Association of Occupational and
zinc smelter in the town. Blood-lead testing
focused on children aged 6 months to 6 years, but
Environmental Clinics
any resident up to 16 years of age was eligible
to participate. Only one child had an elevated
Association of Occupational and Environmental Clin-
blood-lead level, and that level was only slightly
ics (AOEC), ATSDR supports two occupational and
elevated. The results helped relieve the residents'
environmental health programs in West Virginia. This
concerns about adverse health effects. Because
support is provided to improve education and commu-
the percentages of blood-lead levels in the
nication related to surveillance, diagnosis, treatment,
tests were normal, consideration of emergency
and prevention of illness or injury related to exposure
removal activities at the tailings piles was not
to hazardous substances. The two member institutions
warranted.
in West Virginia are the Marshall University School
Health Education and Community Activities
of Medicine (Huntington) and the Institute of Occu-
West Virginia has only been a participant in ATSDR's
pational and Environmental Health, West Virginia
University School of Medicine (Morgantown). The
this program, the West Virginia Department of
Marshall University program focuses on issues associ-
Health and Human Resources has received funding
ated with the railroad, nickel alloy, steel mine, coal
and technical assistance for the development of
mine, and chemical and gas-manufacturing industries.
community education and activities associated with
The West Virginia University program focuses on en-
human exposure to hazardous substances in the
vironmental diagnoses associated with lead exposure,
environment. During FY 2003, educational materials
etiologic evaluation, and respiratory disease.
were developed in support of environmental health
needs assessments and town meetings in support of
Resource Materials
the FIBAIR, Inc. and Marion County Landfill sites.
ATSDR develops materials that public health profes-
In November 2003, ATSDR collaborated with EPA's
sionals and medical care providers can use to assess
Superfund program, WV BPH, West Virginia
the public health impacts of chemical exposures. Re-
Department of Environmental Protection (WV
sources are available in print, on the ATSDR Web site,
DEP), West Virginia Department of Natural
and on CD-ROM. For example, medical management
Resources, and the Heizer Manila Watershed
guidelines are available for acute chemical exposures
Organization to ensure that permanent signs
to more than 40 chemicals. ATSDR's toxicological
advertising the state's fish consumption advisory were
profiles comprehensively describe health effects; path-
posted at 11 locations along the Kanawha River from
ways of human exposure; and the behavior of more
Dunbar to Point Pleasant. The signs advise anglers not
than 250 hazardous substances in air, soil, and water
to eat carp, catfish, suckers, and hybrid striped bass.
at hazardous waste sites. In the last 5 years, more than
All other fish should be eaten at only one meal per
12,200 of these profiles have been sent to requesters,
month.
including representatives of federal, state, and local
health and environmental departments; academic
The reason for the advisories is that EPA and WV DEP
institutions; private industries; and nonprofit organiza-
found dioxin in the tissue of a wide range of fish in the
tions in West Virginia. ATSDR has also developed
Lower Kanawha and related waterways in the region.
extensive resources for community members.
The levels of dioxin could be harmful to sensitive
people if they eat too much fish. The signs were
posted at public access points where anglers might
access the river, and were an outgrowth of ATSDR's
previous health consultation and health education
work in the community.
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit the
ATSDR Web page at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
December 2003
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