Officials of the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) met with community members from Calcasieu Parish, La., on December 8 to explore methods of collaborating effectively to answer remaining health questions in the community.
The meeting was designed so that ATSDR could gain insight from some parish residents on how best to engage the entire community in presenting results from chemical exposure studies that are being completed, and in developing an action plan for future activities to support improved health in the community. Six residents of the Calcasieu area representing several community groups traveled to Atlanta to meet with scientists and agency officials; others participated by phone.
Dr. Howard Frumkin, ATSDR director, personally thanked each community member for attending the meeting and for continuing to work on the health challenges in the community. He also expressed ATSDR’s commitment to working closely with communities in solving the nation’s environmental health problems. “For me, the measure of doing it right is we are treating every community like we treat our own families,” he said.
ATSDR began working in Calcasieu Parish in 1997 after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requested help interpreting tests that showed high levels of dioxins in the blood of some residents of Mossville, a small community within the parish. ATSDR has since conducted investigations into parish residents’ exposure to dioxins and several other chemicals. Results from an investigation into residents’ exposure to volatile organic compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls are expected in 2010.
During the December 8 meeting, ATSDR listened to community presentations about health, including cancer, liver disorders, and children's’ health; industrial contamination in local air and water; requests to identify the source of the dioxin exposure; and wishes to relocate. The community and agency representatives also discussed ways of improving communication between the parties.
Dr. Frumkin urged the group to look for constructive solutions, despite challenges such as the limitations of science and regulatory constraints. He said community members’ input will improve ATSDR’s effectiveness in working with communities.
Agency officials are planning their next visit to the Mossville area in 2010.
Media inquiries: 770-488-0700 or envhealthmedia@cdc.gov
ATSDR Web site: www.atsdr.cdc.gov
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.
Release Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2016
ATLANTA, GA — The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released a new report for public comment for the Delta Shipyard in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The federal agency invites the public to review the report and submit their comments by July 18, 2016.
Release Date: Tuesday, July 09, 2013
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released a comprehensive health evaluation of environmental contaminants that could pose a health risk to the residents of Mossville and Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The evaluation consists of a health consultation and two community reports.
Release Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Residents of Mossville and Calcasieu Parish can learn more about health topics such as environmental health, cancer, and heart disease in a series of free classes offered by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) during March and April.
Release Date: Thursday, February 14, 2008
CDC Releases Results of Formaldehyde Level Tests
Release Date: Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today that testing for formaldehyde levels in trailers and mobile homes will begin Friday, December 21, 2007.
Release Date: Tuesday, May 02, 2006
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has released its studies of blood dioxin levels in Calcasieu Parish and Mossville. The parish-wide study showed that Calcasieu residents have blood dioxin levels similar to those found in people nationally. The Mossville follow-up exposure investigation on a group of 22 residents with high exposures found elevated dioxin levels in participants ages 45 and older while participants younger than 45 had normal levels.
Release Date: Thursday, March 16, 2006
Lafayette Parish residents have levels of dioxin in their blood similar to those found in people nationally, says a study just released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Release Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Calcasieu Parish residents have levels of dioxin in their blood similar to those found in people nationally, says a new study by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). A second ATSDR investigation focused on Mossville residents tested for dioxin exposure in 1997 and 1998. They were retested in 2001 to determine if their blood dioxin levels changed over time.
Release Date: Monday, March 13, 2006
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will host a public meeting in Lafayette on Thursday, March 16, to present the results of its dioxin exposure study in Lafayette and Calcasieu Parishes.
The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Holidome Conference Center, 2032 N.E. Evangline Thruway, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Representatives from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality also will be present.
Release Date: Friday, March 10, 2006
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will host a public meeting in Lake Charles on Wednesday, March 15, to present the results of its Calcasieu Parish dioxin exposure study and the latest Mossville dioxin exposure investigation.
Release Date: Thursday, June 10, 2004
The final version of the public health consultation on the Pennzoil-Quaker State Refinery site in Shreveport, La., has been issued by ATSDR. In the health consultation, ATSDR categorizes the levels of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide in the air as no apparent public health hazard. ATSDR also finds that volatile organic compounds in the air present an indeterminate public health hazard.
Release Date: Wednesday, June 02, 2004
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today announced the release of the final public health consultation on the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park in Plaquemine, Iberville Parish, La. This health consultation includes the results of groundwater sampling from the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park well system as well as the agency's responses to comments received on the public comment version of the document.
Release Date: Wednesday, September 03, 2003
A public health consultation on the Calumet Lubricants/Pennzoil-Quaker State Refinery Site in Shreveport, La., recommends more air sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). ATSDR finds the community's exposure to VOCs is an indeterminate public health hazard. The document is available for public review and comment at local repositories from Sept. 3 through Oct. 6.
Release Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2003
At public meetings in Westlake and Lafayette, La., ATSDR is releasing preliminary results of the agency's 2002 Louisiana Dioxin Study of Calcasieu and Lafayette Parishes and its 2001 Follow-Up Investigation. Final results and additional analysis will be presented at public meetings held in the community in summer 2003.
Release Date: Thursday, January 30, 2003
ATSDR released the public comment version of its public health assessment for the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant in Doyline, La. The assessment concluded that potential exposures associated with groundwater, surface soil, surface water/sediment and biota pose no past, current or future public health hazards at the site.
Release Date: Thursday, July 18, 2002
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.
Release Date: Friday, July 05, 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.
Release Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2002
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department Health and Human Services, concluded its door-to-door visits in Lafayette Parish and recently began making phone calls to complete the final phase of The 2002 Dioxin Study.
ATSDR is studying Calcasieu and Lafayette Parishes to see if residents have been exposed to unusual levels of dioxin and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Blood and VOC levels in Calcasieu residents will be compared to levels found in residents from Layette Parish. The 2002 study is a follow-up to ATSDR's 1998 dioxin exposure investigation in Calcasieu, which found that some residents had higher-than-expected levels of dioxin in their blood. This follow-up study, which began in January 2002, was designed to be implemented in two phases.
Release Date: Tuesday, April 02, 2002
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department Health and Human Services, concluded its door-to-door visits in Calcasieu Parish and will begin April 4 making phone calls to complete the final phase of The 2002 Dioxin Study.
Release Date: Wednesday, March 06, 2002
In August 2001, ATSDR was requested to evaluate past contamination of the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park private well system. Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) President, Ms. Albertha Hasten, other LEAN members, and the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park Organization Committee will host a tour for ATSDR staff of the trailer park from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on March 11.
Release Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2002
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department Health and Human Services, is currently in Lafayette Parish conducting door-to-door visits to homes in selected areas as part of the agency's 2002 Louisiana Dioxin Study.
Release Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2002
ATSDR is sponsoring a follow-up exposure investigation in the Calcasieu and Lafayette parishes of Louisiana. An earlier investigation found some area residents had higher-than-expected levels of chemicals called dioxins in their blood. The current investigation will determine the amount of dioxins and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in residents of the parishes.
Release Date: Friday, January 11, 2002
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department Health and Human Services, will conduct two community meetings in Calcasieu and Lafayette Parishes in Louisiana.
Release Date: Monday, November 26, 2001
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department Health and Human Services, will conduct a follow-up dioxin exposure investigation (EI) in Mossville, Louisiana, November 26 - 29, 2001.