Chapter Two
Evaluating Relationships Between
Hazardous Substances and Health:
Toxicologic Research
A
Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) requires
second major goal of ATSDR is to
ATSDR, in cooperation with EPA, to compile
evaluate relationships between hazard-
this priority list, which is drawn from all hazard-
ous substances in the environment
ous substances known to exist at NPL sites.
and adverse human health outcomes. To help
The ranking of substances on the priority list is
achieve that goal, ATSDR has a toxicologic
based on three criteria: (1) frequency of occur-
research program that is filling many of the data
rence at NPL sites, (2) toxicity, and (3) potential
gaps about how hazardous substances affect
for human exposure.
human health. ATSDR also helps provide infor-
mation about the relationship between hazard-
Table 1.
Top 10 Substances on the 2001
ous substances and health outcomes by develop-
Priority List
ing toxicological profiles that summarize infor-
Rank
Name
mation about many of the most hazardous sub-
1
stances found at Superfund sites.
2
Lead
ATSDR has 159
3
Mercury
4
Vinyl chloride
toxicological profiles
5
Polychlorinated biphenyls
covering about 800
6
Benzene
substances.
7
Cadmium
8
Benzo(a)pyrene
9
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
Identification and Ranking of
10
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
Hazardous Substances
The Comprehensive Environmental Response,
To ensure that the priority list is current,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
ATSDR periodically re-examines its informa-
(CERCLA) Priority List of Hazardous
tion database (HazDat) of all hazardous sub-
Substances contains the names of 275 sub-
stances known to exist at NPL sites. In October
stances found at NPL sites and believed to pose
2001, the 2001 CERCLA Priority List of
the most significant potential threat to human
Hazardous Substances was published. Its avail-
health. This list helps form ATSDR priorities on
ability was announced in the Federal Register
many issues. The Superfund Amendments and
chapter 2 33
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