Attachment 2. Colorado Smelter Exposure Investigation: Supporting Statement B
Colorado Smelter Exposure Investigation
ATSDR Exposure Investigations (EI) Generic Information Collection Request
OMB No. 0923-0048
Supporting Statement Part B
Submitted: August 2013
Science Support Branch (SSB)
Division of Community and Health Investigations (DCHI)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Program Official:
Peter J. Kowalski, MPH, CIH
Acting Lead, Exposure Investigations Team
Science Support Branch
Division of Community Health Investigations
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
4770
Buford Hwy NE, MS F59
Atlanta, GA 30341
Phone: 770-488-0776
Fax: 770-488-1542
Email: [email protected]
Point of Contact:
Karen M. Scruton, MS
Environmental Health Scientist, Exposure Investigations Team
Science Support Branch
Division of Community Health Investigation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
4770
Buford Hwy NE, MS F59
Atlanta, GA 30341
Phone: 770-488-1325
Fax: 770-488-1542
Email: [email protected]
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods 3
B.1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods 3
B.2. Procedures for the Collection of Information 3
B.3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with Non-response 3
B.4. Test of Procedures or Methods to be Undertaken 4
B.5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects and Individuals Collecting and/or Analyzing Data 4
Although no statistical methodology is used for the investigations, we will use this section of the submission to describe how the data are collected.
Since the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) does not use the exposure investigation (EI) results to generalize or estimate the total exposed population, the respondent universe and statistical methods for determining sample size are not a factor. ATSDR does, however, need to know the potential size of the population to be sampled for planning since many EIs are location-based, we estimate the potential respondent universe based on street maps and census information.
A list of questions, provided in Attachment 4, will be administered in person at the site of blood collection. Participants will be identified by canvasing the neighborhoods in the area of the former smelter location. The EI team is identified by name along with qualifications or experience in conducting similar EIs.
Quality Control Procedures
Prior to the interviews, the EI team is trained on the site-specific questions to be asked (e.g., the purpose of each question, how to capture answers, place for comments, etc.). The list of questions and individual’s answers are stored in a secure database or locked filing cabinet.
Each participant is given information regarding the name of the EI, a telephone number to answer questions, and the address of the ATSDR website where they can find more information about the EI (Attachment 4). Each participant receives a copy of their personal results.
The Colorado Smelter EI was requested by the Pueblo City County Health Department (PCCHD) to evaluate potential exposure, ATSDR is generally looking for participants that are the most highly exposed. We identify them through a location or an activity that they engage in. If activity-based (e.g., recreating on the slag pile at the location of the former smelter) we may need to contact people to encourage their participation.
We invite people to participate in our sampling based on who would likely be most exposed. For the Colorado Smelter EI, we will be recruiting up to 300 participants: including 1) children aged 9 months to 72 months (blood lead only) and children aged 6 to 17 years, 3) and pregnant women and women of child-bearing age. In ATSDR’s experience, getting sufficient numbers of participants has not been a problem since EI communities often request the testing before we arrive. We often achieve close to a 100% response rate. However, because we are interpreting each individual’s response to his or her specific exposure and not attempting to determine population level exposures, we can interpret results without 100% participation.
The EI team will use the questions provided in Attachment 4.
Statistical calculations are not used to determine participation in EIs. Rather, all the community residents with the greatest likelihood of exposure are asked to participate.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | Attachment 2. Colorado Smelter Exposure Investigation: Supporting Statement B |
| Author | murphy |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-28 |