ATSDR -- FY 1999 AGENCY PROFILE AND ANNUAL REPORT
Private-Sector Voluntarism
ATSDR encourages industry to
voluntarily conduct needed research
Substances with some research
into the toxicity of priority chemicals.
needs being addressed by
During FY 1999, ATSDR had
private-sector voluntarism
memoranda of understanding (MOU)
Methylene chloride
in place with three private-sector
Polychlorinated biphenyls
organizations--General Electric
Company (GE), Halogenated Solvents
Tetrachloroethylene
Industry Alliance, Inc. (HSIA), and
Trichloroethylene
Chemical Manufacturers Association
Vinyl chloride
(CMA)--to address some research
needs for five substances.
Methylene Chloride
During FY 1999, ATSDR signed a second MOU with HSIA that covers an
immunotoxicity study on methylene chloride, a substance found in at least 809
National Priority List sites. HSIA has completed the study and the final report
is pending. This study addresses an important research need for methylene
chloride, i.e., to determine if the immune system is a susceptible target organ
for this chemical.
Study of Four Polychlorinated Biphenyl Mixtures
The MOU with GE includes a study to investigate environmental
biodegradation of four polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixtures (Aroclor 1016,
Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1254, and Aroclor 1260). During FY 1999, ATSDR
accepted the final report of this study, thus completing all the studies covered
under this MOU. The findings of the GE studies have filled three ATSDR
research needs for these mixtures that rank sixth on the agency's Priority List of
Hazardous Substances.
Minority Health Professions Foundation Research Program
The Minority Health Professions Foundation (MHPF) Environmental
Health and Toxicology Research Program, a partnership with seven minority
health-professions schools, is designed to fill critical research needs and
provide a major source of research data for the Substance-Specific Applied
Research Program.
Research findings from this program have expanded the data base used
by ATSDR health scientists for evaluating the potential human health risk for
people exposed to toxic substances in the environment, and contribute to the
public health service agenda of the agency. Some examples of research findings
from the program include the following:
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