first responders, employees, and the general public
and the behavior of more than 250 hazardous
resulting from hazardous substances emergencies.
substances in air, soil, and water at hazardous waste
Fifteen state health departments, including Utah,
sites. The toxicological profiles primarily are used as
participate in HSEES. HSEES captures data
a comprehensive resource by health professionals at
on more than 8,000 events annually. Of these
all levels. These profiles have been sent to requesters,
events, 80% occur at fixed facilities, and 20% are
including representatives of federal, state, and local
transportation-related events. Most events occur
health and environmental departments; academic
between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through
institutions; private industries; and nonprofit
organizations in Utah. ATSDR also has developed
Friday. People most often injured are employees.
extensive resources for community members.
Exposure to Tremolite Asbestos in Vermiculite
Ore--In 2001, UDOH was awarded funding
to conduct a statistical review of state cancer
registry data and analyze existing health outcome
data of select asbestos-related diseases, such as
mesothelioma. Exposures to tremolite asbestos
have occurred among people working at, living
near, and otherwise in contact with, vermiculite
mined and processed in Libby, Montana.
Exposures also have occurred at facilities that
processed vermiculite ore from Libby and at
other U.S. vermiculite mining and processing
facilities, such as Intermountain Insulation in Salt
Lake City.
Analysis of Childhood Asthma and Hazardous
Sites--In 1999, UDOH was awarded funding
to examine the relation of childhood asthma
in four urban counties (Weber, Davis, Salt
Lake, and Utah) to the proximity of hazardous
waste sites and other industrial sources. This
purpose of this project is to identify and quantify
environmental hazards and evaluate the spatial and
temporal relations between childhood asthma and
environmental exposures in Utah. Study results are
being reviewed.
Resource Materials
ATSDR develops materials for public health
professionals and medical care providers to use
to assess the public health impacts of chemical
exposures. These resources are available in print, on
the ATSDR Web site, and on CD-ROM. For example,
medical management guidelines are available for acute
chemical exposures to more than 50 chemicals. These
guidelines were designed to aid emergency department
physicians and other emergency health care
professionals, such as first responders, who manage
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit the
ATSDR's toxicological profiles comprehensively
ATSDR Web site at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
describe health effects; pathways of human exposure;
May 2004
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