The Division of Toxicology
(DT) performs an integral function in meeting the ATSDR mandates
by participating in policy development for environmental health-related
issues and in supporting scientific and technical projects within
ATSDR, as well as in other federal agencies. The primary goal of
DT is to serve as a resource for information and assistance regarding
toxic substances in the environment.
As mandated by CERCLA, the Division (1) identifies
and publishes a priority list of substances of greatest concern
at National Priorities
List (NPL) sites; (2) coordinates all activities and database
development associated with preparing toxicological
profiles for the NPL hazardous substances; and (3) ensures the
initiation of research
(file size 155k) designed to determine the
health effects of identified hazardous substances for which information
is currently considered inadequate. As part of an Agency-wide HazDAT
database effort, the Division is responsible for coordinating
the integration of the aforementioned information into HazDAT.
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- providing emergency response coordination operations assistance
on a 24-hour basis on public health issues relating to the release
or threat of release of hazardous substances. The 24-hour number
is 404-498-0120;
- providing substance-specific consultations (toxicological expertise)
to state and federal agencies as well as to the general public;
- coordinating ATSDR toxicology activities with the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the US National Toxicology Program, and
other international, federal, state, local and public programs;
- developing innovative methods and protocols to guide and support
NCEH/ATSDR health authorities, including public health assessments,
health studies, and consultations;
- implementing a program of research to assess human health effects
of water pollutants in the Great
Lakes basin; and
- establishing minimal
risk levels (MRLs) for hazardous substances. An MRL is a scientific
estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance
that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse non-cancerous
health effects over a specified duration of exposure.
- Investigating human health effects of chemical mixtures.
The Division of Toxicology is organized into
a Directors office and three branches, which are as follows:
The Emergency Response and Scientific Assessment
Branch is charged with
- coordinating all activities that identify, evaluate, and prioritize
hazardous substances publicized in the National
Priority List of Hazardous Substances;
- coordinating workgroup activities that lead to deriving MRLs
and other health-based guidelines;
- coordinating activities that lead to development of the hazardous
substances component of ATSDRs Hazardous Substance Release/Health
Effects Database;
- performing chemical consultations;
- conducting emergency preparedness and response activities; and
- developing the medical management guidelines (the MHMIs)
for use by physicians and other healthcare professionals engaged
in treating people exposed to hazardous substances.
The Research Implementation Branch is charged
with
- developing, implementing, and coordinating a program
of research
(file size 155k) to determine the health
effects of hazardous substances;
- providing expertise in evaluating research priorities and in
supporting the overall toxicology program of the division;
- administering ATSDR-sponsored projects that result from substance-specific
programs
(file size 155k) of applied research,
including voluntary research
(file size 112k) with industry and university-based
research
(file size 333k) with minority health
profession schools;
- implementing a program of research to characterize the association
between consuming contaminated Great
Lakes Fish and the potential for harmful health effects; and
- developing and applying computational
toxicology
(file size 145k) models to determine and
characterize risks from exposure to hazardous substances.
The Toxicology Information Branch is charged
with
- coordinating all activities to develop, peer review, produce,
and distribute toxicological profiles (which interpret all known
information on specific hazardous substances), ToxFAQs and
ToxFAQs en Español, and public health statements
(in English and Español);
- coordinating child
health as they relate to developing toxicological
profiles and ToxFAQs
and ToxFAQs en Español;
- developing and producing toxicological resource information
for distribution via printed documents, the World Wide Web, and
CD-ROMs;
- maintaining docket files for all toxicological
profiles, including cited references and other profile documentation;
- coordinating profile development activities (over 150 profiles
developed to date) with the US Environmental Protections Agency
(EPA), the National Toxicology Program, and other appropriate
federal, state, and local government programs;
- maintaining the mailing lists used for distribution of toxicological
profiles to a diverse audience.
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