Previous Story
Tanapag residents to be briefed on PCB test results
|
Posted on Sep 07 2000
Public health officials and the Tanapag Action Group are finalizing the scheduled reopening of Tanapag Health Clinic to begin explaining to the community the results of the health evaluation conducted among residents of the village.
According to Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez, the clinic will also continue accepting residents or former residents of Tanapag who failed to have their blood samples taken for testing in connection with polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.
Mr. Villagomez said results of the blood test and the general health evaluation will be analyzed so that doctors can give a complete assessment of the person’s health status. The Tanapag Clinic will be processing the lab test results and put all the relevant medical information in a database.
The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry has been informed by the public health officials about the planned reopening of the clinic. DPH refused to reveal the results of the testing until after the doctors have explained to the residents the analysis of the health screening.
More than 1,000 residents have undergone blood testing to determine the level of PCB contamination in their body.
Earlier, Dr. Richard Brostrom, head of the medical team, requested from the federal government additional funds for the congener-specific testing that needs to be done for those who are found to have high levels of PCB.
Federal funding is needed since measuring PCB congener in blood is very expensive. Congener testing will cost approximately $200 for each person.
The blood samples for PCB testings have been analyzed by California-based Smith Kline laboratory with the assistance of the National Medical Services Inc. in Pennsylvania.
