Hazardous Substances Emergency Events
available information on potential releases of other
Surveillance System (HSEES)--HSEES was
site-related chemicals from nonprocess sources at
the facility (e.g., the wastewater treatment plant) to
established by ATSDR in 1990 to collect and
determine whether off-site ambient air monitoring
analyze information about releases of hazardous
for other site-related chemicals is indicated.
substances that need to be cleaned up or
neutralized according to federal, state, or local law,
Salisbury--ATSDR is involved with two petition
as well as threatened releases that result in a public
sites in Salisbury: APAC Carolina Inc. Hot Mix
health action, such as an evacuation. The goal of
Asphalt and Associated Asphalt, a liquid asphalt
HSEES is to reduce the morbidity and mortality of
storage and distribution facility. These sites have
first responders, employees, and the general public
resulting from hazardous substances emergencies.
ethylbenzene, and xylene; VOCs; and polycyclic
Fifteen state health departments, including North
aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, local residents
Carolina, currently participate in HSEES. HSEES
have odor complaints about the sites, and
captures data on more than 8,000 events annually.
Of these events, 80% occur at fixed facilities, and
ATSDR has agreed to write a health consultation
20% are transportation-related events. Most events
on these sites and is working with local residents
occur between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday
and state and county health officials.
through Friday. People most often injured are
Health Education and Community Activities
employees.
As part of its ongoing outreach activities in affected
Exposure to VOCs in Drinking Water and
communities, ATSDR takes proactive steps to involve
Specific Birth Defects and Childhood Cancers--
communities in identifying their health concerns and
The overall objective of this study is to examine
developing actions to address them. An example of
the associations between 1) maternal exposures
this type of involvement in North Carolina follows.
within a 1-year period before the child's birth to
TCE and PCE in drinking water at Camp Lejeune
during 19681985 and 2) risk for specific birth
the Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN), ATSDR
defects and childhood leukemia in offspring.
provides assistance to health care providers
These birth defects include neural tube defects
working with migrant and seasonal farm workers.
(e.g., anencephaly and spina bifida) and oral clefts
MCN, the second-largest clinical network in the
(e.g., cleft lip with and without cleft palate and
nation, brings together clinicians from various
cleft palate). The results of the planned study will
professions to meet the needs of migrant and
address the recommendation made in ATSDR's
seasonal farm workers. MCN members in North
1997 health assessment of the U.S. Marine Corps
Carolina are Blue Ridge Community Health
Base Camp Lejeune that an epidemiologic study
Services, Inc. (Hendersonville); Goshen Medical
be considered to determine whether mothers
Center, Inc. (Faison); Kinston Community Health
exposed to VOCs in drinking water during their
Center (Kinston); Piedmont Health Services, Inc.
pregnancies were at higher risk for giving birth
(Chapel Hill); Tri-County Community Health
to a child with health problems such as a birth
Center (Newton Grove); and North Carolina
defect or a childhood cancer. ATSDR will publish
Primary Health Care Association (Cary).
a final report of the study, and it will be distributed
Health Studies
to the general public. Because of the geographic
Health studies are investigations conducted to deter-
mine the relations between exposures to hazardous
be distributed via the Web and may include a Web
substances and adverse health effects. Health stud-
broadcast.
ies also define health problems that require further
In response to the public health assessment
investigation through, for example, health surveillance
recommendation, ATSDR began the multistep
or an epidemiologic study. Following are examples of
process of determining the appropriateness of
health studies or investigations that ATSDR conducted
conducting an epidemiologic study of specific
or supported in North Carolina.
childhood cancers and birth defects at Camp
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