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April 15, 2003
Contact: Bonnie Widerburg (503) 731-4180 Technical contact: Michael Heuman (503) 731-4025 View-Master follow-up report released; Citizen Advisory Group convenes April 24 Public health officials in the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) have released a report containing answers to questions from former workers of the View-Master factory in Beaverton. The report addresses more than 150 questions raised during two public meetings hosted by state and federal health officials in January. The meetings included a discussion of groundwater contamination at the View-Master site and listening to concerns from former workers and community members. The report is on the DHS Web site or can be obtained by calling (503) 731-4025. In 1998, the presence of an industrial solvent called trichloroethylene (TCE) was discovered in the View-Master factory's supply well at concentrations of up to 1670 parts per billion. TCE has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which has set the maximum safety level for TCE in drinking water at 5 parts per billion. DHS believes the View-Master site constitutes a past public health hazard and recommends further investigation to determine whether former workers have experienced adverse health and reproductive outcomes as a result of TCE exposure. DHS is convening a Citizen Advisory Group to gather input into the development of an in-depth health investigation. The advisory group is open to former View-Master workers, community members and others interested in working with public health officials to develop the proposed further health study. The first meeting of the View-Master advisory group will be held on 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, in Room 140 at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St. in Portland. For more information about the Citizen Advisory Group, call (503) 731-4025. |
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