What: 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 public comment version of its public health assessment for the Pasminco Clarksville Zinc Plant site in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Why: People living near the Pasminco Clarksville Zinc plant expressed concern to ATSDR about possible exposures and adverse health effects from the facility's emissions.
Previous ATSDR investigations of the site indicated an indeterminate health hazard and recommended a more thorough investigation of all available data. This public health assessment satisfies that recommendation.
The investigation for the Pasminco Clarksville Zinc Plant public health assessment was to review newly collected data to identify potential human exposures and recommend appropriate public health follow-up activities.
ATSDR reviewed all available environmental and health outcome data and concluded that the data do not suggest a serious threat to human health.
Data reviewed for this and previous documents indicate that environmental media (air, soil and dust) may contain chemical contamination, but below levels that have been associated with serious adverse health effects. Sensitive residents, or those with respiratory illness, such as asthma or emphysema, should avoid prolonged outside activity on days with poor air quality.
When: The public health assessment for the Pasminco Clarksville Zinc Plant site is available for public review and comment from November 30 to December 31, 2001.
Where: During the public comment period, the Pasminco Clarksville Zinc Plant public health assessment will be available for public review at the following repository:
Montgomery County Public Library
Reference Section
350 Pageant Lane
Clarksville, TN
Written comments to the public health assessment should be sent to:
Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-56
Atlanta, GA 30333
Comments received during the public comment period will be logged and become part of the administrative record for the health assessment. 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 assessment, they are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.
Background: ATSDR public health assessments report information about hazardous substances in the environment and evaluate whether exposure to those substances in the past, present or future could harm people in the area.
They identify health studies or other activities that might be needed and make recommendations to other government agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state and local health and environmental departments, concerning actions to protect public health.
For More Information: Community members seeking information about the procedures or the content of this public health assessment should contact ATSDR Environmental Health Scientist Jennifer Noack, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Pasminco Clarksville Zinc Plant." ATSDR Regional Representative Carl Blair in Atlanta also may be called for information at (404) 562-1786.