DOH, ATSDR and other government agencies continue to evaluate health effects and threats of on-site asbestos

DOH and ATSDR evaluate asbestos health threat at Spokane, WA, plant.

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NEWS UPDATE:

DOH and ATSDR will evaluate the feasibility of identifying former workers and their household contacts. Follow-up activities may include evaluating health effects, providing educational materials on asbestos, and interviewing community members to obtain additional site-related information pertaining to waste disposal practices, industrial hygiene practices, and other facility operations relevant to past exposure pathway analysis.

DOH and ATSDR are conducting a screening level health statistics review in order to determine the incidence of asbestos-related disease in the Spokane area.

DOH and ATSDR will develop health educational materials for exposed populations, including information that encourages smoking cessation and annual influenza vaccinations.

DOH and ATSDR will develop educational materials that target health care providers to promote an awareness of the potential exposure pathways, potentially exposed populations, and symptoms of diseases associated with Libby asbestos. The agencies will disseminate information through professional organizations as well as local and community healthcare networks.

DOH will evaluate the feasibility of obtaining historical information from W.R Grace records regarding the facility’s operating specifications to obtain parameters for an air dispersion model.

DOH will ensure that information concerning the history of the site is available to local health officials and other city/county officials and property development authorities to increase awareness for future land use changes and/or redevelopment activities.

EPA, Ecology, Spokane County and DOH will develop plans to limit worker and resident exposures that may result from land use changes or redevelopment at the site. Spokane County is currently working with EPA and Ecology to clean the site and minimize workers’ and nearby residents’ exposure to asbestos during the cleanup process.

Courtesy of the Washington Department of Health