materials poses no public health hazard. Not enough
health surveillance or an epidemiologic study. Follow-
data were available to determine whether individu-
ing are examples of health studies or investigations that
ATSDR conducted or supported in California.
als are being exposed to Libby asbestos from waste
that may have been used in the community. In other
Exposure to Tremolite Asbestos in Vermiculite
communities, waste vermiculite has been used for a
variety of purposes, such as fill, driveway surfacing,
agreement with CDHS to conduct health statistics
or soil amendments.
reviews related to human exposure to contaminated
vermiculite ore at sites in California that received
Health Education and Community Activities
or processed ore from the W.R. Grace mine in
Libby, Montana.
agreement program since 1989. Under this program,
Linking Chronic Disease and Environmental
CDHS has received funding and technical assistance
Data Sources--In 2002, ATSDR awarded a coop-
for development of community education and activities
erative agreement to the University of California-
associated with human exposure to hazardous substanc-
Los Angeles to conduct research on the potential
es in the environment. Following are examples of these
impact of environmental exposures on chronic
types of activities conducted in the state.
disease outcomes. This program was developed to
address issues related to the Pew Environmental
provided health education to the community at
Health Commission's recommendation to establish
several community meetings. Topics included an
a Nationwide Health Tracking Network.
overview of the public health assessment process
and air modeling, an introduction to toxicology
Association of Occupational and
Environmental Clinics
of VOCs. In March and April 2004, workshops
were conducted for clinicians in Willits and Ukiah
Since 1998, ATSDR has provided funds to Association
on site issues and health effects associated with
of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) to
support a project establishing Pediatric Environmental
and ATSDR will continue to provide health out-
Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) as a national resource
reach and education to the community and recom-
for pediatricians, other health care providers, federal
mend that health education activities be tailored to
staff, and the public. The PEHSUs develop materials
meet the community's needs.
and present training to health professionals and public
health officials on environmental health issues and their
Wyle Labs, Norco Facility--CDHS worked with
impact on children's health.
a community advisory group interested in the Wyle
Labs site in Norco. CDHS presented the group with
The PEHSUs for California, Arizona, Nevada, and
information about the public health assessment
Hawaii are the University of California-San Francis-
process.
co and the University of California-Irvine. The units
were established in 2000 and work in collaboration with
Casmalia Disposal--CDHS and ATSDR met with
the California Poison Control System, the University
community members to discuss on-site work per-
of California-San Francisco Department of Pediat-
formed during the past year at the Casmalia Dis-
rics, and the University of California-Irvine Depart-
posal site in Casmalia. Updates about installation
ment of Pediatrics.
of air-monitoring equipment were also provided.
The California PEHSUs were established in 2000; their
Activities related to the Abex/Remco, Wyle Labs, and
goal is to improve the recognition and management of
Casmalia sites included developing and distributing fly-
environmental health problems among children.
ers and fact sheets in English and Spanish.
Health Studies
Health studies are investigations to determine the rela-
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
tions between exposures to hazardous substances and
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit
adverse health effects. They also define health problems
the ATSDR Web site at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
that require further investigation through, for example,
July 2004
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