Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is a federal public health agency operating under the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Its primary mandate is to protect communities from harmful health effects related to exposure to natural and man-made hazardous substances. The agency conducts public health assessments, researches health effects from toxic exposures, and provides trusted health information to communities and healthcare professionals. It works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency to address environmental health threats.

History and establishment

The agency was formally established by the United States Congress under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, commonly known as the Superfund law. This legislation was a direct response to high-profile environmental disasters like the contamination at Love Canal in New York. The agency's creation was championed by legislators such as Congressman James Florio and its early work focused on the health implications of Superfund sites. Initially, it operated administratively within the Centers for Disease Control and its first administrator was Dr. Vernon Houk. Its enabling legislation was later amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, which significantly expanded its public health responsibilities.

Mission and functions

The core mission is to serve the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and disease related to toxic substances. Key functions include investigating the relationship between hazardous substances in the environment and public health, conducting health assessments at contaminated sites, and establishing and maintaining toxicological databases. The agency also has a mandate to provide health education and training to communities and professionals, such as physicians at the Mayo Clinic and local health departments. It operates under the broader health protection goals of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Key programs and activities

Major initiatives include the National Priorities List site evaluation program, where it reviews sites proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The National Toxic Substance Incidents Program tracks and investigates acute chemical releases. It manages the Substance Priority List to guide its toxicological profile development. Other significant activities include the National ALS Registry, which studies the potential link between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and environmental factors, and the Community Assistance Panel program to engage local residents in its health studies. The agency also conducts specific exposure investigations, such as those related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination in communities like those near the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.

Public health assessments and consultations

A cornerstone of its work is producing public health assessments and health consultations for specific sites, such as former industrial facilities or United States Department of Defense installations. These documents evaluate whether people are being exposed to contamination and if that exposure could harm their health. The process often involves reviewing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies like the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Notable assessments have been conducted for areas like the Gowanus Canal in New York City and regions affected by Hurricane Katrina. The findings guide recommendations to protect public health, which are shared with entities like the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Toxicological profiles and public health statements

The agency develops comprehensive toxicological profiles for hazardous substances found at Superfund sites. Each profile summarizes key studies on a chemical's health effects, such as those for benzene, arsenic, and vinyl chloride. For each substance, a companion public health statement is written in plain language for the general public. These profiles are used globally by agencies like the World Health Organization and researchers at institutions like Harvard University. The profiles form the basis for the agency's minimal risk level values, which are estimates of daily human exposure unlikely to cause adverse health effects.

Collaboration with other agencies

The agency maintains extensive partnerships to fulfill its mission. Its closest operational relationship is with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with which it shares the Roybal Campus in Atlanta. It works routinely with the Environmental Protection Agency on site assessments and cleanup decisions. It also collaborates with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on worker exposure issues and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on clinical guidance. At the state level, it partners with entities like the California Environmental Protection Agency and tribal nations through the Indian Health Service. International collaborations include work with the Pan American Health Organization. Category:United States Department of Health and Human Services agencies Category:Public health organizations in the United States Category:Environmental protection agencies in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1980