health intervention. ATSDR's public health action
of the property owners received individual letters
plan for the site includes blood lead screening for
stating the lack of public heath threat under current
area residents (in coordination with PADOH) and
postremediation conditions.
health education activities for residents and county
The University of Pittsburgh School of Public
health professionals.
Health was contracted by local officials to study
The Geary Drive and Ambulance Garage
the possibility of heath effects in the affected
consultations evaluated potential exposure for
community. In October 2003, the university
trespassers from incidental soil ingestion. Although
released its final reports for the community.
the site is bordered by residential areas, the
PADOH has also been reviewing the cancer
likelihood of exposure is limited because the site
statistics for the area. The primary public health
is along a creek bank and is mostly covered by
issue of concern is the possibility that leukemia
grass. Further, no recreational activities occur on
rates are elevated in this community. ATSDR
the site, and pedestrian foot traffic is infrequent.
will review the cancer data and the university's
ATSDR concludes that although lead levels are
final reports and make any necessary follow-up
above background in surface soil at the site,
recommendations for this community. ATSDR
exposure is not expected to occur at levels of health
formed an internal workgroup that is now
concern. ATSDR classified both the Geary Drive
reviewing the final summary report.
and Ambulance Garage sites as no apparent public
Health Education and Community Activities
health hazard for this exposure scenario.
Pennsylvania has been a participant in ATSDR's
Tranguch Gasoline Spill--In 1993, DEP
responded to the gasoline spill associated with a
program, PADOH has received funding and technical
leaking underground storage tank at the Tranguch
assistance for the development of community educa-
Gasoline Site in Hazleton. In the early 1990s,
tion and activities associated with human exposure to
DEP sampled homes and installed vapor recovery
hazardous substances in the environment.
systems. At DEP's request, in 1996 EPA began
Hamburg Lead--Because of the widespread
sampling and remediating homes affected by the
gasoline spill as well as defining the extent of
and ATSDR are leading a comprehensive health
education effort to inform health care providers
and community residents in the area about the
contamination are believed to have served as a
health effects of lead and about resources to
pathway of exposure to residents living beyond the
prevent or reduce lead exposure. A special focus
immediate area of the groundwater plume. Public
of these activities is on promoting childhood lead
health agencies have been involved with the site, at
prevention and surveillance. ATSDR is providing
EPA's request, since May 2000.
technical assistance to PADOH that includes the
In 2001, ATSDR prepared a health consultation
review and development of health educational
on the safety of action levels for benzene, toluene,
materials and the coordination and distribution of
ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) chemicals
hundreds of information packets for physicians.
found in homes impacted by the site. In spring
PADOH and ATSDR activities conducted in
2001, ATSDR and PADOH conducted door-
relation to the Hamburg Lead site include
to-door visits to more than 80 homes to answer
1. Developing and distributing a fact sheet on the
health questions and provide information on health
health effects of lead exposure and the importance
issues related to the site. Both agencies also jointly
of lead screening.
conducted an educational program for physicians
and other local health care professionals serving the
2. Conducting physician visits to increase their
Hazleton area, as well as a program on community
awareness of lead issues related to the Hamburg
stress issues. During winter 2001, ATSDR
Lead site and to inform them of future health
collaborated with PADOH to individually review
education and blood lead screening activities.
all of the environmental sampling data available for
3. Offering blood lead screenings to children
all 368 homes and businesses in the site area; all
6 months through 6 years old at the 2003 Hamburg