Activities in
Mississippi
ATSDR in Partnership With
assessment is a
In fiscal years
written, comprehensive
Mississippi
19942003, ATSDR
evaluation of available
awarded more than
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
data and information
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million in direct
Registry (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency
about the release of
funds and services to
responsible for implementing the health-related
hazardous substances
Mississippi.
provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental
into the environment in
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
a specific geographic
(CERCLA). ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal
area. Such releases
agency with more than 400 employees and a budget
are assessed for current or future impact on public
for 2004 of approximately million. ATSDR
health. ATSDR, in collaboration with public health
assesses the presence and nature of health hazards at
and environmental officials from Mississippi, has
specific Superfund sites, helps to prevent or reduce
conducted nine public health assessments in the state,
further exposure and illnesses resulting from those
including the following recent examples.
hazards, and expands the knowledge base about the
Davis Timber Company--The Davis Timber
health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
Company site is in southeastern Mississippi near
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
Hattiesburg. The company conducted timber-
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
processing and wood-preserving operations
science, taking responsive public health actions,
at the site beginning in 1966. Wood-treatment
and providing trusted health information to prevent
operations using pentachlorophenol (PCP)
harmful exposures and disease related to toxic
began in 1972 and continued until 1987. The
substances. ATSDR provides funding and technical
Mississippi Department of Environmental
assistance to states and other partners through
Quality (MSDEQ) has documented intentional
evaluate environmental health threats to communities.
the facility's wastewater treatment holding ponds.
These resources enable state and local health
Fish kills have occurred on the lakes and ponds
departments and other grantees to further investigate
downstream of the site. Fish from those lakes
environmental health concerns and to educate
have been contaminated with PCP and chlorinated
communities. In fiscal years 19942003, ATSDR
dioxins and furans.
awarded more than
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million in direct funds and
In January 2003, ATSDR released a final public
services to Mississippi for financial support of specific
health assessment for the site. ATSDR concluded
environmental health activities. In addition to direct
that the site is a current public health hazard
funds and services, ATSDR staff provides technical
because of physical hazards that could cause
and administrative guidance for state-conducted site
bodily injuries to children and adults who trespass
activities.
on the site. The site was a past public health
hazard (before 1990) because residents who ate
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
contaminated fish from Country Club Lake were
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
exposed to dioxins and furans at levels of health
concern. The estimated amount of dioxin exposure
One of ATSDR's important mandates is to conduct
in some residents who repeatedly ate fish from
the lake might have increased the possibility for
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
altered social behavior and for thyroid cancer and
threat to public health might exist. A public health
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