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Please note that you are entering an area of historical, archived information. The information contained in these press releases, while accurate at the time of release, may not be the most current available. Please contact the ATSDR Media Office at (404) 498-0070 or ATSDRmediainquiries@cdc.gov to obtain information on the most current releases on your topic or site of interest.

2002

December 30, 2002: ATSDR's draft public health assessment for the Libby Asbestos site in Libby, Mont., concludes that people were exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos in the past and that people currently living near contaminated areas might be exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos. Complete document.

December 18, 2002:ATSDR's initial public health assessment on possible air contamination resulting from the Navy's past activities at the Vieques, Puerto Rico, bombing range concludes that no apparent public health hazard exists for people who might have been exposed to contaminants in the air. The deadline for written public comments is Feb 24, 2003.

December 16, 2002: PHA for the Callahan Mining Corporation NPL site, Brooksville (Cape Rosier), Maine

December 2, 2002:The public health consultation of the Orote (Guam) Landfill, identifies ways to safely select and prepare fish. Investigators documented harmful levels of PCBs, dioxins, metals, and pesticides in fish November 27, 2002:The public health assessment on possible contamination of fish and shellfish resulting form past activities at the U.S. Navy's bombing range in Vieques, Puerto Rico, is now available for public review at several repositories. Comments from the public will be accepted through January 27, 2003.
Update: The Hazardous Substances and Public Health Newsletter is now Public Health and the Environment. The inaugural issue focuses on children's environmental health.

A look back ... a look forward ATSDR's 2001 Annual Report describes the vital role the agency has played in evaluating relationships between hazardous substances in the environment and human health outcomes. The 2002-2007 Strategic Plan outlines ATSDR's vision and mission for the future.

December, 2002: Camp Lejeune: Survey on the Health of Children Born to Women Who Were Pregnant While Living in Base Housing Camp Lejeune, N.C., 1968-1985.

November 25, 2002: The connection between thyroid disease and radiation is just one of the topics to be discussed on December 3 during a presentation hosted by the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee.

November 15, 2002: Pascagoula, Mississippi community members and ATSDR representatives will meet tonight to discuss the draft study of long-term health effects of methyl parathion exposure in children.

October 29, 2002:ATSDR is holding a panel discussion to review and discuss the Health Effects of Asbestos and Synthetic Vitreous Fibers: The Influence of Fiber Length. The meeting is scheduled for October 29 and 30 at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York, NY.

October 17, 2002: Don't miss the next Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee (ORRHES) meeting scheduled for October 22 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

October 9: The draft public health assessment for the Molycorp, Inc., Questa Division, site near Questa, New Mexico, is now available. You have until November 13 to forward written comments.

October 9, 2002: Water drainage from the Memphis Depot in Memphis, Tennessee, poses no apparent public health hazard to nearby residents. The draft health consultation is available at several locations. Written public comments must be received by November 8.

October 9, 2002:The draft public health assessment for the Molycorp, Inc., Questa Division, site near Questa, New Mexico, is now available. You have until November 13 to forward written comments.

October 9, 2002:Water drainage from the Memphis Depot in Mempis, Tennessee, poses no apparent public health hazard to nearby residents. The draft health consultation is available at several locations. Written public comments must be received by November 8.

October 4, 2002: Go to the library! ATSDR's final public health consultation on the International Minerals and Chemicals and Arkwright Dump sites in Spartanburg, South Carolina is now available at the county library in Spartanburg.

October 4, 2002:Some children in Mississippi exhibit problems with short-term memory, motor skills, and behavior after being exposed to the pesticide methyl parathion. ATSDR's draft health study is available for public comment through November 1.

October 1, 2002:ATSDR's Final Report on Air and Dust Sampling in Lower Manhattan is now available on the Asbestos Pages on our site. You'll find the Fact Sheet, Executive Summary and the Full Report. For more information, you may also wish to visit New York City's Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

October 1, 2002: Keep Checking! ATSDR and New York officials are busy preparing a World Trade Center Registry to document any short- or long-term health effects of people who may have been exposed to smoke, dust, and airborne substances related to the collapse and cleanup of the WTC site.

October 1, 2002: Where can I find information on asbestos in Libby, Montana? Check out the following resources: Asbestos Exposure in Libby; Medical Testing in Libby; Mortality Review; Preliminary Findings of CT Testing. ATSDR's updated mortality review for the Libby Asbestos site is available at several repositories in Libby.

October 1, 2002: Update: The Hazardous Substances and Public Health Newsletter is now Public Health and the Environment. The inaugural issue focuses on children's environmental health.

A look back ... a look forward ATSDR's 2001 Annual Report describes the vital role the agency has played in evaluating relationships between hazardous substances in the environment and human health outcomes. The 2002-2007 Strategic Plan outlines ATSDR's vision and mission for the future.

September 17, 2002: Hydrogen sulfide could pose a threat to the health of Warren Township, Ohio, residents. ATSDR's public health consultation on the site is now available. How did ATSDR become involved in Warren Township?

September 5, 2002: ATSDR announces its new Asbestos Page. This web site contains a wealth of information about exposure to asbestos, health effects of exposure and other resources. Also view information related to asbestos exposure in Libby, MT.

August 29, 2002: ATSDR Announces Urgent Public Health Hazard for Use of Private Well Water in Cady Road Area of North Royalton, Ohio

August 27, 2002. Presentations will be made by the Subcommittee's Health Needs Assessment Work Group and Public Health Assessment Work Group on several current issues related to ORRHES. Details.

August 19, 2002: The Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee (ORRHES) will meet

August 15, 2002: ATSDR's updated mortality review for the Libby Asbestos site is available at several repositories in Libby. Other Libby resources are
- Tremolite Asbestos Exposure Registry
- Asbestos Exposure in Libby
- Medical Testing in Libby
- Mortality Review
- Preliminary Findings of CT Testing

July 27, 2002: ATSDR will host two public availability sessions on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 in Pass Christian, Miss. The sessions will give community members an opportunity to discuss health concerns they believe may be related to the DuPont Delisle Facility site.

On July 18, 2002 ATSDR will host an open house in Plaquemine, La. to discuss the agency's draft health consultation on vinyl chloride contaminated drinking water at the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park.

July 10, 2002: ATSDR will host a public availability session on July 16, 2002 for community members in Neodesha, Wilson County, KS. Residents will have an opportunity to discuss any health concerns that they believe may be related to the former Amoco Neodesha Refinery site.

July 9, 2002: What are the environmental issues facing Anniston, AL, and when did they first surface? The Anniston Final Report is available in both HTML and PDF.

July 8, 2002:By late fall, people who may have been exposed to substances emanating from the collapse of the World Trade Center can participate in a health registry. ATSDR, in partnership with New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, will track the health of 100,000-200,000 people who may have been exposed.WTC Photos

July 5, 2002: Results of ATSDR's public health consultation on possible health effects from vinyl chloride contamination of well water that formerly supplied drinking water for the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park (MGTP) community are now available. The public comment period runs through August 20, 2002.

June 24, 2002: ATSDR assists state and federal agencies in the continued fight against terrorism.

June 24, 2002: As the Bush Administration warns the nation of the possibility of another terrorist attack, perhaps more devastating than the September 11 World Trade Center tragedy, ATSDR is assisting state and federal agencies in the continued fight against terrorism.

June 24, 2002: Low levels of asbestos and fibrous glass are among the materials found in dust samples taken from residences and the common areas of residential buildings in the World Trade Center area of Lower Manhattan. HTML or PDF.

June 24, 2002: Mark your calendar! Government researchers, health professionals and industry group leaders will gather for the International Conference on Chemical Mixtures (ICCM 2002) in Atlanta on September 10-12, 2002. ICCM Media Release

June 24, 2002:The public health assessment for the Boeing Michigan Aeronautical Research Center site is available for public review and comment. Written comments must be received before July 25, 2002.

June 20, 2002: Highlights of ATSDR's public health consultation for the Fort Monmouth Evans area of Wall, NJ, is available. Take a look at some of the conclusions and recommendations.

June 20, 2002: ATSDR's public health assessment of the area near the Willow Grove Naval Air and Air Reserve Station site in Willow Grove, PA, found that no contaminants were present at levels of public health concern. Details.

June 18, 2002: It's been more than 35 years since tritium was released during an historic accident at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, CA. You may view ATSDR's public health assessment and forward written comments through August 7th.

June 14, 2002: ATSDR prepared a briefing paper to provide support for public health decisions regarding residences close to the World Trade Center site that may have elevated levels of fibrous glass in air and settled dust. Full Report.

June 14, 2002: ATSDR sponsors the Hair Analysis Panel Discussion: Exploring the State of Science on June 12-13, 2001, in Atlanta, GA. The summary report is now available in HTML or PDF.

June 12, 2002: Interested in learning more about the new federal Brownfields law and the policies to promote Brownfields redevelopment nationwide? The Brownsfield 2002 Conference , to be held November 13-15 in Charlotte, NC, might be the answer.

June 11, 2002The public comment period for ATSDR's public health consultation for the International Minerals and Chemical (IMC) and Arkwright Dump sites in Spartanburg, SC runs through July 11.

June 10, 2002 Curious about the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion plant site in Paducah, KY? ATSDR's final public health assessment for the site is now available.

June 7, 2002: Petitioned Health Consultation on Midland and Tittabawassee River sites are now availabile on ATSDR Web Site, Midland, Michigan.

June 6, 2002: Federal health researchers will hold two meetings in Neihart on June 19 to provide information about their agency's research into possible health hazards associated with some 67 abandoned mines in the Monarch-Neihart area. The two sites were added to the National Priorities (Super Fund) List in September 2001. They comprise what ATSDR collectively refers to as the Barker-Hughesville and Carpenter Snow Creek Sites.

June 4, 2002: Results of 2001 blood lead testing of residents of Herculaneum, Jefferson County, MO, reveal that 28% of children who participated have lead present in their blood at levels known to cause adverse health effects. Details

May 31, 2002: Is it dangerous to drink the water or eat fish and shell fish from the Willoughby Bay in Norfolk, VA? The answer is found in ATSDR's public health assessment for the U.S. Naval Station Norfolk.

May 30, 2002: The draft health consultation for the General Electric facility in Rome, GA, is available for public review and comment. The focus of this health consultation is on PCBs in residential soil.

May 30, 2002: What are the health implications of the 63-mile-long pipeline used to furnish jet fuel to the U.S. Naval Station Fallon in Fallon, NV? The health consultation should answer all of your questions.

May 30, 2002: What are the health implications of the 63-mile-long pipeline used to furnish jet fuel to the U.S. Naval Station Fallon in Fallon, NV? The health consultation should answer all of your questions. Also, check out the Fallon Photo Gallery.

May 8, 2002: ATSDR release public health assessment for Davis Park Road TCE Site,in Gastonia, North Carolina.

April 24, 2002: Homeowners living near the Barber Orchard site in Waynesville, NC, are advised to filter their water. ATSDR's draft public health assessment is available at the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville. Public comments are invited.

April 24, 2002: Community health concerns related to the Edwards Air Force Base site in California are the focus of public availablity sessions to be held on May 1 in Mojave, CA and May 2 in Rosamond, CA. Past activities at the base resulted in contamination of groundwater and soil.

April 24, 2002: What's on the ATSDR Top 20 list? The top 20 toxic substances found in 2001 at hazardous waste sites listed on EPA's National Priorities List is now available. Details

April 24, 2002: A second exposure investigation in the Simpsonville/Fountain Inn, SC area found reduced levels of uranium in the urine samples of most area residents tested. Residents were switched to an alternative water supply after earlier testing revealed elevated uranium levels in water in some private wells and in urine samples of those drinking from the wells. Details

April 24, 2002: ATSDR has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for a pilot program in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The program would educate vulnerable groups about local health advisories on consumption of contaminated fish. Details

April 24, 2002: ATSDR researchers are busy telephoning randomly selected residents of Calcasieu Parrish, LA, as the agency moves into the final phase of its 2002 Louisiana Dioxin Study. The study goal is to determine if area residents have been exposed to unusual levels of dioxin and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

April 23, 2002: ATSDR's final version of its public health assessment for the Davis Park Road TCE (trichloroethene) site in Gastonia, NC, is now available. The data indicates there are no public health concerns at this time.

April 18, 2002: The Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee (ORRHES) will meet June 18. Details.

April 18, 2002: ATSDR welcomes your written comments on the public health assessment for the Davis Park Road TCE (trichloroethene) site in Gastonia, NC. The public comment period will end March 25, 2002.

April 18, 2002: The New York City Department of Health and ATSDR released the results of air and dust sampling in the World Trade Center area of Lower Manhattan. Low levels of asbestos and fibrous glass are among the materials found in dust samples taken from residences and the common areas of residential buildings. Details.

April 18, 2002: Is there a connection between environmental contaminants and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ATSDR's review of environmental risk factors provides information on this complex neurological disease that is of concern among some San Antonio, TX residents and former workers at Kelly Air Force Base. Details

April 18, 2002: You still have time to send written comments on ATSDR's public health assessment for the Lockwood Solvents Groundwater Plume site in Billings, MT. The deadline for public comment is April 12, 2002. Details.

April 18, 2002: The public health assessment for the U.S. Naval Support Activity in Mechanicsburg, PA is available for public comment through April 15, 2002. ATSDR evaluated environmental monitoring data and possible ways people might be exposed to contamination. Findings

April 18, 2002: The public comment period for ATSDR's public health assessment for the Naval Air Facility on Adak Island, AK runs through April 12, 2002. Written comments are welcome. Details.

March 18, 2002: The final version of ATSDR's public health assessment for the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in De Soto, KS is now available. You may review the document at several De Soto locations. Details

March 27, 2002: Following an examination of existing data, ATSDR determined that the Imperial Refining Co. site in Ardmore, OK, poses no apparent public health hazard.

March 27, 2002: ATSDR is sponsoring a dioxin study in Calcasieu and Lafayette parishes of Louisiana. This exposure investigation will follow up on an earlier ATSDR health consultation in Mossville, LA.

March 27, 2002: ATSDR is analyzing data from thousands of surveys of women who were pregnant while living in base housing at the Camp Lejeune US Marine Corps Base in North Carolina during 1968-1985. Details.

March 27, 2002: A draft report on Case-Control Study of Childhood Cancers in Dover Township, NJ is now available. View a summary of the report and background information on the Dover Township site.

March 27, 2002: The New York City Department of Health and ATSDR released the results of air and dust sampling in the World Trade Center area of Lower Manhattan. Low levels of asbestos and fibrous glass are among the materials found in dust samples taken from residences and the common areas of residential buildings. Details.

March 27, 2002: Is it safe to eat fish caught near the Orote Landfill on Guam? ATSDR, Guam EPA and Guam Public Health are examining this issue. See the preliminary public health findings and fact sheet on PCB contamination.

March 27, 2002: Summaries of a heart study on fishermen from Isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico, and public health assessments of the island's soil and groundwater are available. Details.

March 26, 2002: The Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee has asked ATSDR to provide an overview of three U.S. Department of Energy health-related programs at its March 26, 2002 meeting in Oak Ridge, TN. The meeting will be open to the public. Details.

March 25, 2002:ATSDR welcomes your written comments on the public health assessment for the Davis Park Road TCE (trichloroethene) site in Gastonia, NC. The public comment period will end March 25, 2002.

March 13, 2002: ATSDR recently released a public health assessment on the Newtown Community of Gainesville, GA. An examination of available information showed that current levels of chemicals in air, groundwater, and soil are well below those known to cause adverse health effects. Details.

March 6, 2002: High levels of arsenic and lead were found in soil samplestaken at about 75% of residential properties in the Vasquez Boulevard/I-70 site in northeast Denver, CO. What are the health implications? Details.

March 6, 2002: On Monday, March 11, 2002, representatives from ATSDR met with residents of the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park in Plaquemine, LA  to hear their concerns related to past contamination in the community's drinking water. Details

February 21, 2002: Several meetins schedule to discuss Agana Power Plant and Orote Landfill Sites.

February 20, 2002: ATSDR releases the public comment version of tis public health assessment for the Lockwood Solvents Groundwater Plume site in Billings, Montana.

February 15, 2002: Written public comments will be accepted through February 15 on ATSDR's draft report on a radiological health consultation conducted on the Stauffer Chemical Co. site in Tarpon Springs, FL. View the final health consultation and the draft public health response plan.

February 1, 2002: ATSDR will hold two public availability sessions on February 7 in Wall Township, NJ. Residents will have an opportunity to discuss health concerns regarding PCBs related to the Evans area of Fort Monmouth.

February 1, 2002: ATSDR's report on Childhood Blood Lead Screening in Anniston, AL, is available at various locations in Anniston. Final Report, Press Release and Fact Sheet.

January 25, 2002:ATSDR and Oregon Department of Human Services announces initial release of public health assessment for Portland Harbor Superfund site.

January 1, 2002: ATSDR announces openings for new members for the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee in Oakridge, TN. Nomination packets are now available. Press Release.

This page updated July 10, 2003
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
1-888-422-8737 or e-mail: atsdric@cdc.gov (public inquiries)
404-498-0080 or e-mail: atsdrmediainquires@cdc.gov (news media)

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