using vital records and geographic information
and follow-up interviews have been conducted;
system technology to determine fetal loss and
2,280 people from six areas associated with
developmental disabilities in Pulaski County.
hazardous waste sites in two states have been
The study determined that the increased fetal loss
enrolled in the Dioxin Subregistry.
rates observed in the Jacksonville area in the
The site in Arkansas included in the Dioxin
early 1980s were not associated with proximity
Subregistry is the Vertac Chemical Corporation
to the Vertac site. Further, no indication of
site in Jacksonville. Baseline interviews were
an association of fetal loss, birth defects, or
conducted in 1999; the first follow-up interview
developmental disabilities with the passage of
was conducted in 2000.
time was demonstrated. The final report was
Arkansas Medical Verification Project--In the
issued in 1998.
Dioxin Subregistry, health condition questions
Jacksonville Historical Dioxin Exposure
administered to registrants specified that the
Study, Vertac Site--Because of community
source of diagnosis must have come from a
concern about human exposures to site-related
physician ("...has a physician or other health care
toxic chemicals, ADH and ATSDR conducted
provider told you that you had or treated you
the Jacksonville Historical Dioxin Exposure
for a [specific condition]?"). Despite this, one
Study, a cross-sectional study of adults aged
criticism of the registry is that health condition
18 through 65 years. The study compared blood
data are self-reported and are subsequently
lipid levels of dioxin and 21 other dioxin-like
subject to registrant bias. The purpose of this
compounds in persons living within 1,300
project is to verify health conditions reported
yards of the site with the levels of residents in
by registrants at the Vertac site in Arkansas by
a control community in Mabelvale. The study
having their physicians verify those conditions.
determined that some residents living near the
Resource Materials
site had experienced excess exposures to dioxin.
Dioxin was elevated in blood lipid of residents
ATSDR develops materials that public health profes-
who lived within 1,300 yards of the site for
sionals and medical care providers can use to assess
more than 15 years. Furthermore, urinary levels
the public health impacts of chemical exposures.
of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4-
Resources are available in print, on the ATSDR Web
dichlorophenol were higher in the residents living
site, and on CD-ROM. For example, medical man-
in the target area for more than 15 years than the
agement guidelines are available for acute chemi-
levels in residents of the comparison area. The
cal exposures to more than 40 chemicals. ATSDR's
final report was published in 1998.
toxicological profiles comprehensively describe
health effects; pathways of human exposure; and the
National Exposure Registry: Dioxin
behavior of more than 250 hazardous substances in
Subregistry--Dioxin is a manufactured
air, soil, and water at hazardous waste sites. In the
chemical. Most of the direct knowledge of the
last 5 years, more than 2,900 of these profiles have
effects of dioxin exposure on human health has
been sent to requesters, including representatives of
been obtained from the study of workers exposed
federal, state, and local health and environmental de-
to dioxin during the production or subsequent
partments; academic institutions; private industries;
handling of pesticides or other compounds in the
and nonprofit organizations in Arkansas. ATSDR has
production process. A variety of health effects can
also developed extensive resources for community
be the result of dioxin exposure, or of exposure to
members.
the chemicals of which dioxin is a contaminant,
or to the solvents in which these compounds are
normally dissolved.
ATSDR selected dioxin as a target substance for
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
one of its exposure subregistries and selected
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit the
sites throughout the nation where exposures
ATSDR Web page at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
have occurred. At these sites, initial (or baseline)
July 2002