ATSDR - Beryllium Exposure Investigation in Elmore, Ohio

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ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR Seeks Community Input on Protocol for
Beryllium Exposure Investigation in Elmore, Ohio

For Immediate Release: June 30, 2003

Public Meeting To Be Held July 14, 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, has made available for public comment the draft protocol for an exposure investigation to be conducted in Elmore, Ohio. The public comment period will run from July 15 to
August 15.

A public meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 14, 2003. At the meeting ATSDR representatives will provide further information about the exposure investigation and will answer questions from community members present. The meeting will be held at:

Elmore Community Center
410 Clinton St.
Elmore, Ohio 43416

The protocol will outline the process for collecting samples to be gathered as part of an exposure investigation to determine levels of beryllium in homes and areas near the Brush Wellman Plant. The facility produces beryllium and products containing beryllium. Exposure to beryllium dust in the workplace is linked to a serious lung disease.

ATSDR is conducting the investigation to determine whether higher-than-background exposures to beryllium may be occurring in the community. The agency completed a health consultation regarding this site last year and determined that an exposure investigation was necessary to assess the level of beryllium present in the homes and vehicles of those who work or live near the Brush Wellman facility.

The health consultation also found that beryllium emissions from the plant are below levels expected to cause adverse health effects and do not pose a public health hazard.

Because the investigation will require that samples be taken from properties around the site, ATSDR is seeking input on the protocol from the local community. The draft Exposure Investigation Workplan (protocol) will be available on July 8 for public review and comment at the following repository:

Harris-Elmore Public Library
238 Toledo St.
Elmore, Ohio 43416

The public comment period will run from July 15 through August 15. Comments must be made in writing and sent to:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, N.E.
Mailstop E-60
Atlanta, GA 30333

Comments received, without the names of individuals who submitted them, and ATSDR's response to the comments will appear in an appendix to the final exposure investigation protocol. Names of those who submit comments, however, will be subject to release for requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of this draft protocol should contact ATSDR Health Assessor Peter Kowalski or Community Involvement Specialist Loretta Bush in Atlanta toll-free at 1-888-422-8737 or call ATSDR Regional Representative Clayton Koher in Chicago at 312-353-6086. Callers should reference the Brush Wellman exposure investigation protocol.

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Members of the news media may request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling Elaine McEachern or Petro Kacur in the ATSDR Office of Policy and External Affairs at 770-488-0700.

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This page updated July 2, 2003
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
770-488-0700 or e-mail (news media)