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ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Releases Public Health Consultation on PCBs
in Choccolocco Creek near Anniston, Ala.

Finds Consumption of Fish from Creek Presents a Public Health Hazard

For Immediate Release: Jan. 15, 2004

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 is issuing a preliminary health consultation regarding public health concerns associated with the consumption of fish from Choccolocco Creek near Anniston and Oxford, Calhoun County, Ala.

The public health consultation finds that the consumption of fish taken from Choccolocco Creek presents a public health hazard due to elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in the fish. ATSDR agrees that the current no-consumption advisories issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) are warranted. In addition, other aquatic animals from Choccolocco Creek and nearby Snow Creek may contain elevated levels of PCBs, and if consumed could contribute to PCB exposures.

ATSDR's conclusions and recommendations are included in the public health consultation, which is available for review and comment through March 1, 2004, at the following repositories:

Anniston Public Library
108 E. 10th St.
Anniston, Ala. 36202

Bethel Baptist Church
520 E. 6th St.
Anniston, Ala. 36207

Carver Library
722 W. 14th St.
Anniston, Ala. 36201

Community Against Pollution Headquarters
Outreach Office
1521 Cobb Ave.
Anniston, Ala. 36201

First Missionary Baptist Church
1100 Pine Grove Road
Anniston, Ala. 36201

Seventeenth Street Baptist Church
801 W. 17th St.
Anniston, Ala. 36201

Sweet Valley/Cobbtown Environmental Justice Task Force
7733 Highway 78 West
Eastaboga, Ala. 36260

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Community Relations Center for the
Anniston site
1514 W. 10th St.
Anniston, Ala. 36201

Comments on the public health consultation must be made in writing. Mail comments to

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, N.E. (MS E-60)
Atlanta, GA 30333

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged in to ATSDR's administrative record for this health consultation.

Comments received, without the names of individuals who submitted them, and ATSDR's responses to the comments will appear in an appendix to the final public health 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 can contact Senior Environmental Health Scientist Clement Welsh or Community Involvement Specialist Loretta Bush, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Bob Safay also may be contacted at 404-562-1782. Callers should refer to the Choccolocco Creek site in Anniston/Oxford, Ala.

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 Jennifer Sarginson or Jill Smith in the ATSDR Office of Communication at 404-498-0070.


Back to ATSDR Home page

Updated by R. Searfoss January 20, 2004
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
1-888-422-8737 or e-mail (public inquiries)
404-498-0080 or e-mail: atsdrmediainquires@cdc.gov (news media)


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