ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a joint meeting to discuss the findings of the recently released public health consultation for the DuPont DeLisle Titanium Dioxide Plant in Pass Christian, Miss.

ATSDR and EPA will hold the meeting on Nov. 17 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at DeLisle Elementary School, 6303 W. Wittman Road, Pass Christian. The health consultation states that past and current exposures to dioxin-like compounds do not pose harmful health effects for residents near the site. ASTDR recommends additional testing for dioxins in crabs and onsite soils.

ATSDR conducted the public health consultation in response to community concern about the amount of dioxin-like compounds at the DuPont DeLisle site. A public health consultation is a review of available information to respond to a specific health question or request for information about a potential environmental hazard.

From available information ATSDR determined that dioxin-like compounds in locally caught fish and air are at or below the national average for dioxins in the United States and pose no apparent public health hazard.

The public comment period allows community members to review and comment on agency findings or proposed activities noted in the consultation. The consultation is available for public review through Dec. 30 at

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged in to the ATSDR administrative record for this consultation. Comments received, without the names of individuals who submitted them, and ATSDR responses to the comments will appear in an appendix to the final consultation. Names of those who submit comments, however, will be subject to release for requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

For more information, community members may contact ATSDR Environmental Health Scientist James Durant or Health Communications Specialist Rose Jackson, toll-free, at 1-888-422-8737. ATSDR Regional Representative Carl Blair also may be contacted at 404-562-1786.

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.