What: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), today announced the release of its public health consultation for the Defense Supply Center (DSCR) site in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

ATSDR prepared the health consultation in response to a request from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality after environmental contaminants were found in surface water at and near DSCR.

ATSDR previously completed a public health assessment for the site, which was formerly known at the Defense General Supply Center, on April 21, 1993 and concluded the site posed no apparent public health hazard at that time.

For this health consultation, ATSDR evaluated available data and community health concerns related to surface water contamination. The following is a brief summary of ATSDR's conclusions:

-evaluation of the data does not indicate a current health hazard from exposure to surface water

-surface water sampling of No Name and Kingsland Creeks detected several contaminants which were above the comparison values which ATSDR uses to determine the need for further evaluation. However, after further evaluation, ATSDR determined that none of the substances were at levels which might present a health risk. Neither creek is used for drinking water, and any exposure to water from the creeks would be short-term-either through incidental ingestion or skin contact. Therefore, no adverse health effects are expected from exposure to water from the creeks.

If future groundwater monitoring results on the installation indicate that concentrations of contaminants are increasing, then ATSDR recommends periodic monitoring of No Name and Kingsland Creeks. Also, if any problems occur with the groundwater treatment system which might allow untreated water to reach the creeks, then ATSDR would recommend surface water sampling.

When: The document will be available to the public on or about April 10, 2002.

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

Defense Supply Center -- Richmond
Environmental Office
Chesterfield County, Virginia

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.

For More Information: Community members with questions about the procedures or content of the health consultation should contact ATSDR Health Assessor Katherine Hanks or Health Communications Specialist Dawn O'Connor, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737).