Hazardous Substance Research Centers/South & Southwest

Site description

Following one of Georgia's worst tornadoes, debris from the devastation was plowed into a ravine along with other waste. There are no records available regarding what was disposed of in the landfill that the Newtown Community in Gainesville, Georgia, was built on top of -- the records were destroyed in a fire. Over the past ten years a number of residents both young and old have died from different cancers and lupus. In 1995 the Newtown Florist Club sent a petition for a health assessment to ATSDR. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) reviewed the concerns at this site starting about 4-5 years ago. EPD discovered high emissions of various chemicals from the industries near and surrounding Newtown. Accordingly, the state put the industries on alert and they cut back their emissions. ATSDR has not been able to document any exposure(s) to chemicals. However, their health assessment is ongoing.

Summary of assistance

In a teaming agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR), TOSC is providing assistance to the Newtown Community of Gainesville, Georgia. There are no records available regarding what was disposed of in the landfill that the Newtown Community was built upon -- the records were destroyed in a fire. Over the past 10 years a number of residents, both young and old, have died from different cancers and lupus. In 1995 the Newtown Florist Club sent a petition for a health assessment to ATSDR. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) reviewed the concerns at this site starting in the mid-1990s. EPD discovered high emissions of various chemicals from the industries near and surrounding Newtown. Accordingly, the state put the industries on alert and they cut back their emissions. ATSDR has not been able to document any exposure to the chemicals of concern. However, their health assessment is ongoing.

TOSC expects to provide information on landfill characterization and review of environmental assessments and risk assessment reports. Separate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) will be created for ATSDR assistance and community assistance.