Chemical Hazards Assessment and Mitigation Projects - Project Abstract Summary The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) conducts activities at hazardous waste sites and releases to protect and promote the health of people in Georgia. The purpose of the program is to increase Georgia’s capacity to 1) respond to threats of human exposure to hazardous substances in the environment, 2) engage communities about site contamination and potential health effects, and 3) implement activities to address local environmental health issues of concern. Specifically, DPH will utilize guidance developed by ATSDR, as well as our network of collaborators, to accomplish ATSDR’s goals in the APPLETREE program. Measurable outcomes will support the following APPLETREE goals for short-term, mid-term, and long-term outcomes: (1) Timely dissemination of site-specific findings to partners, stakeholders, and community members; (2) Increased partner buy-in and acceptance of recommendations leading to increased implementation of recommendations by regulatory agencies, policy makers, and/or individuals; (3) Decreased or eliminated site-related exposures; (4) Increased collection of evidence on effective practices, policies, and processes for preventing exposure; (5) Increased stakeholder practices to reduce or prevent hazardous exposure among children; (6) Increased practices of partners to manage CSPECE program independently; (7) Increased systems and policy changes to support prevented exposures and practices of partners to manage CSPECE program independently; (8) Decreased, eliminated, or prevented exposures to hazardous chemicals; and (9) Increased actions among target populations to identify, reduce, or prevent health effects from exposure to hazardous substances. To achieve the outcomes listed above, DPH will conduct site-specific assessments and health education activities at NPL sites, ATSDR petition sites, CERCLIS or other state-identified sites, RCRA sites, Brownfields, and other redevelopment sites, and facilities or releases within Georgia. Site-specific activities and outputs include public health assessments, health consultations, an exposure investigation, and health educational materials for communities. DPH will also identify, develop and maintain partner and stakeholder relationships to support programmatic activities. DPH will also work to enhance program capabilities to maintain multi-sector partnerships, sustain the CSPECE program and promote safe siting of ECE locations. In partnership with local leaders and organizations in Brunswick, Georgia, we propose three activities to build community capacity to reduce exposures: [1] development and dissemination of updated seafood advisories, [2] youth eco-learning summer camps, and [3] community capacity building for exposure reduction after disasters DPH has established successful partnerships throughout the state with local, state, and federal agencies, academia, organizations, policymakers, advocacy groups, businesses, community leaders, and residents. We collaborate with those affected, including underserved populations, by the release of chemical substances to the environment from hazardous waste sites and learn from and educate the public regarding exposure pathways, related health effects, and exposure reduction and prevention. DPH will also evaluate the effectiveness of our program activities in meeting the short, mid, and long-term goals of the APPLETREE program, to gauge how effective we are and where we need to make improvements.
