$.5 million funding sought for PCB medical test

The Department of Public Health will ask the Legislature to provide $500,000 to carry out the planned medical testing of residents in Tanapag in connection with the widespread contamination of polychlorinated biphenyls in the village.

According to DPH Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez, the amount will cover the expenses for blood and tissue sample analysis as well as payment for the medical staff who will be hired to assist in detecting diseases associated with PCB.

Dr. Gershon Henoch Bergeisen from ATSDR arrived here Monday to train local medical staff who would be involved in the medical evaluation.

It will be the first time that a comprehensive medical testing will be conducted after more than two decades of exposure of the people to PCB. Symptoms of PCB poisoning found in humans can be grouped into the following categories: dermal, ocular, respiratory and neurological signs.

DPH estimates that some 3,000 Tanapag residents will come forward for medical testing.

The laboratory analysis will be conducted in the U.S. mainland since there is no facility here capable to make the evaluation. It will be carried out with the assistance of the Center for Disease Control and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Mr. Villagomez is optimistic that the Legislature will assist the department in raising the needed amount. “It will not cost the residents any cent to undergo medical testings,” he said.

Since the department is expecting a huge number of people to participate in the planned medical evaluation, Mr. Villagomez said a makeshift clinic will be set up in the village.

About three to four medical personnel in the private sector will be hired to help the staff from the Commonwealth Health Center in carrying out the task. “We do not want to shift all the burden to the medical staff here (CHC) so we would have a contract with the private sector,” he said.

About 15 to 20 people are expected to join the training which include nurses, doctors, epidemiologist and staff from the Division of Environmental Quality.

The department will contact the relatives of other residents to make sure that those who have transferred residence in other villages are informed of the planned medical evaluation so they can be tested.

“We will put all the information together before making any conclusion on whether the people have been contaminated with PCB,” Mr. Villagomez said.