Measures taken during 2014 chemical spill were “appropriate”
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has completed a series of short-term toxicity studies it conducted over the past year to evaluate chemicals spilled into the Elk River in 2014.
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) noted the scientific studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program indicate West Virginia took appropriate public health measures during the 2014 Elk River chemical spill.
“The scientific results of the NTP studies released today upheld the drinking water advisory issued during the Elk River chemical spill which is good and reassuring news for West Virginia residents who reside in the affected communities,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, Commissioner for the Bureau for Public Health and State Health Officer.
“All together, the NTP findings support the adequacy of the drinking water advisory levels established at the time of the spill,” said John Bucher, Ph.D., NTP Associate Director. “The results identified an opportunity to evaluate a potential health effect in the affected communities. NTP used a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art toxicology tools to look at the spilled chemicals, and found very little reason for concern about long-term health effects.”