After hundreds of reports of illnesses from an accidental release of a pesticide odorant, Georgia Division of Public Health Aug. 15 announced plans to conduct a public health consultation for north Fayette and south Fulton communities.

The state decision comes in response to health concerns voiced by residents after exposure to the onion-like odor generated from the Philip Services Corp. plant on Ga. Highway 92.

To date, 325 residents of the affected communities believe their illnesses are due to exposure to the chemical odorant propyl mercaptan and the pesticide MOCAP received by the plant.

The public health consultation will provide residents with a thorough review of all available information and data regarding the source of the odor, an evaluation of the potential health effects from exposure and health concerns and symptoms of residents along with conclusions and recommendations, if warranted, to protect public health, said Division Public Information Officer Michele Hennessey.

“The aim of a health consultation is to determine whether people are being exposed to hazardous substances and, if so, whether that exposure might cause disease and/or chronic health conditions,” Hennessey said. ”Public health consultations are conducted by environmental health scientists from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and from state agencies with which ATSDR has cooperative agreements, including the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health Chemical Hazards Program (CHP).”

Hennessey said health consultations provide advice on a specific public health issue related to human exposure to toxic chemicals found in the environment. The study can make recommendations for actions to protect public health.

CHP staff evaluate information on toxic chemicals found in air, soil and water and determine whether people might be exposed and what harm that exposure might cause. Additionally, the consultation can make recommendations to decrease or eliminate hazardous exposures.

A health consultation may consider levels or concentrations of hazardous chemicals in the environment, human exposure to contamination, the degree of harm caused to the population and whether residing in nearby locations might affect human health, according to information provided by the Division of Public Health.

Hennessey said the public health consultation is currently in the data collection phase. It is unclear at this time how long the consultation will take to complete, with outcomes contingent on the amount of information gathered. Prior to its publication the public will be given 30 days to provide comment on the draft document, she said.

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