Gourt > Regional > North America > United States > Government > Executive Branch > Departments > Department of Health and Human Services > Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (4)
Background
The United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, (ATSDR), is directed by congressional mandate to perform specific functions concerning the effect on public health of hazardous substances in the environment. These functions include public health assessments of waste sites, health consultations concerning specific hazardous substances, health surveillance and registries, emergency response to releases of hazardous substances, applied research in support of public health assessments, information development and dissemination. ATSDR places a strong emphasis upon education and training concerning hazardous substances. The agency works closely with community members and organizations to encourage public involvement and participation in ATSDR activities, including hearings and informational meetings which impact residents living in contaminated areas.
History
Congress created the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry during 1980 in order to implement the health-related sections of laws that protect the public from hazardous wastes and environmental spills of hazardous substances. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), commonly known as the "Superfund" Act, provided the Congressional mandate to remove or clean up abandoned and inactive hazardous waste sites and to provide federal assistance in toxic emergencies. As the lead Agency within the Public Health Service for implementing the health-related provisions of CERCLA, ATSDR is charged under the Superfund Act to assess the presence and nature of health hazards at specific Superfund sites, as well as to help prevent or reduce further exposure and the illnesses that result from such exposures. Moreover, the agency's responsibility is to expand the knowledge base about health effects from exposure to hazardous substances.
Amendments were made to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA), during 1984: These amendments provide for the management of legitimate hazardous waste storage or destruction facilities and authorize ATSDR to conduct public health assessments at these sites when the agency is requested to do so by the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA), states, or individuals. ATSDR is also authorized to assist EPA in determining which substances should be regulated and the levels at which substances may pose a threat to human health.
More on [ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ]
Toxicology
Environmental Protection Agency :: Independent
Toxicology :: Biology
Toxic Substances
Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) - Self-instructional publications designed to increase the primary care provider's knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment.
ToxFAQs™ - Frequently asked questions about contaminants found at hazardous waste sites.
Meta Description: [ The ATSDR ToxFAQsTM is a series of summaries about hazardous substances developed by the ATSDR Division of Toxicology. Information for this series is excerpted from the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles and Public Health Statements. Each fact sheet serves as a quick and easy to understand guide. ]
A Toxicology Curriculum for Communities - A train the trainer's manual.
Meta Description: [ This Toxicology Curriculum for Communities Trainer's Manual is a result of the collaborative efforts of many individuals. ]
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) - Agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directed by Congress to perform specific functions concerning the effect on public health of hazardous substances in the environment.
ATSDR en Español - Serving Spanish-speaking communities
Meta Description: [ Al servicio de las comunidades de habla hispana. ]
Chemical Agent Briefing Sheets - The ToxFAQs™ CABS provide current and relevant scientific information on high profile hazardous materials that people may encounter during daily activities.
Meta Description: [ The ToxFAQs CABS provide current and relevant scientific information on specific high profile chemicals in an effort to provide factual information for public officials, business leaders, concerned citizens, and others to use in their work. The series presents a detailed overview of high profile ... ]
Documents Dealing with the Isla de Vieques Bombing Range - Press releases, fact sheets, medical studies, public health assessments, HazDat records, other agencies, and general information.
Meta Description: [ Press releases, fact sheets, medical studies, public health assessments, general information ]
Geographic Analysis Tool for Health and Environmental Research (GATHER) - A spatial data access tool that provides access to spatial data pertinent to the analysis and exploration of public health issues.
Meta Description: [ GATHER, Geographic Analysis Tool for Health and Environmental Research, is a spatial data access tool that provides members of the public health community and general public access to spatial data that is pertinent to the analysis and exploration of public health issues. ]
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Google Public Service Search - Search the ATSDR website ad-free.
HazDat Database - A scientific and administrative database developed to provide access to information on the release of hazardous substances from Superfund sites or from emergency events and on the effects of hazardous substances on the health of human populations.
Meta Description: [ The Division of Regional Operations: contacts, imacts, and sites of interest to the community. ]
Interaction Profiles for Toxic Substances - A guidance manual that outlines the latest methods for assessing exposure to chemical mixtures.
Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents (MHMI) - Recommendations for on-scene (prehospital), and hospital medical management of patients exposed during a hazardous materials incident.
Meta Description: [ The MHMI series is a three volume set (with a video) comprised of recommendations for on-scene (prehospital), and hospital medical management of patients exposed during a hazardous materials incident. ]
Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposures - The MMGs are intended to aid healthcare professionals involved in emergency response to effectively decontaminate patients, protect themselves and others from contamination, communicate with other involved personnel, efficiently transport patients to a medical facility, and provide competent medical evaluation and treatment to exposed persons.
Meta Description: [ Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs) Acute Chemical Exposures developed ATSDR emergency department physicians emergency healthcare professionals manage acute exposures resulting chemical incidents. ]
Minimal Risk Levels (MRL) for Hazardous Substances - An MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse noncancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure.
Meta Description: [ An MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse noncancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. These substance-specific estimates, which are intended to serve as screening levels, are used by ATSD... ]
Priority List of Hazardous Substances - A list of substances that are most commonly found at facilities on the National Priorities List (NPL) and which are determined to pose the most significant potential threat to human health due to their known or suspected toxicity and potential for human exposure at these sites.
Meta Description: [ 2003 CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) section 104 (i), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), requires ATSDR and the EPA to prepare a list, in order of priority, of subs... ]
Public Health Assessments (PHA) and Consultations - Investigate if people are exposed to hazardous substances and, if so, whether that exposure is harmful and should be stopped or reduced.
Meta Description: [ The Division of Regional Operations: contacts, imacts, and sites of interest to the community. ]
Public Health Statements (PHS) - Information about contaminants found at hazardous waste sites.
Meta Description: [ Information About Contaminants Found at Hazardous Waste Sites. The ATSDR Public Health Statements (PHSs) listed below are a series of summaries about hazardous substances developed by the ATSDR Division of Toxicology. The information in these PHSs has been taken from Chapter One of their respect... ]
Substances Most Frequently Found in Completed Exposure Pathways at Hazardous Waste Sites - The CEP ranking lists the number of sites at which a substance has been found in a completed exposure pathway.
Meta Description: [ ATSDR developed this Completed Exposure Pathway List to track the substances to which people have been exposed at hazardous waste sites. It was updated as part of the Priority List of Hazardous Substances for 2001. ]
The Assessment Process: An Interactive Learning Program - An overview of the public health assessment process that the ATSDR uses to evaluate whether people will be harmed by hazardous materials from waste sites or from other places where hazardous substances have been spilled or released into the environment.
Meta Description: [ Homepage of a Web site that provides information on what ATSDR is, what's involved in a public health assessment, and how and when people in the community become involved in the assessment process. ]
Toxicological Profiles - Characterization of the toxicologic and adverse health effects of hazardous substances.
