|
Other Names:
·
American University
·
American University Experiment Station
April 27, 2004
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is evaluating
the health implications of arsenic levels in soil samples taken from properties
in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Washington, DC. Soil sampling in the
area is being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the group responsible
for clean-up activities at this site.
ATSDR, in collaboration with the Washington, DC, Scientific Advisory Panel
and the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC DOH), conducted an
Exposure Investigation (EI) in Spring Valley to determine whether neighborhood
residents have higher-than-average levels of arsenic in their bodies. For
those families participating in the EI, ATSDR offered urine and hair testing
as well as indoor vacuum sampling. Samples were collected during the week
of March 11, 2002. In May, results were
provided individually to EI participants, and a summary of the results was
provided to the Scientific Advisory Panel. The findings indicate that the
levels of arsenic observed in this investigation are not expected to cause
health problems. A Summary Report
is available on this Web site and a full report is available under "ATSDR Documents,
March 2002 Exposure Investigation."
ATSDR and DC DOH conducted a follow-up exposure investigation from July
through November 2002. This investigation also focused on residences with
the highest soil arsenic levels. Urine samples were collected by the DC
DOH. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether people were
being exposed to arsenic in the soil during soil removal in the Spring Valley area and to retest during
warmer months to determine if any higher exposures were indicated. Although
three of the 40 people tested had mild elevations of inorganic arsenic in
their urine, health effects are not anticipated in these or any other EI
participants. A summary of these results is presented in the February
2003 Newsletter as well as in a February
2003 presentation. A full report is available under "ATSDR Documents, June
2003 Exposure Investigation."
ATSDR is
preparing a public health consultation (Public Health Evaluation for the
Spring Valley Community) which will provide a public health perspective
based on environmental and health data for the Spring Valley community. At EPA's request,
ATSDR prepared an evaluation of indoor air sampling at 4625 Rockwood Parkway. This evaluation is provided under "ATSDR
Documents, Public Health Consultation for 4625 Rockwood Parkway."
A Customer Satisfaction
Survey for this web site is a recent addition.
Background
During World
War I, the U.S. Army conducted chemical warfare research at the site of
the present Spring Valley neighborhood in Washington, DC Chemical weapons were
detonated in several areas during research and training operations. Chemical
agents, including hazardous substances, ordnance, and explosive waste, were
buried in parts of the area, which has since been developed. It is now occupied
by residential homes and the American University campus.
In December 2000, contaminated soil was identified at the Child Developmental Center at American University. Surface soil samples
collected from the center's playground were found to be contaminated with
arsenic at an average concentration of 57 parts per million (ppm) and at
a maximum concentration of 498 ppm (ATSDR, March 14, 2001). ATSDR conducted an exposure investigation (hair
analyses for arsenic) at the center on February
1-2, 2001. Hair samples from 28 children and 4 adults indicated no elevated
arsenic exposure in children or workers at the center. The property subsequently
has received remedial actions to reduce arsenic levels in the soil (ATSDR,
March 8, 2001). Detectable levels of
arsenic were measured in hair samples from 8 of the participants at concentrations,
ranging from 0.10 to 0.14 ppm, which is within the range reported for unexposed
populations.
On February 10 and 15, 2001, Washington Occupational Health Associates,
Inc. (WOHA), collected hair and urine samples at American University. The target population
for this exposure investigation consisted of Child Developmental Center staff and children (who
attended the center for the prior 12 months), maintenance and grounds workers,
and university athletes who play on the intramural fields near the daycare
center. Sixty-six people (39 adults and 27 children) provided hair samples.
Urine samples were provided by 4 adults. WOHA concluded that results of
its exposure investigation indicated no elevated levels of arsenic in the
population tested (WOHA, March 26, 2001).
Testing of residential soils in the Spring Valley neighborhood has shown
composite soil levels of arsenic ranging from background (an amount normally
found in soils in the region) to approximately 202 ppm. Eleven properties
with one or more grid (discrete) sampling results exceeding 150 ppm have
been identified (go to the Army Corps of Engineers Web site for more information
on their sampling results). The maximum background level of arsenic in Spring Valley soil is approximately 17 ppm, which is well within
the background levels for arsenic in soils of the United States. Residents of Spring Valley have expressed concern
about possible arsenic exposure they might have received from soils at their
residences.
The Army Corps of Engineers began removal of arsenic-contaminated soil from
residential yards in July 2002.
Back to
Top
ATSDR Information Repository
ATSDR has
established an information repository for the community to review past and
current documents/fact sheets/ newsletters, etc. regarding our involvement
in the American University / Spring Valley site. The information
repository is located at the Palisades Branch Library, 4901 V Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007, Phone: 202-282-3139.
Back to
Top
ATSDR Fact Sheets and Newsletters about
Spring
Valley
Newsletter
to the Spring Valley Community, October 2003. Click here for PDF version
or Click here for html version.
Newsletter to the
Spring Valley Community, February 2003
Newsletter to the
Spring Valley Community, August 2002
Newsletter to the
Spring Valley Community, February 2002
An Overview
of ATSDR's initial plans for public health evaluation of the Spring Valley community, December 2001
Back to
Top
ATSDR
Documents
Safe Gardening,
Safe Play and a Safe Home - An interim guide to reducing arsenic exposure
in Spring Valley. Click
here for PDF version. Click
here for HTML version.
Public
Health Consultation for indoor air sampling at 4625 Rockwood Parkway, released December 11, 2003.
June 2003
Exposure Investigation provides a follow-up report on levels of arsenic
in urine for Spring Valley neighborhood participants. Click here for PDF version.
(HTML version will be available shortly.)
March 2002 Exposure Investigation
reports on levels of arsenic in urine and hair of participants in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Washington, DC and on indoor dust samples
from their homes.
Public Health Consultation
about Arsenic on the grounds of the American University Child Development Center, released March 14, 2001.
Exposure Investigation
for Arsenic at the American University Child Development Center, released March 2, 2001.
Public Health
Consultation about initial soil sampling results at the American University Child Development Center, released December 14, 2000.
Public Health
Consultation on four sediment samples taken from four Spring Valley residences, released as
a letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency, March 2, 2000.
Technical
Assistance to the DC Department of Health about whether soil analysis
was appropriate to find all potential contaminants, released January 8, 1998.
Public Health
Consultation about soil sampling results at the American University, released August 26, 1997.
Public Health
Consultation providing an initial assessment of needed public health
actions in the vicinity of the American University Experiment Station, released
June 3, 1997.
Back to Top
General
Information about Arsenic
ToxFAQs TM for Arsenic -- a quick,
easy-to-understand guide to the health effects of arsenic, excerpted from
the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles.
Public Health Statement for
Arsenic -- the summary chapter from the ATSDR Toxicological Profile
for Arsenic.
Toxicological Profile for Arsenic
-- a review of all toxicological information available for arsenic (September,
2000).
Back to Top
General Information about Mustard Gas
ToxFAQs TM for Mustard Gas -- a
quick, easy-to-understand guide to the health effects of mustard gas, excerpted
from the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles.
Public Health Statement for
Mustard Gas -- the summary chapter from the ATSDR Toxicological Profile
for Mustard Gas.
Toxicological Profile for Mustard
Gas -- a review of all toxicological information available for mustard
gas (September, 2003).
Back to Top
Additional Information
Information for Health Care
Providers has more detailed information
on health issues potentially associated with the Spring Valley area.
Presentation to the DC Scientific
Advisory Panel. Review of ATSDR Spring Valley Exposure Investigations
(September 26, 2003).
Presentation
to the Spring Valley Restoration Advisory Board (December 10, 2002) and to the DC Scientific
Advisory Panel (February 3, 2003).
Testimony to the
Subcommittee on the District of Columbia, Committee on Government Reform, United States House of Representatives,
June 26, 2002.
Summary Report
of findings from an Exposure Investigation into possible arsenic exposure
to Spring Valley residents, June 12, 2002.
Report from an expert
panel assembled by ATSDR on the state of the science of hair analysis for
contamination, December, 2001.
List
of contaminants reported at this site in ATSDR's documents (from the
HazDat database).
Presentation
at a Public Meeting about ATSDR activities in Spring Valley, including the upcoming
Exposure Investigation, presented on January 23, 2002.
Presentation
to the DC Scientific Advisory Panel regarding procedures to be used
in the upcoming exposure investigation, presented on December 7, 2001.
Presentation
to the Spring Valley Restoration Advisory Board presented on November 13, 2001.
Testimony to the Subcommittee
on the District of Columbia, Committee on Government Reform, United States House of Representatives,
July 27, 2001.
Presentation
to the DC Scientific Advisory Panel on general aspects of exposure investigations,
presented on April 25, 2001.
Presentation
at a Public Meeting on results of the daycare center exposure investigation
and interpretation of risk, presented on March 14,
2001.
General information about Public
Health Consultations, Petitioned
Public Health Assessments and exposure
to hazardous substances.
Back to
Top
Similar Sites
The following
sites are similar to Spring Valley, in that they also have
arsenic as a primary contaminant in residential soils. They are listed here
only for comparison. This may not be a complete list. Keep in mind that
every site is different, and so our actions at each site may also
differ. Our recommendations for the Spring Valley site will be specific
to its own unique characteristics.
Vasquez
Blvd.& Interstate-70, in Denver, Co. High levels of arsenic
were found in soils from homes in the area.
Media announcement
about the release of a draft Public Health Assessment for this site, March 6, 2002.
List
of contaminants reported at this site in ATSDR's Public Health Assessment
(from the HazDat database)
Blackbird Mine (Panther Creek), in Cobalt, Idaho. High levels of arsenic
were observed in mine tailings.
Public Health Assessment for
this site, January 12, 1995.
List of contaminants reported at this site in ATSDR's Public Health
Assessment (from the HazDat database)
Exposure Investigation of workers and residents to arsenic.
Back to Top
Contact the ATSDR Spring Valley Team Members
Toll free in Atlanta at 1-888-422-8737 or directly at their
phone numbers and emails listed below:
- Spring Valley Site Lead
• Laura Frazier (404) 498-0386, email:LHFrazier@cdc.gov
- Exposure Investigation Lead
• Steve Dearwent (404) 498-0498, email:SDearwent@cdc.gov
- Community Involvement
• Loretta Bush, (404) 498-1742, email:LSBush@cdc.gov
- Health Education
• Richard Sullivan, (404) 498-0521, email:RSullivan@cdc.gov
• John Holland, (404) 498-0520, email:JHolland@cdc.gov
- Toxicologist
• Scott Sudweeks, (404) 498-0390, email:SSudweeks@cdc.gov
Members
of the media are asked to coordinate interviews with site team members through
the Office of Public Affairs at (404) 498-0070.
Surveys
Back to Top
|
|