Activities in
Ohio
ATSDR in Partnership With Ohio
A public health
ATSDR awarded more than
assessment
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
0,000 in the last 2 years
is a written,
(ATSDR) is the lead public health agency responsible
in direct funds and services
comprehensive
for implementing the health-related provisions of the
to Ohio.
evaluation of
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensa-
available data and
tion, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). ATSDR is
information on the
an Atlanta-based federal agency with more than 400
release of hazardous substances into the environment in
employees and an annual budget for 2003 of approxi-
a specific geographic area. Such releases are assessed
mately million. ATSDR is responsible for assessing
for current or future impact on public health. ATSDR,
the presence and nature of health hazards at specific
in collaboration with public health and environmental
Superfund sites, helping to prevent or reduce further
officials from Ohio, has conducted 58 health
exposure and illnesses resulting from those hazards,
assessments in the state, including the following recent
and expanding the knowledge base about the health ef-
examples.
fects of exposure to hazardous substances.
Kirby Tire--Since the 1950s, the 130-acre Kirby
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry out
Tire Company site near Sycamore has accumulated
its mission to serve the public by using the best science,
an estimated 20 million tires, making it the largest
taking responsive public health actions, and providing
accumulation of scrap tires in Ohio and one of the
trusted health information to prevent harmful expo-
largest in the United States.
sures and disease related to toxic substances. ATSDR
An August 1999 fire consumed an estimated
provides funding and technical assistance to states and
7 million of the existing 20 million on-site tires
and produced a large plume of black smoke that
grants to identify and evaluate environmental health
could be seen as far as 60 miles from the site. As
threats to communities. These resources enable state
a result of the fire, pyrolitic oils were released
and local health departments and other grantees to fur-
into nearby Sycamore Creek. Residents expressed
ther investigate environmental health concerns and to
educate communities. From fiscal years 1989 through
the fire and petitioned ATSDR to conduct a public
2003, ATSDR awarded more than .5 million--more
health assessment. To address these concerns, the
than 0,000 in the last 2 years--in direct funds and
Health Assessment Section (HAS) of the Ohio
services to Ohio for comprehensive support of its en-
Department of Health (ODH) completed this
vironmental health unit. In addition to direct funds and
public health assessment for the site under its
services, ATSDR staff provides technical and adminis-
trative guidance for state-conducted site activities.
Pyrolitic oils contain a variety of organic
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
compounds and heavy metals. These typically
include volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
heavy metals. VOCs, PAHs, and other chemicals
were initially detected at high levels in the surface
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
water of Sycamore Creek as a result of oil released
threat to public health might exist. Forty-two sites
into the creek. The chemicals have also been
have been designated to the NPL in Ohio.
detected at lower levels in creek sediments. Some
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