ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Releases Final Version of Public Health Assessment
on the LEHR/Old Campus Landfill Site, Davis, Calif.

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2004

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today announced it is issuing the final version of the public health assessment on the Laboratory for Energy-Related Health Research (LEHR)/Old Campus Landfill Site on the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), campus near Davis, Calif.

The public health assessment was previously made available to the public for review and comment. The final version includes the comments made by members of the public and ATSDR's responses to the comments.

After evaluating site investigation data and observations made during site visits, ATSDR concludes the following about off-site exposures (beyond the LEHR site fence line):

• Past exposure to nitrate and metals in off-site groundwater was possible by way of private drinking water wells and irrigation wells. These contaminants are not believed to be related to the LEHR site. ATSDR categorizes this pathway as posing a public health hazard for infants 6 months of age or younger.
• Exposure to mercury is possible for people who consume Putah Creek fish, primarily largemouth bass. This contaminant is not believed to be related to the LEHR site. ATSDR categorizes consumption of Putah Creek largemouth bass as posing a public health hazard for the fetus and nursing infant. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should refrain from eating Putah Creek largemouth bass.
• Current and potential future exposures to contaminants in Putah Creek surface water are possible for people who use the creek for recreational activities. ATSDR categorizes this pathway as posing no apparent public health hazards for current and future exposures. A conclusion about past exposure cannot be drawn; thus, past exposure to contaminants in Putah Creek surface water is categorized as an indeterminate public health hazard.

ATSDR concludes the following about on-site exposures:

• Minimal potential, if any, exists for exposure to contaminants in on-site surface soil, airborne contaminants, or ambient radiation. ATSDR categorizes these pathways as posing no apparent public health hazards for past, current, or potential future exposures.
• The public is not coming in contact with contaminated groundwater beneath the LEHR site because no one uses the shallow groundwater as a source of drinking water. UC Davis continues to track groundwater contaminant migration beneath the site and away from the site boundaries. ATSDR categorizes this pathway as posing no pubic health hazard for past, current, or potential future exposures.

ATSDR recommends that private well users in the community surrounding LEHR

• regularly test their well water for nitrate/nitrite;
• avoid giving infants under 6 months of age private well water if nitrate/nitrite levels exceed 10,000 parts per billion;
• avoid boiling water, which tends to concentrate nitrate/nitrite levels. Instead, use an alternative source of water.

The public health assessment may be reviewed at the following repositories in Davis:

Davis Library
315 E. 14th St.

University of California Law Library
400 Mrak Hall Drive

Physical Sciences Library
1 Shields Ave.

Freedom from Hunger
1644 Da Vinci Court

For more information, community members can contact Health Scientist Wayne Henry, toll-free, at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Gwendolyn Eng also may be contacted at 415-947-4317. Callers should refer to the LEHR site in Davis, Calif.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. Established by Congress in 1980 under the Superfund law, ATSDR conducts public health assessments at each of the sites on the EPA National Priorities List, as well as other sites when petitioned. The agency is headquartered in Atlanta.

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Members of the news media can request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling Jennifer Sarginson or Jill Smith in the ATSDR Office of Communication at 404-498-0070.