Att3_1_InvitationLetter_20131205

Attachment 3.1

Anniston Community Health Survey: Follow-up Study and Dioxin Analyses

Invitation Letter

<Date>

<First Name> <Last Name>

<Address>

Dear <Name>,

The Calhoun County Health Department (CCHD) is pleased to send you this letter of invitation. We are working with a research team composed of representatives from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). NIH and ATSDR are funding a new polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) study in Anniston.

During 2005-2007, you were part of the first Anniston PCB study. That study provided useful data about PCBs in Anniston. We found associations between PCBs and health measures such as blood pressure and diabetes in some groups of people in Anniston, but we would like to study those more. Scientific research also suggests that additional aspects of health may be related to exposure to PCBs and other chemicals. We would like to study those here in Anniston.

You and others who participated in the ACHS last time are the only ones who can help us gather this information. We will study these topics by comparing your responses and measurements over time.

If you decide to take part in this new study, we will test your blood for more PCBs. We plan to test for other chemicals such as dioxins, pesticides, and heavy metals that were not measured earlier. We will also test your blood for the same types of health markers that many doctors use.

We ask that you fast for at least eight hours before we draw your blood. If you take diabetes medications, we will give you special instructions about the blood draw. Trained study staff will draw 125-mL (about 10 tablespoons) of blood from a vein in your arm. If you are currently pregnant or in jail (including house arrest), you cannot participate in the study.

We will measure your height, weight, waist, and blood pressure and ask you to complete a questionnaire. This study visit will take about two hours. If you complete all of the parts of the study, we will give you a $100 gift card.

Thank you for taking the time to consider taking part in the study. Please review the enclosed study fact sheet. In a few days, one of our staff members will call you about the study and answer any questions you may have. If you want to take part in the study, the caller will set up a time for your appointment, or you may set an appointment by calling our office toll-free at (855) 822-1778. For your convenience, you can choose either the CCHD or the West Anniston study office. If it is hard for you to travel to a study office, we can set up a home visit.

You may contact us toll-free at (855) 822-1778 or at the following phone numbers. We look forward to including you as an important part of the Anniston Follow-up Study.

Sincerely,

Ms. Lori Bell

Director, CCHD

Marian Pavuk, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator, ATSDR

Stephen Mennemeyer, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator, UAB

Linda Birnbaum, PhD, Co-Investigator, NIH

Questions/Contacts: If you have any questions about the study, please contact:

Ms. Lori Bell

Calhoun County Health Department

3400 McClellan Blvd

Anniston, AL 36201

Phone: (256) 237-7523