PCBs in Anniston, Alabama a "public health hazard"
--ATSDR

by Brenda Lindell

(Excerpted from the May 2000 issue of the CWWG newsletter "Common Sense")

A recent federal government report has found sufficient levels of PCBs in parts of Anniston, Alabama to present a public health hazard. The report was put out by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Nowhere else in the United States mirrors the PCBs situation in Anniston.

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were produced at Anniston's Monsanto plant for nearly 50 years before production was discontinued in 1971. PCBs production was banned in the United States in 1979. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), experiments with laboratory animals have shown that PCBs produce adverse health effects including liver damage, skin irritations, reproductive and developmental effects and cancer.

The ATSDR report stated that findings of PCBs "in residential soil in Anniston present a public health hazard of cancerous and noncancerous health effects for persons with prolonged exposure." Regarding soil analysis, the ATSDR report said, "PCBs in residential soils in some areas may present a public health hazard for thyroid and neurodevelopmental effects after exposure durations of less than one year." Regarding the analysis of blood data, the report stated, "The fact that young children have elevated levels of PCBs indicates that exposure may still be occurring at high levels."

Relocation of some people has occurred. Clean-up will be long-term. At this point no one knows how far the contamination has spread. Some children born after 1995 have been found to have high PCBs levels in their blood.

Alabama Governor Don Siegelman has recently sent a letter to EPA Administrator Carol Browner requesting that a public meeting be held in Anniston concerning the national permit the EPA is preparing to issue for the burning of PCBs in all the Army's chemical weapons incinerators in the U.S. This national approval from EPA would include the chemical weapons incinerator being built in Anniston.

A blanket public meeting to cover all sites was held in Utah April 11, but the EPA has planned no meeting in Anniston for public input before the permit is issued. Governor Siegelman further requested this meeting be held before the public comment period ends on May 12.

The EPA has stated that a public meeting will be held at each incinerator site before any PCBs are actually burned there. However, the EPA permit to burn will have been issued before those meetings are held.