Activities in
New Hampshire
ATSDR in Partnership With New
threat to public
ATSDR awarded more than
health might exist.
Hampshire
2,000 in the last 2 years
Twenty sites have
in direct funds and services
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Regis-
been designated to
to New Hampshire.
try (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency respon-
the NPL in New
sible for implementing the health-related provisions
Hampshire.
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
A public health
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
assessment is a written, comprehensive evalua-
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
tion of available data and information on the release
than 400 employees and an annual budget for 2003 of
of hazardous substances into the environment in a
approximately million. ATSDR is responsible for
specific geographic area. Such releases are assessed
assessing the presence and nature of health hazards at
for current or future impact on public health. ATSDR,
specific Superfund sites, helping to prevent or reduce
in collaboration with public health and environmen-
further exposure and illnesses resulting from those
tal officials from New Hampshire, has conducted
hazards, and expanding the knowledge base about the
35 health assessments in the state, including the fol-
health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
lowing recent examples.
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
Electrosonics--The former Electrosonics facility
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
in Chesterfield manufactured electronic circuit
science, taking responsive public health actions,
boards from December 1966 until February 1984.
and providing trusted health information to pre-
The facility is currently inactive, although three
vent harmful exposures and disease related to toxic
small businesses still use one building on the
substances. ATSDR provides funding and techni-
cal assistance to states and other partners through
Department of Health and Human Services
evaluate environmental health threats to communi-
(NH DHHS) to complete this public health
ties. These resources enable state and local health
assessment, published in November 2002, under
departments and other grantees to further investigate
environmental health concerns and to educate com-
munities. From fiscal years 1987 through 2003,
ATSDR awarded more than .9 million--more than
copper, lead, chlorinated volatile organic
2,000 in the last 2 years--in direct funds and ser-
compounds (VOCs), and petroleum-related
vices to New Hampshire for comprehensive support
compounds. Chromium, copper, and lead were
used to plate and etch circuit boards; chlorinated
of its environmental health unit. In addition to direct
VOCs were used in the cleaning and degreasing
funds and services, ATSDR staff provides technical
process. Petroleum products found on the site
and administrative guidance for state-conducted site
are related to reoccurring spills of fuel oil from
activities.
aboveground storage tanks and from fuel line
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
breakage.
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
None of the current exposures at the site are
expected to cause adverse health effects.
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
Therefore, current conditions at the site are
public health assessments of
all National Priorities
categorized as no apparent public health hazard.
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant