Defense Health Board Review of the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine Assessment of Sodium Dichromate Exposure at Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant
Abstract
At the request of LTG Eric B. Schoomaker, the Surgeon General of the Army, the Defense Health Board (DHB) conducted an external review of a U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) occupational and environmental health assessment conducted in 2003 at the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Basra, Iraq to address a potential sodium dichromate exposure to United States military service members. The DHB was asked to opine on whether the medical evaluations conducted by USACHPPM were comprehensive and appropriate to address the potential exposure of U.S. military and Department of Army civilian personnel to sodium dichromate, to identify lessons learned, and to provide recommendations for improving the Department's policies and procedures. The DHB Military Occupational and Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee reviewed the classified final report, "Deployment Occupational and Environmental Health Survey and Operational Health Risk Assessment, Qarmat Ali Industrial Water Treatment Plant, Basra, Iraq" which included exposure, medical, epidemiologic, and health risk assessments, as well as information pertaining to health communication efforts undertaken by the USACHPPM Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS)Team. The Subcommittee found the risk assessment timely, comprehensive and appropriate for the potential risk posed to the service members. The comprehensive environmental health assessment including soil and air sampling conducted within weeks of first notification revealed minimal levels of Chromium (Cr) (VI).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 19, 2008
- Accession Number
- AD1034184
Entities
Organizations
- Defense Health Board