Activities in
New York
ATSDR in Partnership With
Hygiene (NYC
ATSDR awarded more
DOHMH). ATSDR
New York
than .2 million in the
staff members
last 2 years in direct funds
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Regis-
detailed to the city
and services to New York.
try (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency respon-
health department
sible for implementing the health-related provisions
provided technical
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
assistance in environmental medicine, including shar-
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
ing the most current information about air quality and
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
environmental issues with groups of building owners,
than 400 employees and a budget for 2004 of approx-
tenants, business owners, workers, homeowners, and
imately million. ATSDR assesses the presence
other community members.
and nature of health hazards at specific Superfund
ATSDR also assisted NYC DOMH in developing and
sites, helps to prevent or reduce further exposure and
implementing a residential sampling plan for lower
illnesses resulting from those hazards, and expands
Manhattan. ATSDR provided the draft sampling plan
the knowledge base about the health effects of expo-
and conducted a technical review of the analytical
sure to hazardous substances.
results from this effort. The purpose of the sam-
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
and indoor settled surface and airborne dust within
science, taking responsive public health actions, and
residential areas around the WTC. Sampling focused
providing trusted health information to prevent harm-
on building materials that have irritant properties
ful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
(e.g., synthetic vitreous fibers) and are associated
ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance
with long-term health concerns (e.g., asbestos). This
information was used to help determine whether ad-
agreements and grants to identify and evaluate envi-
ditional public health actions were needed. ATSDR
ronmental health threats to communities. These re-
released its Final Report of the Public Health Investi-
sources enable state and local health departments and
gation to Assess Potential Exposures to Airborne and
other grantees to further investigate environmental
Settled Surface Dust in Residential Areas of Lower
health concerns and to educate communities. From
Manhattan in September 2002. The U.S. Environ-
fiscal years 1987 through 2003, ATSDR awarded
mental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted
more than .2 million--more than .2 million in
several follow-up activities to address the public
the last 2 years--in direct funds and services to New
health actions identified by ATSDR's investigation.
York for comprehensive support of its environmental
Information about the World Trade Center Health
health unit. In addition to direct funds and services,
Registry can be found in the Health Studies section
ATSDR staff provides technical and administrative
of this fact sheet.
guidance for state-conducted site activities.
Residents of the village of Endicott are concerned
about exposures to volatile organic compounds
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
(VOCs) from inhalation of vapor emanating from the
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
sources of exposure. Moreover, residents are con-
In the weeks after the World Trade Center (WTC)
cerned about the incidence of cancer in both children
disaster, several ATSDR staff members were sent
and adults in the village and the incidence of cancers
to assist the agency's New York office staff and the
in former workers at the IBM plant.
New York City Department of Health and Mental