Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Search  |  Index  |  Home  |  Glossary  |  Contact Us  
 

ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

Workers at the former National Gypsum Company Were Exposed to Low Levels of Asbestos in 1970s


For Immediate Release: May 15, 2006

ATLANTA –Workers at the former National Gypsum Company in Long Beach, Calif., were exposed to low levels of asbestos between 1970 and 1977, says a public health consultation from the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The agency report shows current workers at the plant are not at risk from asbestos exposure.

Those who lived with workers between 1970 and 1977 also might have been exposed to asbestos. Workers may have carried home asbestos fibers on their hair and clothing. The degree to which household members might have been exposed cannot be determined.

During those years, the facility, located at 1850 Pier B St., added vermiculite mined in Libby, Mont., with gypsum about once a week to produce fire-resistant wallboard. The vermiculite from Libby contained asbestos. ATSDR has linked some exposures to Libby vermiculite to respiratory illnesses.

CDHS and ATSDR recommend that former workers and household members take specific steps to protect their health and improve quality of life:

In 1993, new owners purchased the assets of the old National Gypsum Company including the company name and took over operation of the Long Beach facility. Current workers at the facility are not at risk from Libby vermiculite. Tests of the dust and air at the facility in 2000 did not find asbestos that came from Libby. However, the tests found trace amounts of a different type of asbestos in the soil and dust not associated with Libby. CDHS and ATSDR have recommended that the current owners of the facility take action to deal with the asbestos found in the soil and dust. Air testing inside the facility did not detect any asbestos.

During National Gypsum’s operations between 1970 and 1977, dust and asbestos fibers may have been released into the air within a few blocks of the facility. CDHS reviewed cancer records and death certificate information in the neighborhood near the facility to see if asbestos-related cancers and deaths might be higher than expected. The review did not find that the number of cancer illnesses and deaths associated with asbestos exposure were higher than expected.

The public health consultation is available for review at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, 1325 E. Anaheim St. in Long Beach. An electronic copy is available online at the Web site: http://ehib.org/cma/project.jsp?mode=Internet&project_key=NGYP01 .

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of fibers that are invisible to the naked eye. If inhaled, asbestos fibers can remain in the lungs for a lifetime. In some cases, this can cause illness and even death from lung disease. Most people don’t show any signs or symptoms of disease until 10 to 20 years or more after exposure.

For more information about the National Gypsum Company health consultation, community members can contact ATSDR Communication Specialist Maria Teran-MacIver, toll-free, at 1-888-422-8737. Community members can also contact Rubi Orozco, CDHS, at 510-620-3671 or at rorozco1@dhs.ca.gov. Callers should refer to the National Gypsum Company in Long Beach, Ca.

For more information on asbestos exposure and health, go to the ATSDR Web site: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/. ATSDR is a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and evaluates the human health effects from exposure to hazardous substances.
 

###

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


Back to ATSDR Home page

Updated May 15, 2006
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
770-488-0700 or e-mail (news media)


ATSDR Home  |  Search  |  Index  |  Glossary  |  Contact Us
About ATSDR  |  News Archive  |  ToxFAQs  |  Public Health Assessments
Privacy Policy  |  External Links Disclaimer  |  Accessibility
US Department of Health and Human Services