ATLANTA, GA – The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reported today it found high levels of lead in the blood of some children who live close to the former Colorado Smelter in Pueblo, CO.

ATSDR, in collaboration with the Pueblo City County Health Department (PCCHD), conducted an exposure investigation to find out if children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age who live within a half mile of the former smelter were exposed to lead and arsenic.

“The blood lead levels found in some of the children tested put these children at increased risk of harm,” said Dr. Lourdes Rosales-Guevara, ATSDR’s Medical Officer in Atlanta. Participants were notified immediately of individual results.

ATSDR did not find high levels of arsenic in the urine of people living close to the old smelter.

The public is invited to attend ATSDR’s Community Availability Session and presentations where ATSDR representatives will be present to discuss the report and answer questions.

On Thursday, September 24, there will be two community meetings in Pueblo:

• Community Availability Session from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 307 East Mesa Ave
• Community Presentation, Questions and Answers from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pueblo City-County Library District - Rawlings Branch – Ryals Special Events Room

The health consultation is available at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/pha/HCPHA.asp?State=CO

For more information, call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) and request information about the exposure investigation of the Colorado Smelter health consultation: Biological Testing for Exposure to Lead and Arsenic.”

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.