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ATSDR
MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR to release preliminary results of
2002 Louisiana Dioxin Study and 2001 Follow-Up Investigation
at public meetings in Westlake and Lafayette, La.
For Immediate Release: April 29, 2003
ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today announced that it will hold public meetings in Westlake and Lafayette, La., to release preliminary findings from the 2002 Louisiana Dioxin Study and the agency's 2001 Follow-Up Exposure Investigation.
ATSDR will present preliminary findings to community members at the following two public meetings:
Final results and additional analysis will be presented at public meetings held in the community in summer 2003.
2002 Louisiana Dioxin Study of Calcasieu and Lafayette Parishes
The 2002 Louisiana Dioxin Study of Calcasieu and Lafayette Parishes is an expanded exposure investigation designed to determine if residents in Calcasieu Parish have been exposed to unusual levels of dioxin and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
This investigation compared blood dioxin and VOC levels of Calcasieu Parish residents with those in Lafayette Parish. A Community Work Group comprised of 17 members representing local activist groups and residents participated in the study design and implementation.
Preliminary results show the following:
A small group of people tested in both the Calcasieu and Lafayette parishes have blood dioxin levels above comparison levels. Most of these people are over age 55. In general, dioxin builds up in the body over time. Consequently, older people tend to have more dioxin.
2001 Follow-Up Exposure Investigation
The Follow-Up Exposure Investigation (EI) focuses on questions about current and past exposures to dioxins. In November 2001, blood samples were collected from people tested in 1997 and 1998 to determine if their blood dioxin level had increased or decreased. Soil, indoor and attic dust samples (called environmental samples) also were gathered in and around the homes of the participants. Some food sources also were collected. The environmental sampling results are being used to decide if there is current exposure to dioxins in a resident's home environment.
Preliminary results show the following:
Background
In 1998, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asked ATSDR to review the 1997 results of dioxin blood tests for several residents of Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana. The test results indicated elevated levels of dioxin-like substances (dioxins) in several samples.
In response to test results and community concerns, ATSDR conducted an exposure investigation (EI) in 1998 to determine if people in Mossville were being exposed to dioxin. An exposure investigation is conducted to determine if people are coming in contact with chemicals at levels that could affect their health. Testing conducted on 28 residents found unusual levels of dioxin compounds in some of the residents' blood. In 1999, a health consultation titled the Mossville Exposure Investigation Report was released.
Dioxin-like compounds can be found at low levels in almost everyone. Ninety five percent of the dioxins in our bodies come from food sources, primarily meat, fish and dairy products. The major sources of dioxin in the environment include burning waste, pulp and paper mills, and by-products of certain chemical processes.
The dioxin study and exposure investigations were conducted to gain an understanding of the level of dioxin in residents and to determine if there was any health risk from dioxin exposure.
Addressing Health Concerns
To address health concerns of residents in the Mossville and Calcasieu parishes, ATSDR has:
In the future, ATSDR will continue to analyze dioxin data and work with state and other federal agencies to try to meet the public health needs of the people in the community. Additional health education is planned and the agency is providing information to participants and their physicians. ATSDR will continue to host meetings in the Mossville/Calcasieu area as needed to provide updates on the progress of these activities and to provide reports on the agency's findings.
Community members seeking information
on the procedures of the public availability sessions may contact Community
Involvement Representative La Freta Dalton, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737, 9:00
a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST. Regional Representative George Pettigrew also may be contacted
at 214-665-8361. Callers should refer to the Calcasieu Estuary site.
Members of the news media can request an interview by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.
This page
updated April 29, 2003
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
770-488-0700 or e-mail
(news media)
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