and the neighborhoods to address concerns about the
Environmental Health Research
Chemical Mixtures Research--The goal of
effects. The goal of the community outreach compo-
ATSDR's chemical mixtures research program,
nent is to establish long-term relationships that will
established in 1994, is to develop accurate
allow ongoing communication about environmental
methods for assessing joint toxicity of exposure
health issues.
to multiple chemicals found at hazardous
waste sites. Experimental work through
Association of Occupational and
Environmental Clinics
three academic institutions. At Colorado State
University, a mixture of four priority hazardous
ATSDR provides financial and technical support to
substances including the highest ranking
members of the Association of Occupational and En-
volatile organic compounds--trichloroethylene,
vironmental Clinics (AOEC). This support is provided
1,2-dichloroethane, arsenic, and vinyl chloride--is
to improve education and communication related to
being tested. These chemicals are frequently
surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
detected in drinking water near hazardous waste
of illness or injury related to exposure to hazardous
sites. Researchers at Colorado State University
substances. Member institutions in Colorado are the
are studying the toxicity of
mixtures of
arsenic,
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Divi-
cadmium, chromium, and lead in
human skin
sion of the National Jewish Center for Immunology
cells. The results show that the joint toxicity is
and Respiratory Medicine in Denver and Toxicology
either additive or antagonistic when compared
Associates in Denver. Both are associated with the
with effects found for the individual chemicals.
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The
Similar observations were made in Syrian hamster
clinic at the National Jewish Center for Immunology
embryo cells when using a
mixture of
lead, arsenic
and Respiratory Medicine has expertise in respiratory
and chromium. Several cellular and molecular
problems arising from workplace exposures; Toxicol-
biomarkers are being studied. Researchers
ogy Associates focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis,
have also been testing a
mixture of
arsenic,
and treatment of chemically induced occupational and
1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and vinyl
environmental illness and injury.
chloride.
Since 1998, ATSDR has provided funds to AOEC to
support a project establishing Pediatric Environmen-
Brownfields
tal Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) that specialize
ATSDR's long-range goal for the brownfields pro-
in children's environmental health issues. The PEHSU
gram is to strengthen local and state health depart-
for Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota,
ments' capacity to protect the public's health in areas
Utah, and Wyoming is the Rocky Mountain Regional
near brownfields sites. In July 2002, the City and
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit in
County of Denver Environmental Health Depart-
Denver, a joint project of the National Jewish Medical
ment (DDEH) was granted funding from ATSDR
and Research Center and the University of Colorado
for a program titled "Enhancement of State, County,
Health Sciences Center. The unit began operations in
or Local Public Health Departments' Participation in
June 2001 and works in collaboration with the Denver
Brownfields Decisions and Actions." Several brown-
Health and Hospitals Authority and the Rocky Moun-
fields sites are in the Denver area, and DDEH decided
tain Poison and Drug Center. The unit offers multi-
to focus on three main components: evaluation of the
disciplinary evaluation and management of children
with known or suspected exposure to a wide range of
pathways for the neighboring populations, neighbor-
environmental toxicants.
hood characterizations, and community outreach.
Neighborhood characterizations will be generated
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
by adding existing demographic, environmental, and
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit the
health data to a geographic information system (GIS)
ATSDR Web page at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
base map. These characterizations will be used to
establish two-way communication between DDEH
August 2003