ATSDR -- FY 1999 AGENCY PROFILE AND ANNUAL REPORT
treatment. The framework will assist decision makers at the local and federal
levels to balance microbial and disinfection byproduct risks. In FY 1999,
ATSDR, in collaboration with CDC's National Center for Environmental
Health, developed and conducted two short courses on applying prevention
effectiveness to a broad range of environmental health problems.
Psychological Effects Program
ATSDR's Psychological Effects Program is designed to prevent or mitigate
adverse effects on psychological health that might occur as a result of living
near a hazardous waste site or being exposed to a hazardous substance. In FY
1999, ATSDR expanded the program by partnering with EPA in the joint
ATSDR and EPA psychological effects initiative. Through this initiative,
ATSDR provides training to EPA field personnel on how to recognize causes of
psychosocial stress in communities near hazardous waste sites and actions they
can take to ameliorate the stress. In addition, a pilot site was chosen for a joint
ATSDR and EPA effort in mitigating psychosocial stress by utilizing the skills
of social workers to provide a community with practical support during a
In FY 1999 the Report of the Expert Panel Workshop on the Psychological
Responses to Hazardous Substances was published. This publication continues to
be distributed.
PEDIATRIC ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALTY UNITS
In 1998, AOEC and ATSDR developed the Pediatric Environmental Health
Specialty Unit Program as a national resource for pediatricians, other health
care providers, federal staff, and the public to (1) reduce environmental health
threats to children, (2) improve access to expertise in pediatric environmental
medicine, and (3) strengthen public health prevention capacity. The key focus
areas of the units are medical education and training, telephone consultation,
and clinical specialty referral for children who may have been exposed to
environmental hazards.
For example, the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at
Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, one of the first units established,
receives about 2,000 calls a month. Callers' concerns have included the
consumption of well water contaminated with pesticides, a number of
elemental mercury exposures, and solvent exposures from painting a child's
bedroom. Health care providers specifically trained in both pediatrics and
environmental medicine are available on a case-by-case basis to see children
and their families. Additionally, the PEHSU at Harborview provides training
for health care providers and the public on childhood environmental health
issues.
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