Activities in
North Carolina
ATSDR in Partnership With
have been desig-
ATSDR awarded more
nated to the NPL in
North Carolina
than 5,000 in the last
North Carolina.
2 years in direct funds and
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
A public health
services to North Carolina.
Registry (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency
assessment is a
responsible for implementing the health-related provi-
written, compre-
sions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
hensive evaluation
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
of available data and information on the release of
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
hazardous substances into the environment in a spe-
than 400 employees and an annual budget for 2003 of
cific geographic area. Such releases are assessed for
approximately million. ATSDR is responsible for
current or future impact on public health. ATSDR, in
assessing the presence and nature of health hazards at
collaboration with public health and environmental of-
specific Superfund sites, helping to prevent or reduce
ficials from North Carolina, has conducted 32 public
further exposure and illnesses resulting from those
health assessments in the state, including the follow-
hazards, and expanding the knowledge base about the
ing recent examples.
health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
Barber Orchard--Barber Orchard, west of
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
Waynesville, is a former commercial apple
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
orchard. The site is now being developed as a
science, taking responsive public health actions, and
residential community.
providing trusted health information to prevent harm-
During the orchard operation, pesticide mixtures
ful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
were used to control insects and rodents.
ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance to
These mixtures were delivered to trees using a
pressurized underground piping system. Product
ments and grants to identify and evaluate environ-
application, leakage of the piping system, and
mental health threats to communities. These resources
spills during product mixing are thought to have
enable state and local health departments and other
grantees to further investigate environmental health
concerns and to educate communities. From fiscal
site soils and in private drinking wells on the site.
years 1989 through 2003, ATSDR awarded more
than .5 million--more than 5,000 in the last
In a public health assessment released in July
2 years--in direct funds and services to North Caro-
2002, ATSDR concluded that current exposures
lina for comprehensive support of its environmental
health unit. In addition to direct funds and services,
adverse health effects. Residents are filtering their
ATSDR staff provides technical and administrative
guidance for state-conducted site activities.
to the municipal water supply will be available
within 2 years. In addition, frequently used areas
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
levels have been cleaned up to safe levels.
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
ATSDR also did an exposure investigation at this
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
site to look at lead and arsenic levels in children
and adults. No levels of health concern were
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
threat to public health might exist. Thirty-one sites
found.
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