AFB claims site healthy despite ALS Cluster

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claims site healthy

By Bill Day and Foy

Express-News Staff Writers

The building at AFB most often associated with cases of the deadly Lou

Gehrig's disease has cleaner air quality than an average home or business,

according to a study released Wednesday.

The study discounts the theory that contaminants in or around the building

are leading to the disease.

No one knows what causes the disease, and the Air Force is conducting an

extensive cleanup of contaminants at the base, scheduled to close in July.

About 80 people who once worked at the base have contracted the disease,

known by its formal name as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

At least 17 of them worked in Building 171, raising concerns that

contaminated groundwater around the building or some other factor led to the

illnesses.

The Greater Development Authority, which is converting the base into

an aviation-related business park, hired University of Texas Houston Health

Science Center professor Jimmy Perkins to study the building. Perkins'

report indicates that nothing in Building 171's air, structure or

furnishings should cause illness, including ALS.

" The air environment of Building 171 is significantly cleaner than the

median home or office, " Perkins' report said.

Perkins did find that groundwater around Building 171 is contaminated with

various compounds, but the compounds are apparently not entering the

building. All compounds found in Building 171's air are common in other

buildings, his report said.

The report didn't specifically mention ALS, which slowly robs a victim of

muscle control, including circulation and breathing. The disease has no

known cure.

Perkins' report should help alleviate concerns among prospective and current

tenants at the building, said Roberson, executive director of USA,

the business park replacing AFB.

" The bottom line is that from a health perspective, Building 171 is a

healthy building, " Roberson said. " This is really good news for us. "

After the link between Building 171 and ALS cases was first questioned late

last year, some prospective tenants had balked at the idea of leasing space

at the building. But a campaign by USA officials to alleviate concerns,

capped by Wednesday's report, seems to be having an effect.

Roberson pointed out that one of Building 171's current tenants, Lockheed

IMS, has agreed to expand its space.

" That's better than anything anyone could say, " he said.

As of Wednesday, the list of former or current workers with the deadly

and incurable neurological disease had grown to 80, according to the local

ALS Association.

In October, the number stood at 16. Many of the 80 are now deceased, and the

cases date from 1938 to the present.

Increased news coverage and public attention helped drive an ongoing

international effort to find more ALS patients who worked at . After a

San Express-News investigation last year, the Air Force launched a

study of whether the cases connected to represent a true scientific

cluster of disease.

While some ALS patients and their families first expressed concern last year

about a number of cases with links to Building 171, there has been little

focus recently on the issue, said Klenke of the ALS Association.

" Originally, that was brought up, but as the numbers (of ALS cases) started

shooting up, we really began focusing on the overall investigation, " she

said.

The association remains involved in sending out questionnaires to those who

report that they or a loved one has ALS and has worked at . For more

information, call the association at (210) 733-5204.

According to USA statistics, of 64 former workers with ALS

surveyed, 17 worked at Building 171. Eight worked in the Security Hill

complex, another eight in Building 375 and five in Building 43. In the

remaining 26 cases, no response was given.

After the report was discussed at Wednesday's board meeting, Chairwoman

Chave Gonzaba suggested that its results be made public. Roberson agreed and

said USA businesses had already received a copy. Copies are also

available to prospective tenants and to area residents by calling 362-7800.

wday@...

04/26/2001