Help Shape the Future of Transportation In Spanish Lake and...
Read More
Partnership to Assess Contamination of Creek
County Health Dept. Joins With Federal
Researchers to Evaluate Coldwater Creek
The Saint Louis County Department of Public Health (DPH) and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in Atlanta, Georgia, have joined together to evaluate potential exposures to contamination in and around Coldwater Creek.
St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger said, “Earlier this year, I instructed the department to actively pursue collaborative partnerships with state and federal agencies to answer the serious questions being asked by St. Louis County residents who grew up around Coldwater Creek. I am pleased to see this joint effort between St. Louis County and ATSDR take shape.”
Added Dr. Khan, director of the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health, “This is great news. It will combine the scientific expertise of our two agencies in a joint research effort to directly benefit the residents of St. Louis County. ATSDR has tremendous expertise in health physics, toxicology, and radioisotope chemistry.”
The project, called a “Public Health Assessment for Coldwater Creek,” will focus on:
evaluating the situation to determine if residents have been exposed to hazardous substances in the past, are being exposed currently, or could be exposed in the future; anddetermining whether any exposure that has occurred is harmful or potentially harmful and whether any ongoing exposure can be stopped or reduced.
“We look forward to continuing our work with our ATSDR colleagues on this public health assessment over the next 18 to 24 months,” Dr. Khan said.
Engaging the public is among the top priorities for both DPH and ATSDR. Public Health Department leaders will work with ATSDR to actively gather information from the people who live or work near Coldwater Creek.
The assessment will begin by collecting data about potential exposures from numerous agencies and organizations. Then department and ATSDR staff will contact people who live or work near the site to gather additional information and to thoroughly understand the questions and concerns of residents. The goal will be to provide information and recommendations to reduce or prevent harmful exposures from substances in and around Coldwater Creek.
Residents and other interested parties may attend any of the many public meetings being held to educate residents about the assessment process. For additional information, people can also visit http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/products/pha.html or contact ATSDR’s Regional Representative, Erin Evans, at isb5@cdc.gov or at 913-551-1311.
