dioxin in the environment are not well understood. Research is underway to determine how different levels of dioxin affect the human body.

Most information about dioxin-related illness is from exposure to high levels in the workplace. The level of dioxin to which a worker might be exposed is significantly greater than the amount the public might be exposed to in the environment.

“Dioxin” is the generic name for a group of chemicals including both polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. Dioxin in very small amounts is found almost everywhere in the environment.

A copy of the study can be viewed at these locations:

Sulphur Regional Library
1160 Cypress Street,
Lake Charles, La.

Calcasieu Parish Library – Central
301 West Claude Street
Sulphur, La.

Westlake Library
937 Mulberry St
Westlake, La.

Lafayette Public Libraries
309 Cora St
Lafayette, La.

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 with ATSDR staff by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.