The Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation (now known as Tronox, Inc.) operated a wood-preserving plant in Columbus, Mississippi, from 1928 to 2003. The plant covers about 90 acres and is surrounded by homes and industrial properties. The company manufactured pressure-treated railroad products such as wooden cross ties, switch ties, and timbers.
The production processes at the site used creosote and creosote coal tar solutions. From the 1950s until the mid-1970s, the facility also used pentachlorophenol (PCP) to treat wood. The pentachlorophenol process exposed people to pentachlorophenol and to a much lesser degree to dioxin.
Reports and Fact Sheets
ATSDR prepared the following reports and fact sheets to inform and educate the Kerr-McGee community on the exposure pathways and contaminants associated with the site.
Public Health Assessments
- Air Exposures to Wood Treatment Chemicals [PDF, 830 KB]
- Soil - Public Comment Version [PDF, 5.59 MB]
Fact Sheets
- Overview of Kerr-McGee [PDF, 85 KB]
- Creosote Health Effects [PDF, 131 KB]
- Air Exposure [PDF, 205 KB]
- Fish [PDF, 252 KB] (replace)
- Soil, Sediment and Surface Water [PDF, 450 KB]
Quick Tips to Protect Your Health
- Avoid areas inside the wood-preserving facility;
- Stay outside of fenced facility areas;
- Do not enter areas with “Do Not Enter” signs posted; and
- Do not enter, contaminated or abandoned areas, areas undergoing cleanup, drainage ditches, or soil contaminated with creosote.
- If you use creosote at work, wash your work clothes apart from other household clothing.
Contact Us:
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
4770 Buford Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30341 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
Contact CDC-INFO - New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays