ATSDR releases new health report for the Corpus Christi Refinery Row site, Corpus Christi, TX

Corpus Christi, Texas

Monday, August 29, 2016

ATLANTA, GA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is seeking public comment on a report released today for the Corpus Christi Refinery Row site in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, TX. The site includes approximately 10 miles of petrochemical facilities bordered by residential neighborhoods. Area residents have long been concerned about breathing chemicals released to the outdoor air from Refinery Row industrial activities.

“In our evaluation, we looked at whether the chemicals detected in outdoor air along Refinery Row are or have been at levels potentially high enough to affect the health of residents in nearby neighborhoods,” said Danielle Langmann, ATSDR Environmental Health Scientist.

ATSDR analyzed available outdoor air data ranging from 1980-2010 from three Refinery Row stationary air monitoring programs. ATSDR also analyzed outdoor air data from 24 Refinery Row-area mobile monitoring events that occurred between July 1993 and March 2008.

Following its review of over 150 chemicals detected in Refinery Row outdoor air, ATSDR concluded that exposure to certain chemicals detected in Refinery Row outdoor air could potentially harm people’s health. “Sensitive populations such as children, older adults, and those with preexisting health conditions are especially at risk,” added Langmann. ATSDR’s report also provides recommendations to protect people from harmful exposures.

To read the report visit: Corpus Christi Refinery Row

Copies of the report can also be reviewed during regular hours at:

La Retama Library
805 Comanche St.
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone: 361-826-7000

or

Owen R. Hopkins Library
3202 Mckinzie Rd.
Corpus Christi, Texas 78410
Phone: 361-826-2350

ATSDR will accept public comments on this report until October 31, 2016.

Comments on the report must be made in writing and those received during the public comment period will be addressed in the final version. Comments (without the names of persons who submitted them) and ATSDR’s responses to the comments will appear in an appendix to the final report. Names of those who submit comments will be subject to release should requests be made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

Send comments to: ATSDR RecordsCenter@cdc.gov, or mail to:

ATSDR Records Center
Attn: Rolanda Morrison
Re: Corpus Christi Refinery Row Public Health Evaluation
4770 Buford Highway, NE (MS F-09)
Atlanta, Georgia 30341

For more information about the report, community members can call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) and reference the Corpus Christi Refinery Row site or visit the ATSDR Corpus Christi webpage at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/corpuschristi/index.html.

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ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the potential for adverse human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances in the environment.

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