remediation is completed, the Metachem site will
professionals, such as first responders, who manage
not be a future public health hazard.
acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.
ATSDR's toxicological profiles comprehensively
ATSDR recommended continued monitoring
describe health effects; pathways of human exposure;
of air on the site and at its perimeter until the
and the behavior of more than 250 hazardous
chemical products and other wastes are removed
substances in air, soil, and water at hazardous waste
from the site and contaminated soil and sediment
sites. The toxicological profiles primarily are used as
are excavated and treated. If air monitoring at the
a comprehensive resource by health professionals at
fence lines indicates chemicals at levels of health
all levels. These profiles have been sent to requesters,
concern, on-site employees should be notified,
including representatives of federal, state, and local
and anyone using the nearby ball field should be
health and environmental departments; academic
warned to evacuate the area.
institutions; private industries; and nonprofit
During future off-site soil sampling, ATSDR
organizations in Delaware. ATSDR also has developed
recommends that samples be taken in the ball field
extensive resources for community members.
area to confirm that area is not contaminated with
site-related chemicals.
ATSDR should continue to work with EPA and
DNREC to consult on and assist with public health
issues, as needed, during removal of the chemicals
and wastes, closure and decontamination of the
facility, and remediation of the site.
Since the public health assessment was published,
aquifer, which is accessed for drinking water.
in drinking water sources in the recent sampling
of private wells near the site. Therefore, the
conclusions and recommendations in the 2003
public health assessment remain the same, and
ATSDR is not planning to reassess the site at this
time.
A health consultation is a written or oral response
from ATSDR to a specific request for information
about health risks related to a specific site, chemical
release, or hazardous material. A health consulta-
tion is a more limited response than a public health
assessment is. Eleven health consultations have been
conducted at seven sites in Delaware.
Resource Materials
ATSDR develops materials for public health
professionals and medical care providers to use
to assess the public health impacts of chemical
exposures. These resources are available in print, on
the ATSDR Web site, and on CD-ROM. For example,
medical management guidelines are available for acute
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
chemical exposures to more than 50 chemicals. These
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit the
guidelines were designed to aid emergency department
ATSDR Web site at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
physicians and other emergency health care
April 2004