Example Letter

Attachment 8. Response Letter Normal Results

Sample letter reporting individual lead and arsenic results to a participant who have a normal level of both of the results (Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level: grade 10.1 – Table 1 excluded)

(ATSDR Letterhead)

Date

NAME

ADDRESS

ADDRESS

Dear ______________:

Thank you for taking part in the Exposure Investigation (EI) in Pueblo, Colorado during the week of ______________, 2013. This letter provides your test results and how they compare with the reference level for your category.

Lead levels in blood are reported in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). Table 1 lists the lead reference level by category. Compare your test results with the reference level for your category.

Arsenic levels in urine are reported in microgram per gram of creatinine (mcg/g). Table 1 lists the reference level for arsenic in urine by category. Compare your test results with the reference level for your category.

Table 1. Personal Test Results and Reference Levels for Lead and Arsenic (Compare your tests results with the reference level for your age or sex.)
Test	Your Test Results	Reference Levels¹
Blood Lead	XXX mcg/dL2	Children 1 to 5 years < 5 mcg/dL Children 6 to 17 years < 10 mcg/dL Pregnant women < 5 mcg/dL Women 15 to 44 < 25mcg/dL
Urine Inorganic Arsenic	XXX mcg/g3	Children 6 to 11 years < 2.80 mcg/g Children 12 to 17 years < 1.75 mcg/g Pregnant women < 3.33 mcg/g Women 15 to 44 years < 3.33 mcg/g
¹The Reference Levels are reported in the 2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ² mcg/dL = micrograms per deciliter 3 mcg/g = micrograms per gram of creatinine Note: < symbol means less than. A value equal to or greater than the reference level is high.

Your tests results are within the normal range (below the reference level).

ATSDR’s goal in this EI was to determine whether people living within ½ mile of the former Colorado Smelter were being exposed to lead or arsenic.

ATSDR will make recommendations for people to reduce their potential for exposures and will also make recommendations as needed for exposure reduction and clean-up of the smelter site to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Pueblo City County Health Department.

I am available for questions you may have on the Exposure Investigation and/or your test results.

If you have any questions, call me at: 770-488-0744 or email me at: [email protected].

Thank you for participating in this Exposure Investigation.

Sincerely

Lourdes (Luly) Rosales-Guevara, MD

Lead Investigator Colorado Smelter EI

ATSDR Division of Community Health Investigations

Exposure Investigation Team

Enclosures