ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR To Speak with Community Members about Picayune Wood Treating Site

News Release
For Immediate Release: February 7, 2005

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will hold two open house sessions on Feb. 17 to speak with community members about their health concerns related to the Picayune Wood Treating site in Picayune, Ms.

During the open house, ATSDR representatives will meet individually with community members to discuss health concerns associated with the Picayune Wood Treating site. In addition, the open house is an opportunity to introduce ATSDR representatives to the Picayune community. The meetings will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 501 Weems Street in Picayune.

Information gathered from the open house will be addressed in the upcoming public health assessment. A public health assessment examines environmental data, health outcome data and community concerns at a hazardous waste site to determine whether people could be harmed from coming into contact with those substances. The assessment also lists actions that may need to be taken to protect public health.

Community members seeking information about the open house or the public health assessment process may contact Health Communication Specialist Rose Jackson or Environmental Health Scientist Teresa Foster toll-free at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Benjamin Moore may also be contacted at 1-800-241-1754 ext. 21784.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

Established by Congress in 1980 under the Superfund law, ATSDR conducts public health assessments at each of the sites on the EPA National Priorities List, as well as other sites when petitioned. Headquartered in Atlanta, ATSDR is staffed by more than 400 health professionals including epidemiologists, physicians, toxicologists, engineers and public health educators.

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Members of the news media can request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling the ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.