Tanapag residents presses DPH Release PCB test results

Tanapag residents have asked the Department of Public Health to facilitate the assessment of the results of their medical evaluation including the blood testing in connection with polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.

Juan Tenorio, one of the leaders of Tanapag Action Group, said residents are anxious over the results of the blood test and they would like to find out as soon as possible the level of PCB contamination in their blood.

“We hope to find out at least before the year ends the results to ease people’s apprehensions,” he said.

At the same time, Mr. Tenorio is asking the federal agencies to consider relocating, at least temporarily, residents who are living in contaminated areas in the village.

“There are still contaminated areas in the village that they have not yet identified and we would like them to identify these places to us so that the people can take the necessary precaution,” Mr. Tenorio said.

The U.S. Army Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency have so far identified 18 PCB-contaminated sites. But Mr. Tenorio said residents believe there are a lot more in the village which the federal agencies have yet to discover.

The Tanapag Health Clinic reopened last week for two days to accommodate residents who have failed to take advantage of the free PCB health evaluation. Over 1,000 residents have already undergone blood testing and health screening.

DPH plans to provide a thorough health evaluation of the people when the results of the PCB testing are revealed. Although laboratory results of the blood test have been received by DPH, the medical team is still awaiting completion of all the needed data for a comprehensive analysis of each person’s health status.

The blood samples for PCB testings have been analyzed by California-based Smith Kline laboratory with the assistance of the National Medical Services Inc. in Pennsylvania.

Public health officials have sought the assistance of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for the opening of the clinic and funding for additional testing on some of the residents who may have high levels of PCB.

DPH will also send some blood samples taken from the residents for independent analysis and comparison to another laboratory, a recommendation which was earlier made by the head of the medical team.

ATSDR is being eyed to fund the planned congener-specific testing that will be performed on some of the residents who would have high levels of PCB based on the results of their blood analysis.

DPH is also looking into the request of Tanapag residents to identify a control group that will be used in comparing the analysis of PCB testing among the people in the village.