EPA assesses community asbestos dangers in El Dorado Hills, California

EPA’s Region 9 is continuing its assessment of exposures to amphibole asbestos at three schools and a community park in El Dorado Hills, California.

The Region is currently conducting a risk assessment with input from ATSDR and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The Region is also providing El Dorado County with significant funding for asbestos outreach and education efforts.

ATSDR is conducting a health consultation using October 2004 data and is finalizing the health consultation for Oak Ridge High School, the first location in El Dorado Hills where amphibole exposure to children became a community concern.

Also, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, with funding from EPA Region 9,conducted an assessment in El Dorado County of asbestos emissions from roads paved with serpentine gravel, and, based on the results, has recommended that serpentine gravel roads throughout California be re-surfaced to eliminate asbestos emissions.

Courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency