No health hazard is associated with the Saint Lucie
available, ATSDR will prepare an addendum to
River. ATSDR's investigation found no evidence
this report that discusses the arsenic test results and
their significance.
migrated far enough to affect the Saint Lucie River.
Because blood-lead concentrations are a better
Postremedial monitoring at Speedway indicates
indicator than urine lead concentrations of
that the site has been adequately remediated--all
potential adverse health effects, the exposure
investigation recommended that blood lead be
remediation plan is being implemented at Jack's.
measured in the participants who had urine lead
Therefore, ATSDR does not believe the Saint
concentrations exceeding the 95th percentile
Lucie River has been or will be affected by the
comparison range. HCHD will offer blood
contamination.
lead testing to participants whose urine lead
An exposure investigation collects information about
concentrations exceeded the 95th percentile
specific human exposures through biologic sampling,
comparison range.
personal monitoring, related environmental assess-
Health Education and Community Activities
ment, and exposure-dose reconstruction. ATSDR has
conducted 10 exposure investigations in Florida,
agreement program since 1987. Under this program,
including the following recent example.
the Florida Department of Health has received
Coronet Industries--FDOH and the
funding and technical assistance for the development
Hillsborough County Health Department
of community education and activities associated
(HCHD) assisted ATSDR in conducting an
with human exposure to hazardous substances in the
exposure investigation of the Coronet Industries
environment. Since 2000, more than 125 educational
site (also known as the Borden Feed site) in Plant
tools have been developed and distributed under the
City. The purpose of the exposure investigation
was to better characterize human exposure to site-
developed include fact sheets to inform local residents
related chemicals for residents who were drinking
about issues associated with the Callaway and Son
the water. Coronet Industries processes phosphates
Drum Service site (West Leesburg), the Alaric, Inc.
for use in animal food supplements.
site (Tampa), and the Kerr McGee, Inc. site (Jack-
sonville). More than 1,300 Florida residents and local
government officials have participated in more than
monitoring wells at the facility was contaminated
30 different educational briefings or training sessions.
with fluoride, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and alpha
radiation. Many residents who live near the site
Health Studies
rely on private wells for potable water. Public
Health studies are investigations conducted to deter-
health officials and residents expressed concern
mine the relations between exposures to hazardous
that water from these wells could contain chemical
substances and adverse health effects. Health stud-
contaminants at concentrations of health concern.
ies also define health problems that require further
investigation through, for example, health surveillance
occurring minerals in the underlying phosphate
or an epidemiologic study. Following are examples of
deposits or from chemicals released during
health studies or investigations that ATSDR conducted
operations or waste management practices at the
or supported in Florida.
facility.
Multistate Case-Control Study of Childhood
The exposure investigation released in December
Brain Cancer--ATSDR conducted this
2003 concluded that the measured exposures
population-based case-control study to examine the
to lead, cadmium, uranium, fluoride, and boron
association between the risk for childhood brain
pose no apparent public health hazard. These
cancer and residence near NPL sites. The draft
final report has been completed and is undergoing
at concentrations associated with adverse health
external peer review.
effects. When this report was written, the NCEH
Mortality Study and Medical Evaluation
laboratory had not yet analyzed the urine samples
Project, Former Workers at the Stauffer
for speciated arsenic. When these results become