ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR: Arden, NC Residents Safe from Chemicals at Blue Ridge Plating Site

Agency Releases Final Report

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2007

ATLANTA – People living near the Blue Ridge Plating site in Arden, NC, are not at risk for health effects because they do not come in contact with site-related chemicals, says a report released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The report recommends, however, that individuals stay off the property to eliminate any chance of exposure.

The report, called a public health assessment, includes ATSDR findings as well as recommendations to prevent exposure to chemicals at the site. This final version includes comments received from the public and ATSDR’s responses to these comments.

The Blue Ridge Plating site is an active electroplating and metal finishing facility. Activities at the site involve the use of zinc, cadmium, chromium, tin, copper, cyanide and black oxide.

ATSDR used available data to determine if exposures to contaminants in surface soil, dry sediment and surface water could cause a health hazard. Specific findings include:

• Chemicals detected in surface soil and dry sediment do not occur at levels high enough to pose a health hazard to trespassers who access the site.

• Exposure to chemicals in surface water from creeks, ponds, ditches and wetland areas do not pose health hazard to trespassers.

• The chemicals found in surface water collected from Lake Julian occur at levels lower than those associated with a health risk. Therefore, contact with surface water from Lake Julian does not pose a public health hazard.

The report can be viewed at:

Buncombe/Skyland Library                                      
260 Overlook Road                           
Asheville, NC                                           

Members of the community who have questions about this health consultation may contact Environmental Health Scientist Annmarie DePasquale at 404-498-0454 or adepasquale@cdc.gov; or Health Communication Specialist Januett Smith-George at 404-498-1755 or JSmithGeorge@cdc.gov.

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