Figure 1. States participating in HSEES in Fiscal Year 2002
ing project will end in March 2003 and that the
The Tremolite
Tremolite Asbestos Registry will become active
Asbestos Registry
by August 2003.
ATSDR made a commitment to the Libby com-
munity to create a registry of persons exposed
Hazardous Substances
to tremolite asbestos (a type of asbestos that
Emergency Events
is particularly prone to release tiny fibers that
people can breathe in) in Libby. This registry, to
Surveillance (HSEES)
be called the Tremolite Asbestos Registry, will
Since 1990, ATSDR has maintained an active,
include the following groups of people:
state-based Hazardous Substances Emergency
Events Surveillance (HSEES) system. The pur-
former vermiculite workers employed by
pose of HSEES is to describe the public health
Zonolite Co. or W.R. Grace Co. in Libby
consequences associated with the release of haz-
household contacts of former vermiculite
ardous substances and to develop strategies to
workers
reduce and prevent releases and their associated
participants in ATSDR's medical testing pro-
adverse health effects. In fiscal year 2002, 16
gram
states participated in HSEES.
During fiscal year 2002, ATSDR published a
In 2002, ATSDR began a tracing project to
report summarizing the findings of the sur-
locate and determine the vital status of former
veillance for the 2-year period from 1999
workers and their household contacts. To date,
through 2000. This report included information
2,351 workers and 4,796 household contacts
on 13,808 hazardous substance events and 4,425
have been identified. Of these, 666 living
injured persons (74 of whom died).
workers and 1765 living household contacts
have been located and interviewed to date; 955
Participating states used the 19992000 data
workers and 527 household contacts are known
analysis to identify and implement prevention
to be deceased. It is anticipated that this locat-
outreach activities that were geared to pre-
venting spills, releases, and resulting injuries.
46 chapter 3