The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is releasing today for public comment a focused public health assessment (PHA) on fish and shellfish in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

ATSDR conducts PHAs to 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.

The PHA on fish and shellfish was conducted to determine if eating fish and shellfish caught on or around Vieques could have adverse effects on a person's health.

ATSDR finds that the fish and shellfish from Vieques are safe to eat. Even though several metals were detected in some of the fish and shellfish, the concentrations that were present were too low to be of health concern in virtually all exposure situations evaluated.

In May 1999, an island resident asked (petitioned) ATSDR to evaluate whether any health problems in Vieques residents might be associated with potential releases of hazardous substances from military training activities on the island. ATSDR responded by conducting a series of focused public health assessments.

In July 2001, ATSDR, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Response Team, collected commonly caught and consumed fish and shellfish from the coastal waters and near shore land on Vieques. ATSDR evaluated whether the muscle tissues of the fish and shellfish contained levels of heavy metals and explosive compounds that would adversely affect public health.

The draft health consultation is available for public review and comment at the following records repositories:

Biblioteca, Municipio de Vieques
Calle Carlos Le Brun 449
Vieques, PR 00765

El Fideicomiso de Conservacion E Historia
The Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust
Calle Flamboyan 138
Vieques, PR 00765

University of Puerto Rico
School of Public Health
Medical Sciences Campus Library
Industrial Hygiene Department
P.O. Box 365067
San Juan, PR 00936-5067

The public comment period ends January 27, 2003. ATSDR welcomes comments from the public. Send written documents to the following address:

Chief, Programs, Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
ATSDR Mailstop E-32
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333

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 to requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.