Atlanta - Environmental health professionals will be interviewing residents of Midlothian, TX from July 13-18 to learn how people get their information, to gather community health concerns and to obtain input into the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) public health response plan.  Community members will be able to provide input to professionals from ATSDR and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), as they revisit Midlothian environmental health issues.

Beginning the week of July 6th, researchers from the University of North Texas, working with ATSDR and DSHS, will contact a random sample of Midlothian residents by phone.  Subsequently agency staff will conduct individual interviews lasting 30-45 minutes with approximately 100 residents.  

"Public participation is very valuable because it will provide input into the public health response plan for Midlothian," said Jennifer Lyke, ATSDR's Midlothian Team Leader. "Our commitment is to serve the Midlothian community with integrity and to ensure all decisions are based on sound science," added Dr. Howard Frumkin, Director of NCEH/ATSDR.   

ATSDR and DSHS look forward to collaborating with community leaders and others throughout this extensive review process designed to answer community health questions, including questions on human and animal health.  Persons interested in participating or with any comments or questions, please contact: 

Tina Walker, Health Educator at tina.walker@dshs.state.tx.us or 1-888-963-7111 ext 2932
Jennifer Lyke, Midlothian Team Leader at jlyke@cdc.gov or 214-665-8362