Calcasieu Parish residents have levels of dioxin in their blood similar to those found in people nationally, says a new study by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

A second ATSDR investigation focused on Mossville residents tested for dioxin exposure in 1997 and 1998. They were retested in 2001 to determine if their blood dioxin levels changed over time.

The full results of both studies will be presented March 15 at the Lake Charles Civic Center, Contraband Room, 900 Lakeshore Drive, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Representatives from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality also will be present.

The parish-wide exposure study sought to determine the amount of dioxin in people’s bodies by analyzing their blood samples. For comparison, ATSDR conducted the same study in Lafayette Parish.

Among the findings of the Calcasieu Parish-wide study:

• Calcasieu residents have similar blood dioxin levels to people in Lafayette Parish, the comparison population for the study.
• Residents of Calcasieu and Lafayette Parishes have blood dioxin levels similar to estimates for the U.S. population.
• Blood dioxin levels were not elevated among the youngest age group evaluated (ages 15 to 29 years) in either Calcasieu or Lafayette Parishes. This indicates no unusual current dioxin exposure to people in those parishes.

The Mossville follow-up exposure investigation showed:

• Blood dioxin levels decreased in most participants between their initial and follow-up dioxin testing
• Older participants had elevated blood dioxin levels compared to the U.S. population. The small elevation is not expected to result in illness.
• The elevated blood dioxin levels in older participants likely are from historical exposures. Data indicates currently there is no unusual exposure to dioxin.

Health effects from exposure to dioxin in the environment are not well understood. Research is underway to determine how different levels of dioxin affect the human body.

Most information about dioxin-related illness is from exposure to high levels in the workplace. The level of dioxin to which a worker might be exposed is significantly greater than the amount the public might be exposed to in the environment.

Limited environmental sampling in Calcasieu Parish of some participants’ well water, soil, indoor dust and locally raised fruits, vegetables and nuts did not reveal dioxin levels of health concern.

However, some fish caught locally did have dioxin concentrations at levels of concern. ATSDR recommends parish residents follow the state’s fish consumption guidelines.

“Dioxin” is the generic name for a group of chemicals including both polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. Dioxin in very small amounts is found almost everywhere in the environment.

Dioxin is made and released into the environment mostly from burning fuels, wood and waste. For example, small amounts of dioxin are found in truck and car exhaust, and in cigarette smoke. Other common sources are wastes from factories making chlorinated phenols, and the chlorine bleaching process used at pulp and paper mills.

In the environment, dioxin does not easily break down. Dioxin tends to stick tightly to soils and sediment where it can stay for a long time.