ATSDR representatives on island to explain test results

Two representatives from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry are on island for a week to help explain the results of the blood testing and health evaluation in connection with the polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.

Scott Sudweeks and Dr. Robert Johnson will also meet with local doctors to provide information on PCB to help guide them in looking at exposure to the highly toxic chemical.

A team of medical doctors has been assigned at Tanapag Health Clinic specifically to discuss the PCB blood test and other health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

Only 17 of the more than 1,000 residents who had themselves tested for PCB were found to have high levels of exposure in their blood. But the results are still way below compared to the U.S. standards, which consider 200 or 300 ppb as very high levels of PCB exposure.

Mr. Sudweeks said they will also meet with the community to discuss the next steps to be undertaken following the release of the health results. “We hope to set up a meeting with them and establish a working relationship with the different groups,” he added.

In addition, ATSDR will help in the thorough evaluation of land crabs in Tanapag in the scheduled sampling process. “We would like to get more information about the land crabs and we want to make sure that it will be a thorough evaluation,” said Mr. Sudweeks.

Public health officials have asked the people to refrain from eating land crabs caught in Tanapag area as a precautionary measure after preliminary sampling results showed that five land crabs tested positive for PCB.

However, PCB levels in the land crabs are still below the standard established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for fish.

The preliminary land crab consumption advisory issued by the Department of Public Health was based on very limited and preliminary sampling results on land crabs caught in Tanapag village, in and around the vicinity of Cemetery 2, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

During the risk assessment survey conducted last May, eight land crabs were taken within the Tanapag area but only five land crabs had detectable levels of PCB.

ATSDR will be conducting a review of the exposure histories of the people as well as PCB blood sampling data as soon as public health office provides them with the information.

The federal agency will come out with a public health assessment report which will be released later this year or in early 2001. (LFR)