What: 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 its draft public health consultation "Evaluating Dose Measurements of Gamma Radiation for Residents near the Stauffer Chemical Company Superfund Site and Vicinity Properties Tarpon Springs and Holiday, Florida."

The document is a draft for public comment and reviews individual gamma radiation dose measurements for participants in a study conducted in 1999 by the Pinellas County Health Dept.

ATSDR reviewed the Pinellas County data as a follow-up toATSDR's 1999 public health assessment addendum forthe Stauffer Chemical site and as part of a draft public health response plan for the site released in June 2001.

At their request, people living near the Stauffer plant who were concerned about the possibility of phosphorus slag from the plant emitting harmful levels of radiation had their individual exposure to gamma radiation measured with a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD). The study participants wore the TLD's all day for a 30-day period. From 1947 to 1981, phosphorus slag from the Stauffer plant was used as a construction material in nearby roads, buildings, driveways and homes.

ATSDR concluded that the combined gamma radiation doses from homes and pavement with phosphorus slag measured for residents near the former Stauffer chemical plant are consistent with background levels and do not pose a health risk to the community. One study participant's dose level exceeded background level, though not at a level of health concern. As a precaution, ATSDR recommends that Pinellas County or the state of Florida remeasure the participant's exposure and perform a radiation survey at the participant's residence.

Public Comment Period: The draft public health consultation will be available for public review and comment on or about January 16, 2002.   The public comment period for the health consultation ends on February 15, 2002.

Repository copies of the document are available for public review at:

The Tarpon Springs Library
38 E. Lemon Street
Tarpon Springs, FL.

Written comments about the health consultation should be sent to:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-56
Atlanta, Georgia 30333

Open-House Meetings: Open-house meetings for Pinellas and Pasco County residents interested in ATSDR's health consultation will be held:

These open-house meetings are not intended to be large-scale meetings. Instead, community members may drop in at any time to discuss the health consultation with ATSDR staff.

Background: ATSDR's mission is to prevent adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life from exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment.

Public health assessments and health consultations 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 other public health 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.

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

For More Information: Community members seeking information on the procedures or content of the health consultation should contact ATSDR Health Physicist Michael Brooks, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Stauffer Chemical Co. site." ATSDR Regional Representative Carl Blair in Atlanta also may be called for information at (404) 562-1786.