Exposures to PCBs a public health hazard in Anniston, Ala

Calhoun County, Anniston, Alabama

Thursday, July 31, 2003

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today released a final health consultation that investigated public health concerns associated with environmental contaminants in an area of west Anniston, Ala.

The health consultation finds that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in some residential soils present a public health hazard. Additionally, ATSDR concludes that many people in the Anniston area have elevated levels of PCB in their blood. Of 2,712 blood samples reviewed, approximately half had detectable levels of PCBs.

ATSDR recommends that sampling of properties for PCB contamination continue and that rapid clean-up efforts should be continued where needed. Also, ATSDR recommends that health education be conducted to aid the community's understanding of health effects related to PCB exposure and to provide information for exposure prevention.

ATSDR, in consultation with community residents and in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Public Health and Calhoun County Health Department, has proposed to implement a multifaceted health study including a multiyear epidemiologic investigation and a needs assessment of access to health care services in Anniston.

The public health consultation will be available for public review at the following repositories:

Anniston Public Library
108 East 10th St.
Anniston, Ala.

Community Against Pollution
Headquarters
1012 West 15th Street
Anniston, Ala.

Carver Library
722 West 14th St.
Anniston, Ala.

Sweet Valley/Cobbtown Environmental
Justice Task Force
7733 Highway 78 West
Eastaboga, Ala.

Bethel Baptist Church
520 E. 6th St.
Anniston, Ala.

First Missionary Baptist Church
1100 Pine Grove Road
Anniston, Ala.

Mars Hill Baptist Church
1508 W. 6th St.
Anniston, Ala.

Seventeenth Street Baptist Church
801 W. 17th St.
Anniston, Ala.

EPA Community Relations Office
1514 West 10th St.
Anniston, Ala.

Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of the public health assessment may contact Clem Welsh, environmental health scientist, or PerStephanie Thompson, community involvement specialist, toll free at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Bob Safay also may be contacted at 404-562-1782. Callers should refer to the Anniston PCB site in Anniston, Ala.

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Related News Releases For Calhoun County, Anniston, Alabama

 

ATSDR to Host Public Availability Session October 16, 2006 to Update Anniston Residents on Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure
Release Date: Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will hold a public availability session to provide updated information regarding polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels in 40 adults who lived near the Solutia PCB facility in Anniston, Ala. The meeting will take place Tuesday October 16, 2006 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Anniston Meeting Center located at 1615 Noble St. (corner of Noble and 17th Street).

ATSDR Releases Final Public Health Consultation On Air Sampling Results for PCBs Around Solutia Inc. Property in Anniston, Ala.
Release Date: Thursday, January 08, 2004
The final public health consultation on exposure to PCBs via inhalation at the Anniston PCB site in Anniston, Ala., has been issued by ATSDR. On the basis of lack of data, the agency has categorized the Anniston PCB site as an indeterminate public health hazard.

Public Health Consultation issued on Lead Activities in Anniston, Ala
Release Date: Thursday, June 26, 2003
Final public health consultation finds that average blood lead levels for children tested in Anniston, Alabama are below national averages.

Public comment period extended on Anniston, Ala., health consultations
Release Date: Friday, April 25, 2003
ATSDR is extending the public comment periodon two public health consultations about Anniston, Ala., through May 12, 2003. The documents are the Anniston PCB Air Sampling Review and the Summary of Recent Work on Children's Blood Lead Levels.

ATSDR releases for public comment its public health consultation on lead activities in Anniston, Ala
Release Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2003
ATSDR released the public comment version of its public health consultation that reviews childhood lead levels in Anniston, Ala. The evidence indicates that average blood lead levels in children tested were below Alabama and national averages. Some children, however, are being exposed to lead. ATSDR recommends continued blood testing programs and activities by parents and the community to prevent exposure. Written public comments are invited through March 21, 2003.

ATSDR releases for public comment its public health consultation on air sampling results for PCBs around Solutia Inc. property in Anniston, Ala.
Release Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2003
ATSDR recently released the public comment version of its public health consultation on air sampling for PCBs around the Solutia Inc. property in Anniston, Ala. Written comments from the public will be accepted by ATSDR until March 21, 2003.

ATSDR Releases Childhood Blood Lead Screening Report for Anniston, Alabama
Release Date: Friday, February 01, 2002
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, conducted a targeted blood screening program for children under the age of six attending selected schools around Anniston. ATSDR is releasing the final report, which summarizes results of the screening program.

ATSDR Releases Exposure Investigation Report for the Anniston, Alabama, PCB site
Release Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2001
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the release of the final version of its Exposure Investigation report for the PCB site in Anniston, Alabama. The report was released in November 2000 as a draft for public comment.

ATSDR Releases Exposure Investigation Report For The Anniston, Alabama, PCB Site
Release Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2001
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the release of the final version of its Exposure Investigation report for the PCB site in Anniston, Alabama. The report was released in November 2000 as a draft for public comment.

ATSDR Releases Public Health Assessment For Anniston PCB Site
Release Date: Friday, May 25, 2001
ATSDR announced today the release of a public health assessment for the Anniston PCB Site (also known as the Monsanto Company or Solutia Inc., site) in Anniston, Alabama.

ATSDR Releases Its Exposure Investigation Report For The PCB Site In Anniston, Alabama
Release Date: Friday, November 17, 2000
ATSDR announced today the release of its Exposure Investigation report for thePCB site in Anniston, Alabama, for public review and comment. The report is being reissued as a draft for public comment at the request of members of the community who expressed interest in reviewing the document prior to its publication as a final report.

ATSDR Releases Health Consultation For Lead In Soil
Release Date: Monday, August 07, 2000
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today that its health consultation evaluating lead in soil at residences in west Anniston, Alabama, will be available for public review and comment beginning August 7, 2000.

ATSDR Announces release of it's Health Consultation for the PCB site in West Anniston
Release Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2000
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the release of its health consultation for the PCB site in west Anniston, Alabama, for public review and comment.

ATSDR Announces Community Meeting For The West Anniston PCB Site
Release Date: Monday, February 14, 2000
The Agency for Toxic Substances andDisease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will hold a community meeting in Anniston, Alabama, to discuss health issues related to the PCB site in west Anniston.

ATSDR Releases Monsanto/Solutia Health Assessment For Public Review And Comment
Release Date: Friday, December 10, 1999
ATSDR announced today the release of the draft results of the public health assessment for the Solutia, Inc., site (also known at the Monsanto site) in Anniston, Alabama. The public health assessment was prepared by the Alabama Department of Public Health under a cooperative agreement with ATSDR.

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