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DOI, ATSDR pledge support to Tanapag clinic
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Posted on Oct 04 2000
The Department of Interior and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry have pledged to continue providing support to Tanapag Health Clinic in conducting health evaluation of residents in connection with polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.
Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said he was assured by officials of the two federal agencies during the recent conference of the Pacific Island Health Officers Association.
This developed as the Tanapag Health Clinic may be reopened this month to allow more residents undergo health examination and blood testing which will determine PCB levels in their body, Mr. Villagomez said.
Public Health officials and the Tanapag Action Group are finalizing the scheduled reopening of the clinic which will allow doctors to provide a complete assessment of a resident’s health status.
More than 1,000 residents have undergone blood testing to determine the level of PCB contamination in their body. Researches have raised concern on the cancer-causing potential of PCB on human. People who have been exposed to the highly toxic chemical for a long time have also experienced nose, lung and skin irritation such as acne and rashes.
