Exposed children had more difficulties with
Mississippi Delta region. This goal is being realized
attention, short-term memory, and motor skills,
through partnerships with federal agencies, state
and parents of exposed children reported that their
departments of environmental quality, local health
children contributed more stress to the parent-child
departments, faith-based groups, local community
system and had more behavioral problems than did
groups, public schools, and institutions of higher
unexposed children; however, these effects were
education, particularly those that serve large minority
not seen consistently in both sites or in both years.
populations.
No statistically significant differences existed
Phase I of the Mississippi Delta Project used a needs
between exposed and unexposed children in tests
assessment to determine the human health problems
linked to environmental hazards in the region. Phase II
and motor skills, and multistep processing for
of the project was to support Delta communities
either year of the study. Although some domains
through funding a limited number of projects to
essential to neurobehavioral development (such
address problems or needs identified in Phase I and
as short-term memory and motor skills) appear
to develop intervention strategies appropriate for
to have been affected by exposure to methyl
preventing adverse health and environmental impacts.
parathion, the results are largely inconsistent.
The Minority Health Program developed successful
collaborative partnerships with community-based
in Mississippi in November 2002. A final report on
organizations to conduct demonstration projects.
this study was published in fiscal year 2003.
In Mississippi, a smoking cessation project called the
Butt Out and Be Healthy Program was implemented
Hazardous Substances Emergency Events
through the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health
Surveillance (HSEES) System--ATSDR
Center. Phase III of the Mississippi Delta Project will
established HSEES in 1990 to collect and analyze
focus on regional health and environmental promotion.
information about releases of hazardous substances
that need to be cleaned up or neutralized according
Substance-Specific Research
to federal, state, or local law, as well as threatened
releases that result in a public health action, such
In 1998, ATSDR funded the University of Mississippi
as an evacuation. The goal of HSEES is to reduce
Medical Center to study the toxicokinetics of methyl
the morbidity and mortality of first responders,
parathion in female rats during chronic dermal
employees, and the general public resulting
exposure. Toxicokinetics is the study of how a toxin
from hazardous substances emergencies. Fifteen
gets into the body (absorption), where it goes in
state health departments, including Mississippi,
the body (distribution), and how it is metabolized
participate in HSEES. Overall, HSEES captures
and stored in or excreted from the body. The study
data on more than 8,000 events annually. Of these
compared the toxicokinetics after chronic dermal and
events, 80% occur at fixed facilities, and 20% are
oral exposure to methyl parathion and measured its
transportation-related events. Most events occur
transfer to and distribution within the fetus.
between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through
Data obtained from this study will be important in
Friday. People most often injured are employees.
modeling the toxicokinetics of methyl parathion
following different routes of exposure. These data also
Minority Health Program
will assist in determining the need for and design of
The Mississippi Delta Project: Health and
additional toxicologic and epidemiologic studies of
Environment is a major component of the ATSDR
methyl parathion.
Minority Health Program. The project began in 1994
environmental and other factors that negatively
impact human health within a key geographic area.
The goal of the project is to prevent or mitigate
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
adverse health effects and reduced quality of life in
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit the
disadvantaged populations living in communities
ATSDR Web site at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
impacted by identified environmental hazards in the
May 2004
Previous Page
