Minority Health Professions
Association of Occupational and
Foundation (MHPF) Research
Environmental Clinics
Program
Association of Occupational and Environmental
In September 2003, ATSDR initiated a new coopera-
Clinics (AOEC), ATSDR supports one occupational
tive agreement with MHPF. The goals of the new
and environmental health program in Virginia.
This support is provided to improve education and
ronmental Health and Toxicology Research Program
communication related to surveillance, diagnosis,
and to improve public health and environmental
treatment, and prevention of illness or injury related
medicine in low-income or minority communities,
to exposure to hazardous substances. The member
or both. This new program will build on earlier ef-
institution in Virginia is the Carilion Occupational
forts and expand the program's public environmental
Medicine Fralin Center in Roanoke.
health impact on affected communities. Seven re-
search and environmental public health activities are
Resource Materials
currently funded to initiate this new effort, including
the School of Pharmacy at Hampton University in
ATSDR develops materials that public health profes-
Virginia.
sionals and medical care providers can use to assess
the public health impacts of chemical exposures.
Scientists at the School of Pharmacy at Hampton
Resources are available in print, on the ATSDR Web
University in Hampton will begin studies to in-
site, and on CD-ROM. For example, medical man-
vestigate the effects of chlorpyrifos on cells in the
agement guidelines are available for acute chemi-
developing nervous system. Many children in the
cal exposures to more than 40 chemicals. ATSDR's
United States have detectable levels of chlorpyrifos.
toxicological profiles comprehensively describe
Although chlorpyrifos has been shown to be relative-
health effects; pathways of human exposure; and the
ly safe in adults, recent evidence in animals suggests
behavior of more than 250 hazardous substances in
that the young may be more sensitive to its toxic
air, soil, and water at hazardous waste sites. In the
effects. Glial cells, among others, play a pivotal role
last 5 years, more than 9,100 of these profiles have
in the development and maintenance of the nervous
been sent to requesters, including representatives of
system. Disruption in glial cell function may cause
federal, state, and local health and environmental de-
neurodevelopmental changes, which can manifest
partments; academic institutions; private industries;
as motor, cognitive, or behavioral dysfunctions. The
and nonprofit organizations in Virginia. ATSDR has
adverse effects of chlorpyrifos on neurons, the major
also developed extensive resources for community
cell in the nervous system, are well documented;
members.
however, few studies have focused on the effects of
chronic exposure to low levels of chlorpyrifos on
glial cells and nervous system development. Recent
studies have indicated that the glial cells may be
susceptible to chlorpyrifos toxicity. The present study
will investigate the effects of long-term, low-level
exposure to chlorpyrifos, and its active metabolite,
on glial cells. The results of these studies will fill
ATSDR research needs for developmental toxicity
and neurotoxicity that were identified for chlorpyri-
fos and help researchers understand the relationship
between exposure to chlorpyrifos and the potential
for harmful effects on the nervous system as children
develop.
For more information, contact ATSDR toll-free
at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or visit the
ATSDR Web page at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
November 2003
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