Activities in
Florida
ATSDR in Partnership With
for Environmen-
ATSDR awarded more
tal Health, and
Florida
than 9,000 in the last
National Center for
2 years in direct funds and
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Infectious Diseases
services to Florida.
Registry (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency
to help collect close
responsible for implementing the health-related provi-
to 5,000 evidence
sions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
samples at the
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
anthrax-contaminated offices of American Me-
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
dia Inc. (AMI) in Boca Raton in September 2002.
than 400 employees and a budget for 2004 of approxi-
CDC/ATSDR scientists and FBI investigators worked
mately million. ATSDR assesses the presence and
together on building entry and medical monitoring
nature of health hazards at specific Superfund sites,
teams throughout the field investigation. The field
helps to prevent or reduce further exposure and ill-
investigation team successfully applied new scientific
nesses resulting from those hazards, and expands the
techniques to locate, quantify, and collect concentra-
knowledge base about the health effects of exposure to
tions of anthrax spores within the building. The FBI
hazardous substances.
noted that the results of these tests will provide valu-
able data to advance the ongoing investigation of the
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
anthrax attacks.
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
science, taking responsive public health actions, and
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
providing trusted health information to prevent harm-
public health assessments of
all National Priorities
ful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance to
threat to public health might exist. Seventy-five sites
have been designated to the NPL in Florida.
ments and grants to identify and evaluate environ-
A public health assessment is a written, compre-
mental health threats to communities. These resources
hensive evaluation about available data and informa-
enable state and local health departments and other
tion about the release of hazardous substances into
grantees to further investigate environmental health
the environment in a specific geographic area. Such
concerns and to educate communities. From fiscal
releases are assessed for current or future impact on
years 1987 through 2003, ATSDR awarded more
public health. ATSDR, in collaboration with public
than .2 million--more than 9,000 in the last
health and environmental officials from Florida, has
2 years--in direct funds and services to Florida for
conducted 99 public health assessments in the state,
comprehensive support of its environmental health
including the following recent example.
unit. In addition to direct funds and services, ATSDR
Stauffer--In April 2003, ATSDR released its
staff provides technical and administrative guidance
new public health assessment for the Stauffer
for state-conducted site activities.
Chemical Company site in Tarpon Springs for
public comment. This public health assessment
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
made three conclusions. First, past exposures
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
were a public health hazard for area residents
ATSDR collaborated with the Federal Bureau of
because of elevated levels of sulfur dioxide
Investigation (FBI) and the Centers for Disease
and particulate matter in air and for former
Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Institute
Stauffer workers because of elevated levels
for Occupational Safety and Health, National Center