Activities in
California
ATSDR in Partnership With
hazardous substances
ATSDR awarded more
into the environment in
California
than
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.9 million in the
a specific geographic
last 2 years in direct
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
area. Such releases are
funds and services to
(ATSDR) is the lead public health agency responsible
assessed for past, cur-
California.
for implementing the health-related provisions of the
rent, or future impact on
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensa-
public health. ATSDR,
tion, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). ATSDR is
in collaboration with public health and environmental
an Atlanta-based federal agency with more than 400
officials from California, has conducted 154 public
employees and a budget for 2004 of approximately
health assessments in the state, including the following
million. ATSDR assesses the presence and nature
recent examples.
of health hazards at specific Superfund sites, helps to
prevent or reduce further exposure and illnesses result-
Health Investigations Branch (EHIB) of the Cal-
ing from those hazards, and expands the knowledge
ifornia Department of Health Services (CDHS)
base about the health effects of exposure to hazardous
prepared a public health assessment to assess the
substances.
public health implications from exposure to historic
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry out
(19641995) air releases of hexavalent chromium
its mission to serve the public by using the best science,
taking responsive public health actions, and providing
lits. CDHS will also prepare a public health assess-
trusted health information to prevent harmful expo-
ment to evaluate all potential routes of exposure to
sures and disease related to toxic substances. ATSDR
site-related contaminants.
provides funding and technical assistance to states and
Because of ongoing community health concerns
about the site, the U.S. Environmental Protection
grants to identify and evaluate environmental health
Agency (EPA) asked CDHS to evaluate the poten-
threats to communities. These resources enable state
tial health impact posed by the facility. The primary
and local health departments and other grantees to
chemical of concern at the site is hexavalent chro-
further investigate environmental health concerns and
mium, although lesser levels of chemicals such as
to educate communities. In fiscal years 19882004,
cadmium, nickel, zinc, and lead were also released.
ATSDR awarded more than .5 million--more than
In a health assessment released for public comment
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.9 million in the last 2 years--in direct funds and
in July 2003, CDHS and ATSDR concluded that
services to California for comprehensive support of its
environmental health unit. In addition to direct funds
public health hazard in the past (19641990). An
and services, ATSDR provides technical and adminis-
indeterminate health hazard exists for current and
trative guidance for state-conducted site activities.
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
in dust that may be generated during site or build-
ing remediation or demolition activities.
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
CDHS and ATSDR recommended consideration of
One of ATSDR's important mandates is to conduct
medical monitoring and clinical evaluation for Wil-
lits residents and facility workers who may have
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
been exposed to air releases of hexavalent chro-
threat to public health might exist. A public health
mium from the site between 1964 and 1995. CDHS
assessment is a written, comprehensive evaluation of
is consulting with in-house physicians to determine
available data and information about the release of
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