June 16, 2015

Manchin Pleased with Chemical Spill Study Results

Senator Manchin met with Dr. Rahul Gupta to discuss the results of Elk River chemical spill toxicity studies. Results indicate appropriate public health measures were taken and that no long-term health effects should be expected

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) met with Dr. Rahul Gupta, Commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health, to discuss the results of the National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) year-long series of toxicity studies to evaluate MCHM and other chemicals that spilled into the Elk River on January 9, 2014. Senator Manchin applauded the results, which indicate no long-term health effects should be expected for residents who were impacted and that West Virginia took appropriate public health measures following the spill.
 
At the request of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) will launch an additional birthweight study to analyze children with low birthweights born during the period of the chemical spill in the affected counties.

“Today, I met with Dr. Gupta and received the encouraging results from the National Toxicology Program’s toxicology studies on the Elk River chemical spill,” Senator Manchin said. “Last year, a group of federal, state and local leaders all met in my office, and we agreed that additional scientific testing was necessary to provide a clearer understanding of the chemicals that leaked in order to restore West Virginians’ confidence in their water. I am thankful that these studies have been conducted and evaluated in a timely manner.  Most importantly, I am pleased that these findings reassure West Virginians that the chemicals that leaked into the Elk River should not pose long-term health effects. I look forward to continuing to work with officials at all levels as the additional birthweight study is conducted and analyzed.”

Last July, Senator Manchin hosted a meeting in his Washington, D.C. office with Governor Tomblin and federal, state and local agencies to coordinate this series of scientific studies. Over the past year, testing has been conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Toxicology Program, and NIH’s National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences.


###