Medical monitoring: a beneficial remedy for residents living near an environmental hazard site.
OBJECTIVE
People living close to an environmental hazard site may suffer health harms from real or perceived contaminant exposures. In class-action litigation, medical monitoring is a potential remedy that has been allowed in some jurisdictions but not others. From 1952 to 1989, a US Department of Energy uranium metal plant near Fernald, Ohio, released ionizing radiation and uranium particulates into the surrounding community.


METHODS
Settlement of litigation between nearby residents and the Department of Energy resulted in an 18-year medical monitoring program (N = 9775), which focused on general health promotion rather than effects of uranium.


RESULTS
Participation was higher than projected; decreases in common risk factors (cholesterol and blood pressure) and deaths from cancer have been observed.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the appropriateness of comprehensive medical monitoring as a remedy for people affected by defined sources of environmental contaminants.
Wones
Robert
R
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0056, USA.
Pinney
Susan M
SM
Buckholz
Jeanette M
JM
Deck-Tebbe
Colleen
C
Freyberg
Ronald
R
Pesce
Amadeo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014501:Uranium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014501:Uranium