ATLANTA—The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released its final health consultation today for the Walter Coke, Inc. site. The site in North Birmingham is also known as the 35th Avenue Superfund site.

The health consultation was conducted to determine if exposure to soil in yards, gardens, and schools in the Collegeville, Harriman Park, and Fairmont neighborhoods poses a public health hazard for people who live or work in the area.

Investigators analyzed soil samples taken in 2005 and 2009 from 75 properties. Only arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected above accepted levels of health concern.

Based on the analysis ATSDR concluded:

• Past soil exposures to arsenic in sampled properties do not present a public health hazard. The possible exception would be a child with pica behavior eating a large amount of soil from the properties with the highest arsenic concentration. If this were to occur, the child could develop short-term health effects such as pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Past soil exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sampled properties around the site do not present a public health hazard.
  

Even though past exposures present no public health hazard, ATSDR recommends that:

• Properties with the highest arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels be remediated to decrease exposures to contaminated soil. Remediation already has been completed for 16 residential properties and two school yards.
• Residents should reduce exposures to soil by such practices as washing hands and garden produce.
• ATSDR should complete the review of site-specific air data to assess community exposures to airborne contaminants released from the site.

To read the health consultation visit: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/HCPHA.asp?State=AL

Copies of the health consultation can also be reviewed during regular hours at the Harriman Park Recreational Center, 4347 F. L. Shuttlesworth Drive, Birmingham AL.

A public comment version of this health consultation was released on February 12, 2013. All comments have been addressed in the final health consultation.

For more information about the health consultation, community members can call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) and reference the Walter Coke, Inc., 35th Avenue Superfund site in North Birmingham.

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