July 10, 2009
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has released a Public Health Consultation discussing the potential health effects of the National Gypsum Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) pile, located along Thunder Bay, Lake Huron, in Alpena, Michigan. The National Gypsum CKD pile started in the 1950s as a disposal site for waste from cement production. The cement waste contains metals and other inorganic contaminants that have entered Thunder Bay.
MDCH concluded the fish in Thunder Bay are not being affected by contaminants from the CKD pile and that drinking the public water supply in the City of Alpena is not expected to harm people's health. Contaminants from the CKD pile are entering Thunder Bay, but have not been found in the drinking water at concentrations that could harm people's health.
CKD waste has a high pH and can cause damage to the skin and eyes. Swimmers, divers, and people walking along the shoreline could encounter localized areas of high pH water in Thunder Bay near the CKD pile. MDCH recommends that people avoid coming into contact with discolored water.
MDCH invites the public to read the Public Health Consultation at www.michigan.gov/mdch-toxics, under "Health Assessments and Related Documents."
The department's 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 can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) web page at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html.
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