National Center for Environmental Health Radiation Studies Branch Radiation Studies Branch | NCEH NCEH | Contact Us

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) studies the potential human health effects from exposure to ionizing radiation and associated toxicants released into the environment, primarily from releases from former U.S. nuclear weapons production facilities.

NCEH helps build the scientific knowledge base about radiation and its health effects.
NCEH conducts research on ionizing radiation, radon, electromagnetic fields, and naturally
occurring radioactive materials.  Our goal is to address public health concerns about current and historic exposures to ionizing radiation as well as expand the scientific knowledge base on radiation health effects.

NCEH shares its expertise with state and local health departments.  NCEH provides support to dose reconstruction projects and epidemiologic studies conducted by state health departments.  We assist local health agencies, academic institutions, scientists, and other organizations through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. We have also provided expertise to the U.S. State Department on radiation exposure issues in the former Soviet Union.

Storage Tanks, Hanford Site

NCEH works with affected communities to plan and implement health research programs.
We are establishing and managing community advisory committees, developing networks with local and national organizations to establish methods for addressing health concerns, funding pilot projects for community education and training, and ensuring the participation of culturally diverse populations.

NCEH works with agency partners to develop long-term research strategies.
Current energy-related health research projects include:

• The Hanford Thyroid Disease Study.
• Dose reconstruction projects at Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in central Idaho and at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, SC.
• Feasibility assessments for epidemiologic studies at Fernald, OH, and the Marshall Islands.
• The Childhood Leukemia Study with the University of Colorado.
• The studies of iodine deficiency and Chernobyl fallout in the former Soviet Union.
• The Nasopharyngeal Study (a cooperative effort with the National Cancer Institute).
• Technical assistance to the states of Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, and Tennessee.
• Follow-up of the Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction Project (HEDR) and development of an individual dose assessment.
• Completion of a Native American dose reconstruction study for HEDR.

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July 1998
National Center for Environmental Health
email ncehinfo@cdc.gov

Radiation Studies Branch | NCEH NCEH | Contact Us

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This page last reviewed January 6, 2000

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Environmental Health
Radiation Studies Branch