PCB CONTAMINATION Teno asks US to pitch in for medical testing costs

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday said the federal government should shoulder part of the expenses for the planned medical testing of local residents who may have been exposed to the cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls in the village.

A medical testing has been scheduled for residents of Tanapag village to determine their exposure to PCBs.

The Department of Public Health needs $500,000 to carry out the health evaluation of the people which will be used to cover payment for doctors and medical staff who will assist in conducting the examination as well as blood testing.

DPH estimates that some 3,000 Tanapag residents will participate in the medical evaluation. Blood samples will be drawn from the residents and these will be sent to the mainland for analysis with the assistance of the Center for Disease Control and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

“Money should not be a hindrance to ensure the health and safety of the people and the federal government should find money to make sure that the people are tested,” the governor said.

Mr. Tenorio said he is happy that the training of people on the island conducted by Dr. Gershon Henoch Bergeisen from ATSDR has been completed since this will pave the way for the health evaluation of the local people believed to have been affected by PCB.

This will be the first comprehensive medical testing to be conducted in Tanapag after more than two decades of exposure of the people to PCB. The arrival Dr. Bergeisen was based on a request earlier made by Mr. Villagomez to help the CNMI in resolving the health problems in the village believed to be associated with exposure to PCB.

Symptoms of PCB poisoning found in humans can be grouped into the following categories: dermal, ocular, respiratory and neurological signs.

Mr. Villagomez is optimistic that the Legislature will assist the department in raising the needed amount. But it will not cost the residents any cent to undergo a medical evaluation.

Since the department is expecting a huge number of people to participate in the planned medical evaluation, Mr. Villagomez said a makeshift clinic will be set up in the village.

About three to four doctors from private clinics will be hired to help the staff from the Commonwealth Health Center in evaluating the people’s health which will include an exposure history.

More than 30 people joined the training which include nurses, doctors, epidemiologist and staff from the Division of Environmental Quality.

The department will contact the relatives of other residents to make sure that those who have transferred residence in other villages are informed of the planned medical evaluation so they can be tested.

Based on the preliminary review of the people’s medical records in Tanapag, CHC has seen an increase in incidence of cancer cases and chromosomal abnormalities among the residents.