For Immediate Release: April 10, 2008

Public comments accepted through May 12, 2008

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is seeking public comments on the health consultation on Chillum Perchloroethylene Site (Chillum Perc Site). The health consultation found that exposures to volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in indoor and outdoor air at the site pose no apparent public health hazard.

In this consultation, ATSDR reviewed

• the summer 2006 indoor and outdoor air data collected by Building Sciences and Engineering Associates (BSEA);
• the winter 2007 air data collected by the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC DOH);
• the results of a June 2007 EPA follow-up sampling event at a residence.

This is the third ATSDR health consultation for the site to evaluate the public health implications of the movement of VOCs from groundwater and soil contaminations through the soil into the air of buildings above. In 2004, ATSDR released two health consultations that reviewed soil gas, indoor air and other environmental data to address this issue. Scientists have combined the results of the 2007 health consultation with results from the previous health consultations of 2004. ATSDR has concluded that the VOC concentrations detected at the site from 2003-2007 in both indoor and outdoor air are at levels not expected to cause cancer or non-cancer health effects for acute, intermediate and chronic exposures.

Residents are encouraged to read the health consultation and make comments during the month-long public comment period. A copy of the health consultation is located at:

Lamond-Riggs Library
5401 S. Dakota Ave., S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20011

ATSDR will accept comments on the health consultation through May 12, 2008. Comments on the health consultation must be made in writing. Comments received during the public comment period will be logged into the ATSDR administrative record for the health consultation and will appear in the final health consultation.  Comments received (without the names of individuals who submitted them) and ATSDR's responses to these comments will appear in an appendix to the final public health consultation. Names of those who submit comments, however, will be subject to release in answer to requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Mail comments to:

Records Center, ATSDR
ATTN: Chillum Perc Site
1600 Clifton Road, N.E. MS F-09
Atlanta, GA 30333

For more information about the health consultation call health assessor Jane Zhu at 770-488-0669.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

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Members of the news media can request an interview by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.