Activities in
Iowa
ATSDR in Partnership With Iowa
A public health
ATSDR awarded more
assessment is a written,
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Regis-
than 8,000 in the
comprehensive evaluation
try (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency respon-
last 2 years in direct
of available data and
sible for implementing the health-related provisions
funds and services
information on the release
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
to Iowa.
of hazardous substances
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
into the environment in
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
a specific geographic
than 400 employees and an annual budget for 2002
area. Such releases are assessed for current or future
of million. ATSDR is responsible for assessing
impact on public health. ATSDR, in collaboration
the presence and nature of health hazards at specific
with public health and environmental officials from
Superfund sites, helping to prevent or reduce further
Iowa, has conducted 38 health assessments in the
exposure and illnesses resulting from those hazards,
state. Following is an example of a public health
and expanding the knowledge base about the health
assessment conducted in the state:
effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
Railroad Avenue Groundwater
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
Contamination--The Railroad Avenue
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
science, taking responsive public health actions, and
Moines comprises mixed residential, industrial,
providing trusted health information to prevent harm-
and commercial properties. Underneath the site,
ful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance
These compounds have compromised several
agreements and grants to identify and evaluate envi-
shallow wells within the West Des Moines water
ronmental health threats to communities. These re-
works system; five wells have been taken out of
sources enable state and local health departments and
service.
other grantees to further investigate environmental
In June 2003, ATSDR released a draft health
health concerns and to educate communities. From
assessment for this site for public comment.
fiscal years 1988 through 2002, ATSDR awarded
Conclusions in the draft assessment were as
more than .8 million--more than 8,000 in the
follows: surface water and sediment at the
last 2 years--in direct funds and services to Iowa for
site have not been impacted by VOCs; testing
comprehensive support of its environmental health
for VOCs in surface soils did not reveal any
unit. In addition to direct funds and services, ATSDR
staff provides technical and administrative guidance
soils are contaminated with VOCs, but at levels
for state-conducted site activities.
that should not present a health hazard.
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
Because analysis of available environmental
data did not reveal that water customers are or
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
have been exposed to VOCs at concentrations
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
that might cause adverse health effects, the draft
assessment categorized the site as no apparent
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
public health hazard in the past, present, or
threat to public health might exist. Twenty-eight
future.
sites have been designated to the NPL in Iowa.
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