Eastern Michaud Flats--The Eastern Michaud
categorized Poles, Inc. as no apparent public
health hazard and recommended that site access
Two manufacturing facilities, FMC Elemental
be restricted by placing obvious "no trespassing"
Phosphorus Plant and Simplot Don Plant, are at
signs to prevent the public,
the site. Elemental phosphorus
especially elementary-school
production at the FMC facility
students, from entering the
and superphosphate fertilizer
site.
production at the Simplot
facility has contributed to soil,
As part of the health
assessment, BCEH
evaluated health data in
in and around the site.
conjunction with the Cancer
Data Registry of Idaho
In 1998 and 2001, ATSDR
(CDRI). The overall cancer
developed several health
incidence in the combined
consultations that address the
area of Oldtown and Priest
potential for human exposures
Storage rack for treated poles at the
River, Idaho, and Newport,
(past, present, and future) to
Poles, Incorporated site in Oldtown.
Washington, between 1992
and 1999 was within the expected range when
compared with the remainder of the state of Idaho.
soil, and ambient air. ATSDR had previously
CDRI did find an increased rate of sarcoma cancer
evaluated the potential for human exposures to
in the same three-zip-code area, which prompted
BCEH and CDRI to continue cancer surveillance.
health assessment for the site.
BCEH and CDRI were not able to determine
In conjunction with ATSDR, BCEH is preparing a
whether the sarcoma cases were related to the past
comprehensive health assessment for the EMF site
that will incorporate past health consultations and
Oldtown site. Cancer surveillance is ongoing.
additional environmental data. The comprehensive
Stibnite/Yellow Pine Mining Area--The Stibnite
health assessment is scheduled for initial release in
Mine Area is 14 miles southeast of Yellow Pine.
January 2004.
Past mining activities have deposited metals, spent
A health consultation is a written or oral response
and neutralized ore, waste rock, and mine tailings
from ATSDR to a specific request for information
over approximately 50% of the 3,000-acre site.
about health risks related to a specific site, chemical
In 2002, BCEH reviewed available environmental
release, or hazardous material. It is a more limited
data, health information, and community health
response than a public health assessment is. To date,
concerns while conducting a health assessment.
71 documented health consultations have been con-
Exposure pathways related to surface soil and
ducted at 20 sites in Idaho, including the following
sediment, airborne particulates, surface waters,
recent examples.
and fish were categorized as no apparent public
Lake Coeur d'Alene--ATSDR and IDOH jointly
health hazard. However, the public health hazard
prepared a health consultation to evaluate metals
posed by the consumption of biota (other than
data reported for fish samples collected in 2002.
fish) could not be evaluated because of a lack of
Analysis of metals was completed in early 2003
data and information and is therefore categorized
and final results were reported in May 2003. In
as an indeterminate public health hazard.
addition, a fish consumption advisory for Lake
BCEH recommended that site access should be
Coeur d'Alene was issued jointly by IDOH and
restricted by placing obvious "no trespassing"
the Coeur d'Alene Tribe in June 2003. ATSDR
signs to prevent the public from entering the
supports the issuance of the advisory.
site, especially in the hot-spot areas, and further
In 2002, fish were collected from areas used by
sampling of biota (other than fish) to determine
tribal and recreational fishers and were tested
uptake of metals from site soils and surface water.
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