Crystal Chemical Company, Arsenic Exposure Study, Houston, Texas, Region 6

摘要

A human exposure study was conducted to determine if adults or children living near an abandoned arsenic production site frequented the on-site or off-site contaminated areas, to measure recent exposure to arsenic through analysis of urine samples, and to determine if activity or time spent at the contaminated site was correlated with arsenic levels in urine. In the study the difference in urine arsenic levels by areas that residents frequented was not statistically significant; all group means by area frequented were less than 50 microg/g creatinine. Although the Crystal Chemical Company Superfund site is a potential health hazard to anyone going on-site or playing in the dirt or runoff adjacent to the site, results of the study did not indicate unusual exposure among residents in the nearest apartment complex, with the exception of three children. The survey also served as a means of alerting the residents to stay away from the contaminated and potentially contaminated areas.