the basis of laboratory testing, some items were
had recently discovered that an underground
removed from the building for additional test-
storage tank was releasing high concentrations
ing. The field investigation team successfully
into the aquifer. The contaminant was vaporiz-
ing and, in turn, was apparently infiltrating into
niques to locate, quantify, and collect concentra-
the school building. ATSDR was asked whether
tions of anthrax spores within the building.
the school was safe to open after the winter
holiday break.
Response to Border Cyanide
ATSDR determined that the air in the school
Incident, Mexico
posed no human health concern to the staff or
students as long as the ventilation system was
A cargo van containing a cyanide salt was
operating. When the school ventilation system
stolen near Mexico City, and concerns arose on
was turned on, the concentration in the inhab-
both sides of the border regarding the potential
ited portions of the school was below detectable
use of this material in a terrorist attack in the
levels. Later, New Jersey health officials and
United States or Mexico. ATSDR provided
EPA Region II staff members requested on-site
Region VI EPA with an analysis of the potential
support at a public meeting involving the school
threat to water supplies. Later, CDC requested
data already reviewed and indoor air data col-
that ATSDR join a team from NCEH and
lected by the state at various homes and busi-
nesses between the suspected source and the
health officials there to prepare for a chemical
school. ATSDR reviewed the data and assessed
incident, including the intentional release of
the health implications of site-related contam-
cyanide. Using the missing van as a scenario,
inants and other volatile organic compounds
the CDC team worked with their counterparts
identified in the homes. ATSDR provided infor-
from Mexico to develop an action plan for
mation on background levels and common uses
responding to the intentional use of the cyanide
and a framework for a national response system
individual homeowners.
for chemical incidents. ATSDR provided infor-
mation on chemical treatment of the cyanide in
Mercury Spill,
the field when the missing cargo was located
and assisted NIOSH in providing air monitor-
San Bernardino, California
ing and sampling. ATSDR also provided other
An EPA on-scene coordinator called ATSDR
resources to the Mexican authorities.
regarding a 50-pound mercury spill in a
residential neighborhood of San Bernardino,
Response to the Magnolia Avenue
California. Three homes were known to be con-
Site, Sea Girt, New Jersey
taminated, and as many as 12 homes were
potentially involved. The on-scene coordinator
ATSDR provided a time-critical consultation
requested indoor air action levels and a sum-
to the New Jersey Department of Health and
mary of potential environmental health issues
Senior Services and the Borough of Sea Girt
he was likely to encounter in the course of the
regarding the volatile organic concentrations in
removal action.
indoor air at an elementary school. The school
ATSDR provided recommended action levels
of chlorinated organic solvents from a dry
protective of public health, discussed the merits
cleaning facility that had burned to the ground
and limitations of various real-time instruments
20 years ago. The current owner of the property
28 chapter 1
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