August 6, 2007

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has released a draft Public Health Consultation regarding manganese in soils in the cities of Ecorse and River Rouge. The consultation discusses exposure to airborne soils that contain elevated levels of manganese, but the health implications of this exposure cannot yet be determined.

Long-term air monitoring conducted by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in the city of River Rouge indicates that manganese levels in the air exceed recommended screening levels. Manganese in the air may be from several sources and not just the soil.

MDCH recommends that further soil sampling and air monitoring occur. More detailed analyses may be necessary to determine the proportion of airborne manganese due to soil.

MDCH invites the public to review the Public Health Consultation and offer comments on it. Copies of the Public Health Consultation are available for public review at the River Rouge Public Library, 221 Burke Street, River Rouge, and the Ecorse Public Library, 4184 W. Jefferson Avenue, Ecorse. The Consultation is also available on-line at the Division of Environmental Health website, www.michigan.gov/mdch-toxics, under "Health Assessments and Related Documents."

There will be a public meeting regarding this Consultation in September. Details will be announced at a later date.

Information and comments should be addressed to Christina Bush, Toxicologist, Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Environmental Health, Capitol View Building, P.O. Box 30195, Lansing, Michigan 48909, or to bushcr@michigan.gov. People may also call the toll-free telephone number, 1 800 648-6942 (1-800-MI TOXIC). Comments on the Public Health Consultation must be received by October 1, 2007. All comments received will be evaluated and considered and responses will be provided in the final version of the Consultation.

The Division of Environmental Health conducted the Public Health Consultation under a cooperative agreement with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Information concerning the human health effects of exposure to environmental contaminants such as manganese can be found on the ATSDR web page at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html.