Report Detail

Update on the Mesita Elementary School Multiple Sclerosis Cluster

January 01, 2004 -- In the 2001 Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR) study conducted by Dr. Judy Henry investigating the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Cluster of Mesita Elementary School attendees, it was found that the attendees from the 1940’s through the 1960’s had a two (2) times greater risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis than the general population. At the time of the study’s publication, the researchers recommended “Re-analyz(ing) the El Paso MS cluster data when Texas prevalence estimates become available. The true magnitude of the excess in the Mesita cohort cannot be ascertained without appropriate comparison prevalence estimates”.

In February of 2004, ATSDR published the, “Multiple Sclerosis Pilot Surveillance Report for 19 Texas Counties”. With the new baseline comparisons, the researchers concluded that comparative to other populations in Texas, Mesita Elementary School attendees were actually four (4) times more likely to develop MS during their lifetime.

There are several important issues to note regarding the original study’s limitations. First, although previous “smeltertown” residents (employees of ASARCO who lived next to the smelter) were urged to participate in the study, only 10% chose to. Individuals who attended the public meeting where participation in the study was discussed, reported that many of the former smeltertown residents were wary of the research, and seemed anxious that their participation might cause problems with their retirement or health care benefits from ASARCO. Second, researchers were unable to locate many of the Mesita Elementary School attendees almost 40% could not be located. It may be that some of the individuals that researchers could not locate may have developed MS and should have been included in the study. An additional limitation of the study was the excessive time it took to reach completion. According to the lead researcher, several of the initial participants died of MS during the course of the study and so were not included in the final statistics. Taken collectively, the rigorous limitations of the study mean that in real world experience that there may be a much higher chance of developing MS than even the more recent numbers—four (4) times that of the general population—have indicated.

NOTE: In terms of safeguarding the children currently attending Mesita Elementary School, it is critical to emphasize the quote from addendum to the study, which states, “Sampling conducted at the Mesita Elementary School in 1972 showed the average lead soil concentration was 533 ppm (parts per million). The average lead soil concentration was less for 1973 (143 PPM) and 1974 (122 PPM), suggesting that clean-up activities may have occurred prior to 1973 sampling activities.”
Both the original 2001 Mesita MS study and addendum, and the 2004 MS 19 County Surveillance Report can be found at the url listed below by using the search function on the homepage.

Related Reports

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/elpaso/addend.html
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