Chromium detected in seven private wells serving businesses in Great Bend, Kansas and one public water supply is not expected to cause harmful health effects. However, chromium levels detected in monitoring wells near the Plating Inc. facility indicate that chromium exposures would be of health concern if people were to drill private wells in this area for use as a drinking water source. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) releases its public health assessment of the site February 27, and welcomes public comment until close of business day on April 13, 2009.

The purpose of the assessment is to review available environmental health data to determine any possible health concerns about exposures to chromium in the groundwater. ATSDR reviewed available sampling data for 11 private wells and four public water supply wells that were tested for chromium in the affected groundwater plume area.

Of the 11 private wells tested, eight serve area businesses and three are domestic wells. Chromium was not detected in the three domestic wells. Chromium was found in seven of the eight wells serving area businesses. In the past, two of the wells serving area businesses have exceeded regulatory guidelines. However these businesses no longer use their wells for drinking water, using bottled water instead. Prior to using bottled water, chromium levels in these two wells were below levels of health concern. The levels of chromium detected in the other five wells serving area businesses were below levels of health concern as well.

Chromium was not detected in three of the four public water supply wells that were sampled during the Plating Inc. groundwater investigation. Chromium levels in one public water supply well are also below levels of health concern, as well as below regulatory guidelines for public drinking water.

ATSDR recommends continuing efforts to reduce chromium levels in groundwater, monitoring affected private wells, public water supply wells, and additional wells found to be within the chromium plume, providing bottled water to the two businesses currently receiving it, restricting the installation of private wells for use as a drinking water source in areas within and near the chromium plume, and considering additional efforts to characterize the horizontal and vertical extent of the chromium groundwater plume.

A copy of the health assessment will be available for review on or after March 3, 2009 at the following location:

Great Bend Library 1409 Williams Street, Great Bend, KS 67530

Comments on the health assessment must be made in writing. Comments received and ATSDR’s responses to these comments will appear in an appendix to the final public health assessment.

Mail comments to: Records Center, ATSDR ATTN: Plating Inc. Site ATSDR Public Health Assessment 1600 Clifton Road, N.E. MS F-09 Atlanta, GA 30333

For more information, community members may contact:

Christopher Fletcher, Environmental Health Officer 770-488-0755 or toll free at 1-800-CDC-INFO

Danielle Langmann, Environmental Health Scientist 770-488-0665 or toll free at 1-800-CDC-INFO

Januett P. Smith-George, Health Communication Specialist 770-488-0777 or toll free at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) jsmithgeorge@cdc.gov

Jill Shugart, ATSDR Region VII Representative 913-551-1311

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the 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 or e-mail (news media).