about health risks related to a specific site, chemical
the 1920s until 1990. The 28 Phase 1 sites, which
release, or hazardous material. A health consultation is
received 80% of the vermiculite mined in Libby
a more limited response than a public health assess-
in 19641980, may have received vermiculite
ment. In Louisiana, 125 health consultations have
from Libby at any time during the years the mine
been conducted at 63 sites, including the following
operated. All Phase 1 sites ceased processing the
recent example.
vermiculite by the early 1990s. This site ceased
operations in 1990.
Pennzoil-Quaker State Refinery--In October
2000, a community member petitioned ATSDR to
ATSDR is working closely with EPA and state
evaluate the potential public health impacts of the
health partners to determine whether a hazard to
Pennzoil-Quaker State Refinery in Shreveport.
public health exists at any of the NAER sites.
The petitioner requested ATSDR involvement at
An exposure investigation collects information about
the site because of an explosion at the refinery in
specific human exposures through biologic sampling,
January 2000. However, verbal communication
personal monitoring, related environmental assess-
with the petitioner and other community members
ment, and exposure-dose reconstruction. Following is
clarified that ongoing air releases are also a
an example of an exposure investigation conducted in
concern. ATSDR accepted the petition; a final
Louisiana.
version of the public health consultation was
released in June 2004.
Mossville (Calcasieu)--Calcasieu Parish is
the site of a large number of companies that
ATSDR's evaluation concluded that an
produce petroleum-based chemicals, chlorinated
indeterminate public health hazard exists for
hydrocarbon solvents, and other organic chemicals.
exposure to VOCs because available VOC data
In 1998, EPA asked ATSDR to review the results
did not sufficiently represent the community's
of blood tests for several residents of the parish.
Test results indicated elevated levels of dioxin-like
dioxide detected in the air during routine or
substances in several of the samples. As a follow-
permitted releases do not pose a public health
up action in support of the exposure investigation
hazard. Modeling was performed because no data
results, ATSDR and the Association of
from unintentional or nonroutine releases were
Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC)
available for review. Modeling showed some
conducted individualized education sessions with
exceedances of health-based screening values.
each community member who participated in the
Insufficient information was available to determine
exposure investigation to address the resulting data
whether the community's exposure to soil and
and community-based environmental issues.
surface water is of health concern.
In response to the test results and community
Because little data exist to fully evaluate exposure,
concerns, ATSDR conducted an exposure
ATSDR made several recommendations to conduct
investigation in 1998. Blood samples were
further sampling and continue monitoring. Also,
collected from 28 residents of Mossville, a
because of community interest, the Louisiana
small community in Calcasieu Parish. Samples
Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH)
were analyzed for chlorinated dibenzodioxins,
Office of Public Health (OPH) is planning
chlorinated dibenzofurans, and co-planar
a community health fair in conjunction with
polychlorinated biphenyls. Test results indicated
the community. Local and state agencies will
unusual levels of dioxin compounds in some of the
participate.
samples.
New Orleans Asbestos Exposure Review
Site--The Zonolite site in New Orleans is among
several follow-up activities: (1) ATSDR is
28 Phase 1 sites in ATSDR's National Asbestos
conducting an expanded exposure investigation
Exposure Review (NAER) being conducted with
in the parish to determine whether residents have
other federal, state, and local environmental and
been exposed to unusual levels of dioxin or VOCs.
public health agencies. NAER examines more than
This follow-up study began in January 2002.
200 U.S. sites that received asbestos-contaminated
Results of the dioxin investigation will be released
vermiculite ore mined in Libby, Montana, from
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