Activities in
Colorado
ATSDR in Partnership With
have been designated to
ATSDR awarded
the NPL in Colorado.
Colorado
more than 0,000
A public health as-
in the last 2 years
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Regis-
sessment is a written,
in direct funds and
try (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency respon-
comprehensive evalua-
services to Colorado.
sible for implementing the health-related provisions
tion of available data and
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
information on the release
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
of hazardous substances into the environment in a
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
specific geographic area. Such releases are assessed
than 400 employees and an annual budget for 2002
for current or future impact on public health. ATSDR,
of million. ATSDR is responsible for assessing
in collaboration with public health and environmental
the presence and nature of health hazards at specific
officials from Colorado, has conducted 27 health as-
Superfund sites, helping to prevent or reduce further
sessments in the state. Following is a recent example
exposure and illnesses resulting from those hazards,
of public health assessment conducted in the state:
and expanding the knowledge base about the health
Vasquez Boulevard/Interstate 70 (VBI70)--A
effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
draft public health assessment was released in
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
March 2003 for this site, which includes the
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
northeast Denver neighborhoods of Swansea,
science, taking responsive public health actions, and
Elyria, Cole, Clayton, and southwest Globeville.
providing trusted health information to prevent harm-
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
ful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
has taken soil samples from about 75% of the
ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance to
residential properties (some 3,000) in the VBI70
ments and grants to identify and evaluate environ-
Test results show that some residential properties
mental health threats to communities. These resources
enable state and local health departments and other
ATSDR draft health assessment addresses the
grantees to further investigate environmental health
public health significance of the soil testing results.
concerns and to educate communities. From fiscal
About 650 properties sampled to date have arsenic
years 1987 through 2003, ATSDR awarded more
levels in soil that might pose a public health hazard
than .7 million--more than 0,000 in the last
for preschool children who eat unusually large
2 years--in direct funds and services to Colorado for
amounts of soil. EPA has also identified about
comprehensive support of its environmental health
260 properties where the increased risk for cancer
unit. In addition to direct funds and services, ATSDR
is unacceptable in adults who also lived there as
staff provides technical and administrative guidance
children. In addition, some VBI70 properties have
for state-conducted site activities.
high levels of lead in soil that are a health hazard
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
to children living at those properties.
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
A health consultation is a written or oral response
from ATSDR to a specific request for information
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
about health risks related to a specific site, chemical
release, or hazardous material. It is a more limited
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
threat to public health might exist. Twenty-two sites
response than a public health assessment is. To date,
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