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What is ATSDR?

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ is responsible for evaluating the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. Along with conducting public health assessments, ATSDR provides toxicological databases, information dissemination, medical education, funding, and other program opportunities.

This agency operates under the Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR works with communities, Tribal governments, environmental groups, and local, state and other federal agencies to protect the public health.

How does ATSDR assist communities?

ATSDR identifies communities where people might be exposed to hazardous substances in the environment. The agency also determines how hazardous a site (such as Superfund) is and recommends actions that need to be taken to make sure the residents of the community are safe and free of exposure. ATSDR will conduct assessments at the request of the U.S. EPA, states, or individuals.

What kind of programs does ATSDR offer?

ATSDR operates jointly with the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH). Click here to view the various program areas which are mentioned below:
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/orgstruct.html

Public Health Assessments

Click here to view an example of a Public Health Assessment:
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/arcticsurplus/arc_toc.html

Toxicological Profiles developed from a priority list of 275 substances.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxpro2.html

Other program areas include: Emergency Response, Exposure and Disease Registries, Health Effects Research, Health Education, and Literature Inventory/Dissemination.

Environmental Health Webmap information sheet:

Use Environmental Health WebMaps to learn about the environmental health of your community or state. http://gis.cdc.gov/ncehatsdrwebmaps/

Special Initiatives in Environmental Health

Alaska Traditional Diet Project, Children’s Health, Tribal Affairs and fish-related studies. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/2p-special-initiatives.html

What kind of projects does ATSDR fund?

ATSDR occasionally provides funds to health departments, universities, nonprofit groups, or vendors to conduct activities, sponsor meetings or provide needed services which support ATSDR's mission. One example would be the Alaska Traditional Diet Project. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/2p-funding.html

Programs and campaigns:

Mixing cleaning products * Cleaning up former methamphetamine labs * Reducing chemicals in the schools such as mercury * Preparing for potential health issues associated with climate change.

What are some things that ATSDR does not do?

ATSDR does not conduct large-scale site or release-related environmental sampling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental agencies are responsible for these sampling activities. ATSDR also does not enforce regulations because they are an advisory, nonregulatory public health agency. This agency does not provide medical treatment and health care services. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/COM/expect.pdf