The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will hold two public information sessions on July 13, 2004, about the River Terrace community site in Washington, D.C.

The sessions are from 4:00-6 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the River Terrace Elementary School, 420 E. 34th St. NE, Washington, D.C. The same information will be presented at both sessions.

ATSDR previously released for public review and comment a public health assessment for the River Terrace site that evaluates air pollutants in the community. The agency is accepting public comments about the health assessment through August 4, 2004.

During the information sessions, ATSDR representatives will describe the agency's evaluation of outdoor air data and community concerns about illnesses, and answer questions about exposure to chemicals in the air and its public health assessment.

Also on hand at the sessions will be representatives from the American Cancer Society, African American Environmentalist Association, District of Columbia Department of Health, George Washington Medical Center and others.

ATSDR's public health assessment found that environmental data for the air exposure pathway are limited to a few contaminants, and insufficient health outcome data exist to evaluate whether increased rates of respiratory effects or cancer are present in the River Terrace community. ATSDR therefore categorized the air in the River Terrace community as an indeterminate public health hazard.

ATSDR found that the levels of air contaminants in River Terrace are similar to those found in any urban area, including the general Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

The health assessment notes, however, that the maximum detected levels of ozone, sulfate and particulate matter may aggravate pre-existing respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

For more information, community members may contact Environmental Health Scientist Danielle Langmann or Community Involvement Specialist Loretta Bush, toll-free, at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Lora Werner also may be contacted at 215-814-3141. Callers should refer to the River Terrace community in Washington, D.C.

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.