The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will
hold a public availability session followed by a community meeting on Sept.
7 to discuss the findings from the public health assessment on the Bear Creek
Chemical Area site in Butler and Armstrong Counties, Pa.
The public availability session is designed to allow community members to
meet individually with ATSDR representatives to discuss concerns about potentially
site-related health issues. The session will be held at the Petrolia Volunteer
Fire Hall, 200 Argyle Street in Petrolia, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Following the public availability session, a community meeting will be held
from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The assessment findings include:
The ATSDR assessment finds that exposure of residents and trespassers
to major contaminants in surface deposit materials, including soil and sediment,
are categorized as "no apparent public health hazard." This finding
is based on available data from the Apple Road site, Hemlock Road site and
Kelly Farm site. ATSDR assigns the no apparent public health hazard category
to sites where human exposures to contaminants might be occurring, but the
exposures are not at levels likely to cause harmful health effects.
ATSDR finds that past exposure to contaminants in drinking water are
categorized as an "indeterminate health hazard." ATSDR assigns the
indeterminate health hazard category to sites where critical information is
lacking to support a judgment regarding the level of public health hazard.
At the Bear Creek site, there is limited health information about long-term
ingestion of the contaminants found at the site.
Based on available information, ATSDR finds that current exposures
from showering and bathing are categorized as no apparent public health hazard.
Therefore, residents can continue to use groundwater for these and other household
uses. However, people should continue to use bottled water for drinking and
cooking purposes.
Beginning in mid-2001, residents with contaminated water supplies received
bottled water for drinking. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
(PADEP), the lead agency involved with environmental sampling and investigation
at the site, is continuing to provide bottled water to more than 900 affected
households and businesses.
Community members seeking information about the procedures or the content
of the public health assessment may contact ATSDR Health Communication Specialist
Debra Joseph toll-free at 1-888-422-8737. ATSDR Regional Representative Sven
Rodenbeck also may be contacted at 404-498-0439. Callers should refer to the
Bear Creek site in Pennsylvania.
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.