ATSDR conducts testing

A federal agency working with the Mineral County Health Department tested 63 people in Superior this month for lead and arsenic in their blood and urine.

ATSDR, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, is a federal public health agency that examines the health effects of toxic substances.

ATSDR became involved in Superior after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified certain areas around Superior homes where children could be exposed to lead and arsenic in the soil. Mineral County requested help from the federal public health agency.

Children are most sensitive to health effects resulting from exposure to lead and arsenic. High levels can cause neurological damage in children.

The ATSDR team and the Mineral County Health Department explained the purpose of the exposure investigation to residents during an EPA Community Meeting in May. During the meeting residents requested that adults be tested as well as children.

A total of 63 adults and children participated during the exposure investigation, held July 13 and 14.

"We were happy with the turnout, and thankful to the Mineral County Health Department staff for their work in encouraging participation," said Dan Strausbaugh, senior regional representative for ATSDR.

The urine arsenic samples will be analyzed by the National Center for Environmental Health lab, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta. The blood lead samples will be analyzed by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Laboratory in Helena, MT.

Blood lead and urine arsenic laboratory results should be available in 8 to 10 weeks. Individual blood lead and urine arsenic lab results will be mailed to the individual participants.