the New York State Volatile Organic Compounds
up health survey and reviewed medical records.
Registry. EPA assumed control of the site in June
2003 and has conducted environmental sampling
up on thyroid conditions will be released as a
to consider including the site on the NPL.
health consultation in early 2004. The draft health
consultation will be released
A health consultation is a
for public comment and will
written or oral response from
be provided to the participants
ATSDR to a specific request
and then to the community
for information about health
and other stakeholders.
risks related to a specific site,
Southside High School--
chemical release, or hazardous
Southside High School is on
material. A health consulta-
land that straddles the border
tion is a more limited response
of Elmira and Southport.
than a public health assessment
The school was built on land
is. To date, 184 documented
previously used by various
health consultations have been
industries. In response to
conducted at 105 sites in New
community concerns about
York, including the following
NYC DOHMH/ATSDR team member
a perceived unusually high
recent examples.
during residential sampling investigation
occurrence of cancer in
in Manhattan.
Hickory Woods Subdivi-
current and former students,
sion (Abby Street)--Many
New York State collected soil samples from the
homes in the Hickory Woods neighborhood in
school grounds, and NYS DOH initiated a cancer
Buffalo are built on old fill material that possibly
study, collected air samples inside the school and
contains waste from a nearby former steel and
soil gas samples from under the school, assisted
coke plant. Community members are concerned
with some soil sampling, and evaluated the
about possible health effects from exposure to
environmental sample results.
chemicals in the soil in their yards. EPA found
several chemicals in residential yards at levels
above typical soil background levels but not ex-
relied on community reports and on the state's
ceeding public health hazard levels. NYS DOH
system of mandatory cancer reporting, were
and ATSDR prepared two health consultations that
released in 2000. This study found no excess
were released to the public.
of cancer among students at the high school;
however, an excess of testicular cancer was
ATSDR and NYS DOH worked with EPA to
diagnosed between 1997 and 2000 among males
sample surface soil and evaluate the public health
1519 years of age living in the area served by
implications of the results and to release the data
the school. A follow-up study was released in
and evaluation to the homeowners. Because of the
2001. This follow-up study found no unusual
evaluations, EPA completed limited soil removal
conditions or exposures that were shared by all
at two of these homes. ATSDR and NYS DOH
of the young men. In addition, the number of
also recommended that measures be taken to
testicular cancer cases this group was similar to
the number expected. An update on the initial
community park in the neighborhood. The city of
study, which included a survey of both past and
Buffalo accepted these measures, fenced the park,
present students who attended the school between
1980 and 2002, was released in November 2003.
from New York State. The city also is developing
Although several additional cancer cases were
a plan for cleanup of the park. ATSDR and NYS
identified, no excesses of any type of cancer were
DOH conducted an exposure/health survey in
observed with the exception of the previously
which the results suggest more thyroid conditions
described excess of testicular cancer.
might exist among Hickory Woods residents than
among the general U.S. population. On the basis
of these findings, NYS DOH conducted a follow-
a health consultation to evaluate public health
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