Definition

• The Agency For Toxic Substances And Disease Registry, ATSDR, is a U.S. Federal agency. Their mission is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment. ATSDR is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Additional Info

ASTDR has the following responsibilities:

Implement health-related provisions of CERCLA (The SuperFund Act). Specifically, Assess the presence and nature of health hazards at specific Superfund sites. Help prevent or reduce further exposure and the illnesses that result from such exposures. Expand the knowledge base about health effects from exposure to hazardous substances. Implement 1984 amendments to RCRA: Conduct public health assessments at RCRA sites, when requested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states, or individuals. Assist EPA in determining which substances should be regulated and the levels at which substances may pose a threat to human health. Enforce aspects of SARA: Additional responsibilities in the areas of public health assessments, establishment and maintenance of toxicologic databases, information dissemination, and medical education.

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Further Information

ATSDR maintains many resources that are of importance to those who work with hazardous substances. Here are some of the most important.

ATSDR ToxFAQsTM - Questions and answers about exposure to hazardous substances found around hazardous waste sites and the effects of exposure on human health. Includes 185 plain-English fact sheets. HazDat Database - Contains loads of searchable info on the release of hazardous substances from Superfund sites or from emergency events and on the effects of hazardous substances on the health of human populations. Top 20 hazardous substances - with additional info on each. These are taken from the CERCLA list and do not include exotic poisons such as tetrodoxin (a toxin found in blowfish). Arsenic is #1. Minimal Risk Levels for Hazardous Substances - A substance-specific estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse noncancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. National Exposure Registry - Also has subregistries for trichloroethylene (TCE), trichloroethane (TCA), benzene, and dioxin. Public Health Assessments - Lists, by region of the U.S., the public health assessment at each of the sites on the EPA National Priority List. Very useful if you live or work near a chemical facility/plant.

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MSDS Relevance

ATSDR maintains information that may clarify, supplement, or extend the information found on MSDS's and is an excellent resource for those who wish to investigate further the nature and effects of a hazardous substance. Almost all of this information is available on the web, so be sure to take advantage of this resource!

Further Reading

• Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

See also: ACGIH, carcinogen

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.