Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program

Note: While the original publication dates on some of ATSDR's documents may not appear to be current, the information in the documents is valid and may still provide relevant information.

Program Goals

The goals of the ATSDR Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program (GLHHERP) are to identify human populations residing in the Great Lakes basin that may be at risk because of their contact with chemical contaminants present in one or more of the Great Lakes, and to prevent any adverse health effects.

Research Program Objectives

The ATSDR research program is designed to investigate and characterize the association between the consumption of contaminated Great Lakes fish and short- and long-term harmful health effects. The six objectives of this research program are to:

1. Build upon and extend the results from past and ongoing research.
2. Develop information databases and/or research methodology that will provide long-term benefits to the human health effects research efforts in the Great Lakes basin.
3. Provide direction for future health effects research.
4. Provide health information to state/local health officials, the concerned public, and their medical health care professionals.
5. In concert with state/local health officials increase public awareness regarding the potential health implications of toxic pollution in Great Lakes basin.
6. Coordinate as necessary with relevant U.S. Department of Health and Human Services research programs and activities, including those of FDA, CDC, NIH, and IHS, as well as the EPA and state and local health departments to ameliorate adverse public health impacts of persistent toxic substances in the Great Lakes basin.

These objectives listed for the Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program are subject to change as additional research needs become evident or when new information indicates a change is necessary.