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ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR Releases Health Consultation
for the General Electric Facility
in Rome, Georgia
for Public Review and Comment

For Immediate Release: April 23, 2002

ATSDR prepared the health consultation in response to a request from Congressman Bob Barr to assess contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) occurring outside the boundaries of the facility.' PCBs were used in manufacturing operations at the plant from the time it opened in 1953 until PCBs were banned in 1977.' In addition, workers at the plant took home waste PCB oil (called Pyranol) for uses around their homes, and obtained PCB contaminated sludge from the waste water treatment plant for use in home gardens.

This health consultation focuses on the issue of PCB contamination in residential soil due to the application of Pyrnanol or PCB contaminated sludge on residential properties. Based on a review of available environmental data for these residential properties, ATSDR has reached the following conclusions:

• properties that currently have maximum PCB levels greater than 10 parts per million (ppm) in the soil represent a public health hazard.

• properties that have been cleaned up (remediated) to PCB levels of less than 1 ppm in the soil, but which had levels greater than 10 ppm before cleanup, posed a public health hazard in the past.

• properties with maximum PCB levels of less than 1 ppm in the soil pose no apparent public health hazard for incidental ingestion of soil.

The levels cited in these conclusions are a reference to provide scientists with a relative guide to help determine the potential health risks from PCBs in the soil.' They do not constitute limits as to when a site may be hazardous.

For areas with levels between one and ten ppm, the relative risks from PCBs in the soil are best determined by looking more closely at the specific site. However, in the case of residences evaluated in this health consultation, none were found with levels between one and ten ppm.

ATSDR has recommended that cleanup of properties with soil levels greater than 10 ppm be completed as soon as possible. Until the cleanup is completed, residents are urged to avoid areas of known contamination, and to not consume fruit or vegetables grown on the property unless the soil has been tested and found to have PCB levels less than 10 ppm. Residents who believe that PCB oils or PCB contaminated sludge may be present on their properties can call the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), toll free, at 1-888-869-1191 to have their property evaluated for sampling.

Where: The document will be available for review at the following repository:

How: This public health consultation is being published as a draft for public comment. The public comment period is intended to give members of the community an opportunity to review ATSDR's findings, ask questions, provide comments, or discuss additional information which may be pertinent to the health consultation. Following the public comment period, all comments which have been received will be reviewed and will be addressed in a final version of the document.

Please send written comments to:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch

ATSDR

1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-56
Atlanta, Georgia 30333

Background: ATSDR is a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR's mission is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment.

An ATSDR health consultation provides conclusions and recommendations on specific public health issues related to actual or potential exposure to hazardous substances. ATSDR prepares about 1,000 health consultations every year. Most of the requests come from the EPA and state and local health and environmental departments.

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged and become part of the administrative record for the health consultation. Comments (without indication of who made them) and responses will be included in an appendix to the final document. Although names of those who have submitted comments will not be included in the final health consultation, they are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.

For More Information: Community members with questions about the procedures or content of the health consultation should contact ATSDR Health Assessor Jennifer Noack, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737. Callers should refer to the "General Electric site in Rome, Georgia," when calling the toll free number. ATSDR Regional Representative Bob Safay can also be called at (404) 562-1782 in Atlanta.

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

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