Chapter Four
Preventing Health
Effects Related to
Hazardous Substances
A
TSDR achieves its goal of preventing
second year of a new 5-year agreement with
or reducing the harmful health effects
10 national organizations (up from 5 under
of exposure to hazardous substances by
the previous agreement). ATSDR also expanded
drawing on its resources in health education,
its network of Pediatric Environmental Health
risk communication, environmental medicine,
Specialty Units (PEHSUs) in fiscal year 2001,
and health promotion to assist communities.
with 11 now in operation.
ATSDR provides services such as training for
local physicians about the health concerns asso-
Pediatric Environmental
ciated with contaminants to which their patients
Health Specialty Unit
might be exposed, providing communities with
information and education about the health
Program
effects of hazardous substances, and providing
The Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty
clinical evaluations and screenings such as test-
Unit Program (PEHSU) is designed to promote
ing for lead exposure. ATSDR also conducts
children's health by encouraging medical spe-
health education and promotion activities with
cialists with environmental expertise to work
a nationwide focus, such as its Case Studies in
collaboratively with pediatricians to develop
Environmental Medicine program.
pediatric environmental medical expertise and
to improve the ability of parents and locally
ATSDR's activities are conducted with the
practicing health care providers to access this
assistance of numerous partners with whom
expertise. In 1998, three pilot units were estab-
the agency has cooperative agreements--states,
lished in Seattle, Boston, and New York City.
American Indian tribal nations or groups, and
These units focused on conducting activities in
national organizations. In fiscal year 2001, 29
the areas of medical education and training,
state health departments received funding to
telephone clinical consultation and outreach,
plan, implement, and evaluate community and
and clinical evaluation of children who might
health professional education related to hazard-
have been exposed to hazardous substances in
ous waste sites and other unplanned chemical
the environment.
releases. At the end of the fiscal year, an award
was made to 33 health departments, which
From this modest beginning, in fiscal year 2001
included five new partners. ATSDR, in coop-
the PEHSU program has grown to include
eration with its cooperative agreement partners,
performed health education activities at approx-
a national network of 11 operating units
imately 310 sites this year. ATSDR is in the
(see Figure 1)
chapter 4 55
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