Module 7.7 Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

For this module, I am analyzing the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The ATSDR is based in Atlanta, Georgia and is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The role of the ATSDR includes public health assessments of waste sites, health consultations concerning specific hazardous substances, health surveillance, and registries, response to emergency releases of hazardous materials, applied research in support of public health assessments, information development and dissemination, and education and training concerning hazardous substances.
The ATSDR is directed by a congressional mandate. Originally, Congress created this agency to implement the health-related sections of laws that protect the public from hazardous wastes and environmental spills. Particular tasks directed under the ATSDR include removal and clean-up of Superfund sites. Now the agency oversees and is responsible for the functions listed in the first paragraph. Key guides and policies available to the public are the "Cancer Policy Framework", "Environmental Data Needed for Public Health Assessments", "Guidance Manual for ATSDR Public Health Assessments", and "Toxicological Profile Information."
The public health importance of the ATSDR is integral in ensuring the health of the nation against hazardous substances in the environment. They have had congressional testimony on recent activities such as hydraulic fracking, and health issues associated with contaminated drywall.

Reference:
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/