state and local officials and the public about recom-
local residents impacted by the North Hollywood
mended actions. ATSDR has issued one advisory in
Dump site. These groups developed a nine-item
Tennessee:
question-and-answer flyer addressing health
issues associated with fish consumption from the
Chattanooga Creek Tar Deposit Site--In
abandoned dredge pond on the dump site. The
1993, ATSDR issued a public health advisory
oversized flyer was taped to residents' outside
concerning the significant public health hazards
garbage containers.
that existed at this site, also known as the
Tennessee Products Site (TPC). TPC was a coal
ATSDR, the Migrant Clinicians Network
carbonization facility that operated from 1926
until 1964. The tar deposits associated with this
(MCN) provides environmental health education
site were the result of coal tar dumped directly
programs for health care providers working with
into the creek or along the creek bank, which
migrant and seasonal farm workers. A nurse
practitioner from the University of Tennessee
created the hazards at this site. The creek contains
carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
was selected as one of eight recipients of a 2003
(PAHs) at levels higher than the minimum for
Migrant Health Fellowship. The fellowship
potential cancer risk as determined by ATSDR.
provides for a 4-month working and learning
experience in a migrant health center for health
As a part of the public health advisory, ATSDR
care professionals. The Ocoee Regional Help
made the following recommendations: the site
Corporation (Benton), Rural Health Services
should be fenced and warning signs posted to
Consortium (Rogersville), Rural Medical
restrict access to the site; current characterization
Services (Newport), and the Tennessee Primary
Care Association (Nashville) are local members
of MCN.
Products Site should be considered for inclusion
Health Studies
on the NPL; and if conclusive data become
available for other tar-contaminated sites along
Health studies are conducted to determine the rela-
Chattanooga Creek, these sites also should be
tionships between exposures to hazardous substances
considered for inclusion on the NPL.
and adverse health effects. Health studies also define
health problems that require additional investiga-
Health Education and Community Activities
tion through, for example, a health surveillance or
epidemiologic study. Following are descriptions of
ment program only since October 1, 2002, TDH has
site-specific health studies that ATSDR has conducted
received funding and technical assistance to develop
or supported in Tennessee:
educational tools related to human health issues as-
Olin Chemical Company--In 1988, ATSDR
sociated with toxic substances in the environment.
provided technical assistance to TDH to conduct
In the first 8 months of the program, TDH developed
a health study in Charleston. The study was
five educational tools that have been used at seven
meetings or training sessions. Examples of environ-
to determine whether household members of
mental health activity during fiscal year 2003 include
workers at the Olin Chemical Company plant
had elevated urine mercury levels. The study
sicians, emergency rooms, and hospitals about major
also sought to determine the association between
chemical warfare agents.
household air samples and urine mercury levels.
Workers at the chemical plant had previously
Following are additional examples of health educa-
been exposed to high levels of elemental mercury
tion activities conducted in Tennessee:
during a scheduled maintenance operation, and
The Memphis/Shelby County Health
evidence suggested that they had transported
Department, the City of Memphis Public
mercury from the plant into their homes.
Works Department, and TDH developed a
The health study, which was completed and
unique yet highly effective method to ensure the
published in 1990, showed that mercury levels
widest distribution of educational materials to
among the target population were within the
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