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PRESS RELEASES
For
more information, contact September 29, 1998 RESEARCHERS
AT KU MEDICAL CENTER ADD TOLL FREE NUMBER FOR
QUESTIONS ON SOUTHEAST KANSAS HEALTH STUDY
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center have added a toll free number, 877/511-2167, for residents of Chanute, Fredonia, Independence, Coffeyville, and Sedan to call if they have questions or concerns about the Southeast Kansas Health Study. Commissioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this project is directed at studying possible health effects related to the operation of four commercial hazardous waste burners and other potential sources of environmental releases located in southeast Kansas. Although the city of Sedan is not one of the study communities, it has agreed to serve as the study’s control community since it is located upwind from the hazardous waste burners and other sources of environmental releases in the area. The toll-free number is a direct line to the project offices located at
KU Medical Center and is answered by project staff between the
hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“It is our hope that residents of the study communities
will use this number to ask questions, make suggestions, or
voice concerns about the study that they believe will be helpful
to us,” said H. William Barkman, M.D., M.S.P.H.,
principal Community involvement in the design and performance of the study is a major objective of the project. To achieve that end, information meetings have been held in each study community and in Sedan so that researchers could meet with residents, hear their concerns, discuss with them different aspects of the study, and take into consideration the information they gain from these meetings in developing the study’s final protocol. “The toll-free number will allow residents to communicate with us directly if they have additional information or questions on the study,” Barkman notes. The two-and-one-half year health study, which began last September, has three parts: 1) a respiratory health survey and medical evaluation, 2) an investigation of cancer incidence and mortality rates in the area, and 3) an air sampling and analysis study. Residents of the study and control communities will be asked to help in developing the study’s final protocol and to participate in a health survey and medical evaluation that are key to the project’s respiratory health component. The study’s final protocol will be completed in September. Two copies will be mailed to public libraries in the Communities of Chanute, Coffeyville, Fredonia, Independence, and Sedan. In addition, copies will be sent to key community stakeholders such as representatives of Ash Grove Cement Company, Lafarge Corporation, Heartland Cement Company, and Safety-Kleen (formerly known as Aptus-Laidlaw Environmental Services). Community residents and stakeholders will be asked to review the study’s final protocol over a period of five to six weeks. At the end of that time, researchers will hold another public meeting in one of the study communities so that interested individuals will have an opportunity to ask questions and make comments on the protocol. The Southeast Kansas Health Study is a collaborative effort among researchers from KU Medical Center and the University of Kansas. John S. Neuberger, DrPH, KU Medical Center’s Department of Preventive Medicine, leads the cancer incidence and mortality rates study. Dennis D. Lane, Ph.D. of KU’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, leads the air sampling and analysis study, and Barkman leads the respiratory health study. #####
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