ATSDR Releases Public Health Assessment for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for Public Review and Comment

Tuesday, June 18, 2002
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Public exposure to tritium during accidental releases at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 1965 and 1970 were below health concern levels, according to the draft version of a just released federal public health assessment.

The health assessment was prepared by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The document is available for public review, and written comments will be accepted until August 7, 2002.

Comments should be mailed to:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-56
Atlanta, Georgia 30333


ATSDR conducted the health assessment in response to community concerns about potential tritium exposure from the historic releases.

The health assessment, called Community Exposures to the 1965 and 1970 Accidental Tritium Releases at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, can be reviewed at:

Livermore Public Library
1000 South Livermore Ave
Livermore CA
Christian Science Reading Room
263 S. North St.
Livermore CA
LLNL Visitor Center
Greenville Road
Livermore CA

Comments received during the public comment period are logged and become part of the administrative record for the health assessment. Comments (without indication of who made them) and ATSDR responses will be included in an appendix to the final health assessment. Although names of those submitting comments will not be included in the final health assessment, they are subject to release under the Freedom ofInformation Act.

A copy of the health assessment may be ordered from:

Chief, Program Evaluation,Records, and Information Services Branch
ATTN: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US DOE)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
1600 Clifton Road, NE (E56)
Atlanta, GA 30333

Community members seeking more information about the health assessment should contact Mark Evans, ATSDR Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Lawrence Livermore sitein Livermore, Calif." ATSDR Regional Representative Bill Nelson also may be called for information in San Francisco at (415) 744-2194.

Public health assessments from ATSDR report information about hazardous substances in the environment and evaluate whether exposure to those substances in the past, present or future could harm people in the area.

In preparing public health assessments, ATSDR health assessors rely on various sources of information, including environmental data, health data and reports of community concerns.


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Related News Releases For Alameda County, Livermore, California


Release Date:  Tuesday, August 03, 2004
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will hold a community meeting Aug.11 to discuss its findings from the public health assessment conducted on the Lawrence Livermore National Lab site (LLNL). The assessment concludes that there is "no apparent public health hazard." The community meeting will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Chianti Room located behind Fire Station No. 6, 4550 East Avenue, Livermore, Calif. Residents will have an opportunity to ask ATSDR representatives about public health findings regarding the site.

Release Date:  Friday, July 16, 2004
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has issued the final version of its public health assessment on the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Main Site (LLNL), Livermore, Calif. The lab is operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy. LLNL was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in 1987 on the basis of volatile organic compounds in monitor wells and nearby drinking water wells.

Release Date:  Friday, April 23, 2004
A health study investigating the incidence of cancer among employees of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., and the Livermore community from 1960 - 1997 has been issued by the California Department of Health Services (CDHS). CDHS prepared the report under a cooperative agreement with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. According to the study, the incidence of cancer has not been higher than expected, with the exception of melanoma, a rare skin cancer.

Release Date:  Friday, February 20, 2004
A public health assessment on the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory site in Livermore, Calif., has been issued by ATSDR for public review. The agency categorizes the site as no apparent public health hazard.

Release Date:  Wednesday, October 08, 2003
A public meeting and public availability session concerning the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 300 site in Livermore, Calif., will be held by ATSDR on Oct. 16. The agency's work on the site and possible public health concerns will be addressed.

Release Date:  Thursday, October 02, 2003
The final public health assessment on plutonium 239 sludge at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site (LLNL) in Livermore, Calif., has been issued by ATSDR. The agency has categorized the LLNL site as no apparent public health hazard.

Release Date:  Thursday, February 13, 2003
ATSDR released its initial public health assessment on the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif. Written comments from the public are requested through April 29, 2003.

Release Date:  Tuesday, October 30, 2001
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today announced

Release Date:  Tuesday, October 30, 2001
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today announced the agency will hold a Lawrence Livermore Site Team meeting in Livermore, California, to talk with team members and the community concerning two ATSDR health consultations related to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) tritium releases, dosimetry procedures, and potential offsite exposures.


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Page last reviewed: June 18, 2002