ATSDR - Final Public Health Consultation on Lead Activities in Anniston, Ala.

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ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR Issues Final Public Health Consultation
on Lead Activities in Anniston, Ala.

For Immediate Release: June 26, 2003

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today released the final version of its public health consultation that reviews childhood lead levels in Anniston, Ala.

The health consultation reviews activities resulting from collaborative work by ATSDR, the state of Alabama and Anniston community groups.

Since 2000, public health agencies have conducted four activities designed to characterize blood lead levels in children in the Anniston area. ATSDR's health consultation contains a summary of the four activities, a collective valuation of the findings, recommendations, and an outline of ongoing and planned activities.

The four activities used to characterize blood levels were:

Blood lead screening conducted in Anniston in August/September 2000
Summary of Information in the Alabama Childhood Blood Lead Registry
Childhood Blood Lead Screening Project conducted by ATSDR in April/May 2001
Information provided to ATSDR during discussions with Anniston-area pediatricians.

The evidence from all four activities indicates that average blood lead levels in the children tested were below Alabama and national averages.

The evidence also indicates that some Anniston children are exposed to lead. ATSDR scientists say this means that blood lead testing programs should continue and that parents and the community should continue activities to prevent exposures to lead.

ATSDR's public health consultation is available at the following locations in Anniston, Ala.:

Anniston Public Library
108 E. 10th St.

Community Against Pollution (CAP)
Headquarters Office
1012 W. 15th St.

Community Against Pollution
Outreach Center
1521 Cobb Ave.

Bethel Baptist Church
520 E. 6th St.

Carver Library
722 W. 14th St.

Environmental Protection Agency
1313 Noble St.

First Missionary Baptist Church
1100 Pine Grove Road

Seventeenth Street Baptist Church
801 W. 17th St.

Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of the public health consultation should contact Environmental Health Scientist Clement Welsh, Ph.D., or Community Involvement Specialist PerStephanie Thompson toll free, at 1-888-422-8737; or Senior Regional Representative Bob Safay at 404-562-1782. Callers should reference the Anniston lead health consultation.

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Members of the news media may request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling Elaine McEachern or Petro Kacur in the ATSDR Office of Policy and External Affairs at 770-488-0700.

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This page updated by R. Searfoss May 26, 2003
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
770-488-0700 or e-mail (news media)