Additional environmental testing by the U.S.
tested, 30 had blood lead levels greater than or
equal to 10 micrograms per deciliter, the level of
soil in some private residential properties in the
health concern. Of the 55 children between the
Spring Valley community. In response to com-
ages of 6 and 72 months tested, 13 (26%) had
elevated blood lead levels. Of the 82 children
the District of Columbia Department of Health
between the ages of 6 and 17 years who were
requested that ATSDR conduct a second expo-
tested, 15 (18%) had elevated blood lead levels.
sure investigation.
Of the 98 adults tested, 2 (2%) had elevated
blood lead levels. A blood lead risk survey was
ATSDR has developed a proposal to conduct
also completed for each individual tested. All
those tested were notified of their results via
limited number of residents of Spring Valley.
phone call or letter. Primary health care givers
Testing will focus on those residents with poten-
of residents with elevated blood lead levels were
tial exposure to arsenic-contaminated soil in
notified, if consent was given.
their yards.
As a result of the exposure investigation efforts,
an estimated 30% to 40% of the Eureka com-
Eureka Mills, Eureka, Utah
munity has been tested for blood lead. UDOH
The Eureka Mills NPL site has a mining and
is striving to increase this percentage. UDOH
will continue working with Eureka residents
ued until approximately 1965. An estimated 11
and local, state, and federal agencies to encour-
former mill sites are located along the southern
age blood lead testing, exposure reduction, and
boundary of Eureka City. These sites consist
other forms of health education. In addition
of abandoned mill tailings and other mine-
to informing residents of the importance of
related wastes. In the spring of 2000, the Utah
undergoing blood lead testing, UDOH has also
Department of Environmental Quality found
provided valuable information to children and
extremely high levels of lead in soils in resi-
adults about ways to reduce exposure to lead.
dential areas in Eureka and surrounding areas.
Most residential areas had concentrations of
ATSDR has provided both funding and guid-
lead higher than 500 parts per million (ppm),
ance during the exposure investigation process.
which is above the level of potential health con-
ATSDR continues to provide guidance with
cern, and 11% of the lots tested had more than
health education efforts and in the preparation
of the public health assessment for this site.
at this site. An estimated population of 766 indi-
Fountain Inn/Simpsonville,
viduals reside in Eureka, Utah, according to the
South Carolina
2000 Census.
An ATSDR exposure investigation conducted in
In August 2000, Utah Department of Health
fiscal year 2001 found that some residents in
(UDOH) requested and received funds for an
the area of Fountain Inn, South Carolina,
exposure investigation from ATSDR and, in col-
and Simpsonville, South Carolina, have had
laboration with the local health department, pro-
significant exposure to uranium in their drink-
vided free blood lead testing to Eureka resi-
ing water. The South Carolina Department of
dents. As a result, blood lead screening was con-
Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC)
ducted for 238 residents of Eureka during the
began testing residential wells for uranium in
summer and fall of 2000. Of the 238 individuals
24 chapter 1
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