What: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), today announced the release of its public health consultation for the Cady Road site in North Royalton, Ohio. The document is being published as a draft for public comment.

ATSDR prepared the health consultation in response to a request from a former resident asking the agency to evaluate private well water quality and indoor and outdoor air along Cady Road.

ATSDR evaluated available data and community health concerns related to well water, as well as for indoor and outdoor air. The following is a brief summary of ATSDR's conclusions:

• private well water data shows no contaminants at levels which would be likely to make people sick.

• reports of well water which smells like "rotten eggs" are probably due to dissolved hydrogen sulfide in the water. Hydrogen sulfide in the water does not pose a risk to human health.

• methane measured at indoor and outdoor water taps at homes along Cady Road was not at hazardous or explosive levels.

• based on available data, recreational use of the stream near Cady Road will not cause adverse health effects.

• based on air sampling data, the levels of chemicals in indoor and outdoor air are not likely to make people sick.

When: The document will be available for public review and comment on or about October 12, 2001. The public comment period for the health consultation will run until November 13, 2001.

Where: The document will be available for review at the following repository:

North Royalton Library
14600 State Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44133
Contact: Caroline Vichiarelli, at (440) 237-3800

How: Members of the public are encouraged to send their written comments to:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records, and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-60
Atlanta, Georgia 30333

Background: ATSDR is a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR's mission is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment.

An ATSDR health consultation provides conclusions and recommendations on specific public health issues related to actual or potential exposure to hazardous substances. ATSDR prepares about 1,000 health consultations every year. Most of the requests come from the EPA and state and local health and environmental departments.

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