ATSDR releases final report and invites community to attend public meeting

Thursday, August 16, 2018
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(ATLANTA, GA) –The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has released its final health consultation report entitled, “Historical Blood Lead Levels in East Chicago, Indiana Neighborhoods Impacted by Lead Smelters,” in relation to the USS Lead Superfund Site.

To evaluate historical lead exposure from the industrial facilities that contributed to the soil contamination in the Calumet neighborhoods, ATSDR summarized blood lead levels in children in the Calumet neighborhoods that are within the USS Lead Superfund site from 2005-2015. The 2005-2015 timeframe was selected because this is the period during which the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) had electronic data that could be analyzed. 

ATSDR concluded after evaluating the blood lead data from 2005-2015 for the USS Lead Superfund Site:

  • The number of young children (less than 6 years of age) living in each of the Calumet neighborhoods of the USS Lead site and across the rest of East Chicago with blood lead levels greater than or equal to (>) 5 µg/dL continued to decline between 2005-2015.
  • Young children (less than 6 years of age) living in the Calumet neighborhoods (Zones 1, 2, and 3) were tested and had a higher percentage of blood lead levels greater than or equal to (>) 5 µg/dL), compared with other areas of East Chicago (not including Zones 1, 2, and 3).

ATSDR will hold a public meeting to discuss the report’s findings and recommendations for further actions. It will also provide the community with an opportunity to speak with ATSDR scientists.

When:
Saturday, August 18, 2018
10:00 a.m.

Where:
Former Cary Gosh Elementary School
455 E. 148th Street
East Chicago, IN

To read the report with ATSDR’s recommendations for public health agencies, visit: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/USSmelterandLeadRefinery/US_Smelter_Lead_Refinery_HC_2018-508.pdf.

Copies of the public health consultation report can also be reviewed during regular hours at the  EPA Information Repositories located at:

East Chicago Public Library
2401 E. Columbus Drive
East Chicago, IN

And

Robert A. Pastrick Library
1008 W. Chicago Avenue
East Chicago, IN

For more information about the U.S. Smelter Lead and Refinery, Inc. (USS Lead) Superfund Site, contact CDC-INFO at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or https://www.epa.gov/uss-lead-superfund-site

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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.


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Page last reviewed: August 16, 2018