Federal Agency to Discuss Polycythemia Vera Investigation Findings at Public Meeting on August 25

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Protecting America’s Health from Toxic Exposure

Media inquiries: 770-488-0700 or atsdrmediainquiries@cdc.gov
ATSDR Web site: www.atsdr.cdc.gov

Note to correspondents: ATSDR staff will be available for a press availability session to discuss the updates of the investigation from 5:30 until 6:00p.m. on Monday, August 25 at Genetti’s Best Western Hotel, located at 1441 N. Church St. in Hazleton. No appointment is needed.

For Immediate Release: August 18, 2008

ATLANTA – The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will hold a public meeting to discuss the final findings of an investigation of the polycythemia vera (PV) cases in Schuylkill, Luzerne, and Carbon counties. The federal public health agency will also outline areas for future research.

The meeting will be held on Monday, August 25 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Genetti’s Best Western Hotel, located at 1441 N. Church St. in Hazleton.

National experts on PV and representatives from the Pennsylvania Departments of Health (PADOH) and Environmental Protection will participate in the community meeting.

PV is a rare illness that causes the body to make too many red blood cells. In August 2006, PADOH asked ATSDR to help determine the number of PV cases in the tri-county area and to look for possible factors in common among them.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

Members of the press can request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700. The updates on the investigation will be shared at the press availability session and community meeting on August 25.