The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will host a media availability session on June 4 in Pascagoula, Mississippi to answer questions about the agency's follow-up study of children exposed to methyl parathion. The session will take place from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the Gazebo/Old Home Health Building, at 4006 Main Street in Moss Point.

The study will look at children who were exposed to methyl parathion in their homes. It is a follow-up to work done in 1996 in Mississippi after health and environmental officials discovered that unlicensed pest control operators were improperly using the pesticide to control pests inside homes. Nationwide, it is believed that more than 10,000 children were exposed.

During the availability session, examiners will be available to discuss the testing program and to demonstrate the tests. None of the children being tested will be present, however, both to protect the privacy of families participating in the study and to avoid any unnecessary distractions as the children concentrate on the tests.

Methyl parathion is a man-made pesticide which is approved for outdoor use only. When used as intended, the chemicals in methyl parathion are rapidly broken down by sunlight. However, when it is used in homes to eliminate roaches and other insects, the insecticide can persist for a long time and cause serious health problems in people and their pets.

Members of the news media who are unable to attend the media availability session or who have questions about the methyl parathion study may request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling Mike Groutt, ATSDR Office of Policy and External Affairs, at (404) 639-0501, or via e-mail at the ATSDR Press Office at ATSDRPress@cdc.gov.