NCD980602163_19800515_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_Continuous Surveillance of PCBs-OCR

JAMU ■. HUNT. JR.
GOVl:IINOII
SARAH T. MORROW. M.D., M .... H.
Sl:C:1111:TAIIV
MEMORANDUM
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Division of Health Services
P. 0 . Box 2091 Raleigh 27602
May 15, 1980
TO: All Local Health Directors
Regional Directors
FROM:.~ Dr. Martin P. Hines
,f-' Chief
Epidemiology Section
SUBJECT: The Continuous Surveillance of PCB's
HUGH H. TILSON. M.D.
DlftECTOII:
The Division of Health Services continues to conduct surveillance of PCB 1 s
along 210 miles of North Carolina roadsides. Studies indicate that PCB's
are bound to the soil and therefore do not migrate in the soil and thus do
not contaminate nearby wells or agricultural crops grown in the area.
Please refer to the memorandum of September l, 1978 to local health directors
and practicing physicians in certain specialities on the health effects of
PCB 1 s. In this memorandum we advised physicians of laboratories where serum
samples could be analyzed for PCB levels and we also urged them to contact
the Epidemiology Section should they see or hear of patients with complaints
that might be related to an exposure to the chemical spill. This offer of
epidemiologic assistance remains in effect.
We have been in contact with Dr. William Foege, Director, Center for Disease
Control, Atlanta, regarding continued potential human exposure and how best
to assess such exposure. Dr. Foege responded on December 21, 1979 that they
did not believe an epidemiologic study at present would provide any useful
information on this situation. We concur with Dr. Foege's assessment.
Our public health laboratory continues to examine well water specimens for
PCB's. All specimens submitted have been negative for PCB's. Should you
desire to submit a well water specimen, please contact Mr. Bill Williams,
Pesticides Program, telephone [phone], for assistance.
We want you to know of our continuing concern for any potential health effects
from PCB's and our desire to maintain a surveillance system. We appreciate
your assistance and continue to rely on local health departments to be the
first source of information about citizen concerns and health.
MPH/hk