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 the public comment version of its public health consultation on air sampling for PCBs around the Solutia Inc. property in Anniston, Ala.

Written comments to the document will be accepted by ATSDR until March 21, 2003.

As part of ongoing environmental data evaluation, ATSDR evaluated air-sampling data collected by Solutia and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ATSDR reviewed Solutia samples collected from five locations around their property two days every month from January 2000 through January 2001. The EPA's samples were collected at eight locations farther away from the Solutia property for two days in June 2000.

Samples collected by Solutia from the edge of their plant showed the presence of PCBs. Because the sampling locations were not within residential areas, ATSDR cannot determine the level of exposures that might be occurring where people live.

EPA sample results showed that PCBs can be found in the air about one-half mile from the Solutia property. The EPA samples collected one mile away and further from the Solutia property did not show PCB levels higher than the levels found in most other cities in the country.

The PCB air data ATSDR reviewed showed that people who currently work at or frequently visit the Solutia property may be exposed to PCBs.

Because the source(s) of the PCBs are not known, other workers in the Anniston area who might be exposed to PCBs are those who mostly work outdoors where PCBs are present and those who often come into contact with or frequently disturb soils, such as workers who install utility lines or operate heavy equipment used for soil digging projects.

To determine the level and how often, if ever, exposure to PCBs occurs for workers at the Solutia plant, additional sampling data is required, according to the health consultation.

ATSDR does not have enough air sampling data to determine the level of air PCB exposures to community members.

Accordingly, ATSDR recommends the following:

• additional air sampling for PCBs should be conducted on the Solutia property where people work.
• Additional air sampling for PCBs should be conducted in the center of communities that surround the Solutia property.

ATSDR is working closely with EPA, the state of Alabama, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to determine the best approaches for future sampling.

ATSDR's public health consultation is available for public review and comment at the following locations in Anniston:

Anniston Public Library Carver Library
108 E. 10th St. 722 W. 14th St.

Community Against Pollution (CAP) Environmental Protection Agency
Headquarters Office 1313 Noble St.
1012 W. 15th St.

Community Against Pollution
Outreach Center
1521 Cobb Ave.

The public comment period will end March 21, 2003. ATSDR welcomes comments from the public. Written comments should be sent to the following address:

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged into the administrative record of the health consultation. Public comments and ATSDR's responses will be included in an appendix to the final health consultation when it is released. Although the names of those who submit comments will not be included in the final health consultation, the names are subject to release in response to requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of the public health consultation should contact Environmental Health Scientist Lynn Wilder or Community Involvement Specialist PerStephanie Thompson, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). ATSDR's Senior Regional Representative Bob Safay also may be contacted in Atlanta at 404-562-1782. Callers should say they are phoning about PCB air sampling at Solutia Inc. in Anniston.

Members of the news media may request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling Elaine McEachern or John Florence in the ATSDR Office of Policy and External Affairs at 404-498-0070.