Environmental Health Concerns Conferences - The Center for Environmental Health at the University of
Connecticut, Storrs, conducts these annual conferences to discuss pressing environmental issues for Connecti-
cut. Leaders in their fields have addressed environmental concerns in the state such as lead poisoning, asbestos,
radon, ozone, air pollution, hazardous waste, poverty, low birth
weight, food safety, biomonitoring, and Long
Island Sound. The conferences allow the academic community to network with state and local agencies, labor,
private industry, public interest groups, and the general public. An extensive mailing list of more than 2,500
individuals is utilized for advertisement. In addition to ATSDR, the programs have included co-sponsorships
with the CTDPH, EPA, Rural Community Assistance Program, the University of
Connecticut Cooperative
Extension System, and the Institute of Water Resources.
Health Studies
Health studies are conducted to determine the relationships between exposure to hazardous substances and adverse
health effects. They also define health problems that require further investigation through, for example, a health
surveillance or epidemiologic study. Following are descriptions of site-specific health studies that ATSDR has con-
ducted or supported in Connecticut.
Upjohn Company, North Haven In March 2000, the CTDPH released a public health assessment regarding
environmental exposures and potential impacts on rates of cancer in the community near the former Upjohn
chemical plant in North Haven. A 1995 occupational study of the former workers at the plant found a signifi-
cant elevation in rates of bladder cancer. Citizens in the area were concerned that past plant emissions could have
had similar impact. In January 2002, ATSDR funded a project in which CTDPH conducted an analysis of
bladder cancer and leukemia distribution via computer mapping also known as Geographic Information System
(GIS) analysis. Neither cancer type was elevated in
areas near the plant and this information was relayed to
the
community members via health consultation and fact sheet.
Raymark Industries, Stratford - In January 2001, CTDPH released a follow-up evaluation of bladder cancer
levels and environmental exposures to Raymark waste in Stratford. Bladder cancer was selected for study
because a 1998 CTDPH health study found elevated female bladder cancer levels near some of the Raymark
waste sites.
In the 2001 follow-up study sponsored by ATSDR, CTDPH re-analyzed the original data to more accurately
evaluate where people lived in Stratford and how close their homes were to Raymark. Enhancements were made
to identify the population at risk. In addition, 5 additional years of bladder cancer data were added to the data
from the 1998 study and examined to see if there were spatial patterns of where cancer occurred in town. The
follow-up study found that when the cancer data were analyzed in the same way as the original 1998 study,
female bladder cancer levels continued to be slightly elevated. However, there does not appear to be a consistent
geographic pattern between bladder cancer level and nearness to Raymark waste sites. Overall conclusions are
that there are no
new findings in
the five-year follow-up for bladder cancer in
Stratford. The 2001 study sup-
ports the original findings in
the 1998 study, that there is no
definitive evidence linking
bladder cancer to
Raymark
waste.
Toxicological Profiles
ATSDR develops toxicological profiles that describe health effects, environmental characteristics, and other informa-
tion, for substances found at NPL sites. These profiles describe pathways of human exposure and the behavior of
toxic substances in environmental media such as air, soil, and water. Since 1995, more than 520 of these profiles have
been supplied directly by ATSDR to requesters, including representatives of federal, state, and local health and
environmental departments; academic institutions; private industries; and nonprofit organizations in Connecticut.
If you would like additional information, contact ATSDR toll-free at (888) 42ATSDR,
that is, (888) 422-8737 or visit the homepage at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
February 2003