At a public meeting on May 25, 2005, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will present the findings of its public health assessment for the Norlite Corporation site in Cohoes, N.Y.

The meeting will be held 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Cohoes Senior Citizen Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza, Cohoes.

Among ATSDR's conclusions about the Norlite Corporation site

• Not enough data exist to determine if inhalation of airborne dust from Norlite is a current health hazard. Accordingly, ATSDR considers inhalation of dust from Norlite an indeterminate health hazard. The limited data available suggest that exposure to Norlite dust is unlikely to cause acute illnesses.
  
  
• Incidental contact with Salt Kill Creek water and sediments poses no apparent public health hazard.
  
  
• On the basis of computer modeling, ground-level concentrations of Norlite stack emissions pose no apparent health hazard to local residents.
  
  

ATSDR recommends collection and analysis of air samples to characterize the size and concentration of particulate-bound metals coming from Norlite into residential areas. These results should be evaluated to characterize potential exposure to residents.

ATSDR also recommends that Norlite continue its dust reduction activities and look for additional ways to control dust migration off its property.

The ATSDR public health assessment report is released for public review and comment. The public comment period runs through June 30, 2005.

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged in to ATSDR's administrative record for the health assessment. Comments received, without the names of individuals who submitted them, and ATSDR's responses to the comments will appear in an appendix to the final public health assessment. Names of those who submit comments, however, will be subject to release to requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

For more information, community members can contact Environmental Health Scientist Betty Willis or Community Involvement Specialist Loretta Bush toll-free at 1-888-422-8737. Senior Regional Representative Arthur Block also may be contacted at 212-637-4307.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. Established by Congress in 1980 under the Superfund law, ATSDR conducts public health assessments at each of the sites on the EPA National Priorities List, as well as other sites when petitioned.

Headquartered in Atlanta, ATSDR is staffed by more than 400 health professionals including epidemiologists, physicians, toxicologists, engineers and public health educators.