The public health assessment concluded that
ATSDR is working closely with the U.S.
smoke from the fire caused an increase in
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state
respiratory problems in area residents consistent
health partners to determine whether a hazard to
with wood-smoke inhalation. These data suggest
public health exists at any of the NAER sites.
that the fire represented an acute public health
Rotary Beach at London Bridge--The Mohave
hazard. Anxiety and domestic violence data
County Health Department asked ADHS
were collected from evacuated community
to investigate the extent to which recreational
members staying in Red Cross shelters. Evacuees
boaters in the Rotary Beach area near London
experienced fewer respiratory problems--but more
Bridge in Lake Havasu City are exposed to
stress and anxiety--than did community members
carbon monoxide from watercraft. The request
who were not evacuated.
came as a result of several drownings in which
The public health assessment recommended that
elevated levels of carbon monoxide were found
the ADHS and ADEQ emergency air monitoring
in the bodies at autopsy. To determine whether
team should evaluate its joint Rodeo-Chediski fire
recreational boaters were being exposed to carbon
activities to identify and implement any suggested
monoxide, ADHS used exhaled carbon monoxide
improvements for future fire seasons. The agencies
as a measure of the amount of carboxyhemoglobin
subsequently agreed on particulate matter levels
(COHb) in their blood. Under ATSDR's
that trigger relocation of community members.
This resulted in a change of ADEQ policy that only
the data to determine whether a public health
relocates people when conditions threaten their
hazard exists at Lake Havasu when large numbers
health.
of watercraft are present on the water.
A health consultation released in September
A health consultation is a written or oral response
2003 documented carbon monoxide exposure in
from ATSDR to a specific request for information
recreational boaters during the 2003 Memorial
about health risks related to a specific site, chemical
Day holiday. The cumulative carbon monoxide
release, or hazardous material. A health consultation
exposure increased as the day progressed. COHb
is a more limited response than a public health
levels observed late in the day posed a public
assessment. In Arizona, 52 health consultations have
health hazard; during the investigation, carbon
been conducted at 41 sites, including the following
monoxide levels in some people were associated
recent examples.
with symptoms caused by carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Review Sites--Two Arizona sites are among
The combination of carbon monoxide exposure
28 Phase 1 sites in ATSDR's National Asbestos
and alcohol consumption likely creates a greater
Exposure Review (NAER) being conducted with
health hazard. In addition, most recreational
other federal, state, and local environmental and
activities conducted during the investigation were
public health agencies. NAER examines more than
in or near water, creating a drowning hazard for
200 U.S. sites that received asbestos-contaminated
people who have impaired judgment or more
vermiculite ore mined in Libby, Montana, from
severe symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure
the 1920s until 1990. The 28 Phase 1 sites, which
and alcohol consumption.
received 80% of the vermiculite mined in Libby
in 19641980, may have received vermiculite
The health consultation recommended that ADHS
from Libby at any time during the years the mine
should conduct additional biomonitoring studies
operated. All Phase 1 sites ceased processing the
at this site and at other recreational lakes in
vermiculite by the early 1990s.
Arizona to determine whether a widespread public
health hazard exists because of carbon monoxide
The Ari-Zonolite Company site is in Glendale.
exposure from motorized watercraft.
This site ceased operations in 1964. The W.R.
Lake Pleasant--As a result of the
ceased processing Libby vermiculite in 1992 and
recommendation in the Rotary Beach health
continues to operate.
consultation to conduct additional biomonitoring,
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