patients could protect their health. These results led to
Central Area (formerly known as the Marshall-
news releases, community informational meetings, and
Gordon Street Area), and the Conrail Rail Yard.
the development of fact sheets addressing health issues
Baseline data collection occurred in 1989; follow-
associated with PCBs. In November 2002, physicians
up interviews were conducted in 1990, 1991, 1993,
from the Great Lakes Center for Children's Health met
1995, 1997, and 2000.
with local health care providers to discuss health ef-
Baseline Analysis of the TCE Subregistry
fects associated with PCBs. At the same time, ATSDR,
Risks of Health Outcomes Among Female
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and state
Registrants: The Impact of TCE Exposures
and local health department representatives met with
on Women--Existing information on the impact
residents to provide background data and address mis-
of health for females exposed to hazardous
conceptions about PCBs and about individual health
substances, particularly the low-level, long-term
issues.
exposures found at waste sites, is sparse. Most
Health Studies
information on the health impact of chemical
exposure comes from occupational studies of
Health studies are investigations conducted to deter-
predominantly healthy male workers and from
mine the relations between exposures to hazardous
toxicologic studies of higher levels and shorter
substances and adverse health effects. Health stud-
duration. To gain more knowledge about the
ies also define health problems that require further
potential impact of TCE environmental exposures
investigation through, for example, health surveillance
on females, the data collected as part of the NER
or an epidemiologic study. Following are examples of
TCE Subregistry was used to compare the female
health studies or investigations that ATSDR conducted
subpopulation reporting rates with (1) national
or supported in Indiana.
norms as determined by National Health Interview
National Exposure Registry (NER):
Survey and (2) their male counterparts' rates for
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Subregistry--NER
19 health conditions and 6 symptoms.
comprises chemical-specific subregistries
Study results were suggestive that the
designed to aid in assessing the long-term health
environmental exposures (TCE and other
consequences of low-level, long-term exposures
chemicals) experienced by the TCE Subregistry
to hazardous chemicals identified at hazardous
members might have had a greater health impact
waste sites. TCE, a synthetic chemical that does
on the female registrants than on the male
not occur naturally in the environment, was
registrants.
selected for NER's first chemical subregistry.
The greatest source of TCE in the environment
is industrial; factories use TCE to remove grease
from metals. TCE also can enter air and water
when it is released from hazardous waste sites.
Occupational and animal studies suggest that TCE
is associated with neurotoxicity, genotoxicity,
and immunotoxicity. However, data concerning
nonoccupational exposures, such as environmental
exposures and their potential health effects are
sparse and inconclusive. ATSDR has selected sites
across the United States at which TCE exposures
have occurred. At these sites, initial (or baseline)
and follow-up interviews have been conducted;
4,986 people from 15 areas associated with
hazardous waste sites in five states have been
enrolled in the subregistry.
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
The Indiana sites included in the TCE Subregistry
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit the
are all in Elkhart and include the Gemeinhardt
ATSDR Web site at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
Company Inc., Superior Street Area, Elkhart
January 2004
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