On Nov. 19, representatives from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will meet with Pascagoula community members to discuss a study of children exposed to the pesticide methyl parathion.

In testing for long-term health effects, some children exposed to the chemical exhibited subtle problems with short-term memory, motor skills and behavior, but overall, the children who completed the testing scored in the average range. This means their scores were no different than unexposed children on most tests.

The study was conducted during summer 1999 and again in summer 2000 to see if any long-term adverse health effects to the nervous system or behavioral problems resulted from exposure to methyl parathion.

The draft study was available for public review at public libraries in Pascagoula, Moss Point and Hattiesburg, Miss., from Sept. 20 through Nov. 1. A community meeting regarding ATSDR methyl parathion study is scheduled for:

November 19, 2002, 6-8 p.m.
Jackson Co. Civic Center
2902 Short Cut Rd.
Pascagoula, Miss.

In this study, ATSDR looked at whether children in Mississippi and Ohio had any nervous system development problems or behavioral problems because of exposure to methyl parathion.

As recently as 1996, methyl parathion was illegally used in Mississippi homes and businesses to kill cockroaches. An estimated 1,500 homes were sprayed in 29 counties. In addition to Mississippi, homes and businesses in Ohio and other states were contaminated.

Methyl parathion is a man-made pesticide approved for outdoor use only. When used as intended, the chemicals in methyl parathion are rapidly broken down by sunlight. However, when used in homes to eliminate cockroaches and other insects, the insecticide can persist for a long time. Exposure to high levels of methyl parathion for a short time affects the nervous system. Not much is known, however, about what health problems might result from longer exposure.

Because children are more likely to be affected by hazardous chemicals than adults, the agency studied whether methyl parathion affected the nervous system and certain behaviors in children whose homes were sprayed. These children were called "exposed children".

Exposed children had either high levels of methyl parathion in their homes or lived with at least one person who had high levels of methyl parathion in his or her urine. Exposed children were compared to children living nearby whose homes were not sprayed or had low levels of methyl parathion.

Community members who would like more information about the study may contact ATSDR, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737. Please mention you are calling about the Mississippi methyl parathion study. Regional Representative Bob Safay also may be contacted in Atlanta at 404-562-1782.

Members of the news media can request an interview by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 404-498-0070.