ATSDR: Safeguarding Communities from Chemical Exposure

ATSDR: Safeguarding Communities from Chemical Exposure


A new publication entitled ATSDR: Safeguarding Communities from Chemical Exposures paints a clear picture of the many ways the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) helps keep people safe from the effects of exposures to hazardous chemicals. The publication also addresses questions about the agency and its work in an accessible format.

Developed in partnership with the American Public Health Association, the book tells ATSDR’s story from its creation to its current projects and challenges. Colorful graphics and photos illustrate agency success stories—from investigating current or potential health effects at hazardous waste sites to creating free educational materials about toxic substances for distribution to both health professionals and the public.

► The book emphasizes the fact that ATSDR’s work is supported by partnerships with
Federal, tribal, state and local leaders;
► Federal agencies;
► Nongovernmental organizations and associations;
► State and local health departments;
► Healthcare providers; and
► Others who work together to gather data, conduct health studies, engage communities, and develop and put into practice recommendations to protect health and eliminate exposure.

The book emphasizes that for ATSDR, partnerships don’t just matter—in many cases, they are essential. ATSDR is among the few federal agencies that work directly in communities. ATSDR also funds 85 environmental public health professionals in tribal and state agencies around the country and maintains a presence in each of U.S. EPA’s 10 Regional Offices. In addition, ATSDR maintains field offices in Alaska, Montana and Washington, D.C.

The book highlights some accomplishments of ATSDR and its partners:

º In 2004, ATSDR began working with the Wisconsin Urban Reinvestment Initiative in Milwaukee’s 30th Street Industrial Corridor creating a “Development Community” to revitalize the 5-mile-long corridor of vacant lots and address the effects of lingering contamination in shuttered industrial sites.

º ATSDR took the lead in bringing together public health and environmental professionals in communities to reduce potentially dangerous health effects posed by construction and demolition landfills.

º ATSDR worked with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to determine that artificial turf in a local athletic field was a lead contamination source. The Consumer Product Safety Commission followed up on the investigation, and manufacturers of artificial turf agreed voluntarily to reduce the amount of lead in their product.

View more success stories and learn more about ATSDR partnerships by reading ATSDR: Safeguarding Communities from Chemical Exposures. Access the book electronically or order a printed copy on ATSDR’s Web site: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/.