DTHHS_overview_2-13-2018.pptx

ATSDR/DTHHS

Overview

CAPT Amanda Dunnick, MPH Acting Deputy Division Director National Center for Environmental Health Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Division of Toxicology and Human Healt h Sciences Plays vital role in protecting people from toxic chemical exposures Identify and investigate chemical exposures Translate complex science into information and actions that the public and health professionals can use to protect health Conduct research using public health surveillance and health registries to help scientists better understand certain diseases and how they may affect people’s health Create and apply health education tools Address health issues during emergency events and real or threatened releases of hazardous materials

Presenter 2016-08-18 18:02:18 ATSDR’s Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences (DTHHS) plays a vital role in protecting people from toxic chemical exposures. DTHHS works to:

Identify and investigate chemical exposures;

Translate complex science into information and actions that not only the public but also health professionals can use to protect health;

Conduct research using public health surveillance and registries to help scientists better understand certain diseases and how they may affect people’s health; Create and apply a variety of health education tools; and Address health issues during emergency events and real or threatened releases of hazardous materials.

Comput at ional Toxicology Comput at ional Toxicology and Met hods Development Lab Uses comput er models to help find best ways to evaluat e and reduce hazards from toxic chemicals

2016-08-18 18:02:19 DTHHS is home to the Computational Toxicology and Methods Development Lab (CompTox Lab). Computational toxicology, or “CompTox”, allows scientists to use available data together with computer programs that help them assess health risks in a relatively short amount of time. ATSDR uses its CompTox Lab in a variety of ways, including research related to emergency response and bioterrorism, and children’s health.

The Computational Toxicology and Methods Development Lab (Comp Tox Lab) allows scientists to use available data together with computer programs that help assess health risks in a relatively short amount of time. The Comp Tox Lab is used in a variety of ways, including research related to emergency response and bioterrorism, and children’s health. By collaborating with other federal agencies and academic institutions, Comp Tox Lab research projects add to the development of model applications and expertise that aid assessment and help reduce the effects of exposure to chemicals found in communities served by ATSDR. The work in ATSDR’s Computational Toxicology and Methods Development Lab (CompTox Lab) is centered on using computer models to help find the best ways to evaluate and reduce the hazards from toxic chemicals. CompTox Lab responsibilities include:

Aiding evaluations of exposures to hazardous chemicals in communities; Providing estimates of toxicity from exposure to chemicals in the environment; and Contributing advice and support to help reduce the impacts of exposures to chemicals.

The scientists in the CompTox Lab support basic and applied research projects in collaboration with NCEH, EPA, FDA, and academic institutions. Collectively, these projects contribute to a goal of developing and applying model estimates and expertise that aid assessments and help reduce the effects of toxic chemicals found in communities. Examples of this work include development and use of models to evaluate volatile organic chemicals, metals, and persistent contaminants. Of note are advancements made in simulating environmental exposures with realistic time-variant and multi-route exposure scenarios.

Environmental Epidemiology Designs and conducts st udies to evaluate associat ion bet ween exposure to environment al cont aminant s and adverse healt h effect s A Prospective Birth Cohort Study Involving Environmental Exposure to Uranium in the Navajo Nation Anniston Community Health Survey Biomonitoring of the Great Lakes Populations Program Calcasieu PCB and VOC Exposure Studies Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Synthetic Turf Exposure Characterization

2016-08-18 18:02:20 The Environmental Epidemiology Branch(EEB) designs and conducts environmental epidemiology studies to evaluate the association between exposure to environmental contaminants and adverse health effects. Two teams in EEB- Community Studies and Research Activities - are staffed by public health professionals with multidisciplinary backgrounds that include epidemiologists, environmental health scientists, toxicologists, medical officers, and statisticians. EEB works to generate and communicate credible scientific information about the relationship between hazardous substances and adverse human health effects to promote responsive public health actions. Ongoing health studies in EEB include:

A Prospective Birth Cohort Study InvolvingEnvironmental Exposure to Uranium in the Navajo Nation; Anniston Community Health Survey;

Biomonitoring of the Great Lakes PopulationsProgram; Calcasieu PCB and VOC Exposure Studies;

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and Polycythemia Vera (PV) Investigation.

Environmental Medicine Increases capacit y of primary-care providers to Assess and reduce environmental exposure risks Recognize and treat diseases caused by hazardous substances Case St udies in Environment al Medicine Self-instructional,continuing-education modules Pediat ric Environment al Healt h Specialty Units National cooperative agreement Provide pediatric and environmental health consultation to health care professionals, parents,and others regarding environmental health exposures in children as well as referrals to specialized medical resources

2016-08-18 18:02:21 The Environmental Medicine Branch (EMB) increases the capacity of primary-care providers to assess and reduce environmental exposure risks and to recognize and treat diseases caused by hazardous substances in the environment. EMB activities include:

Using systematic literature reviews to better understand health impacts from exposure to environmental toxicants.

Developing and delivering environmental medicine education courses for practicing primary care providers and students in schools of medicine, nursing, and public health. Building clinical consultation networks to support physicians who care for patients experiencing environmental illnesses.

Promoting environmental health literacy among communities to help them create environments that promote health and reduce negative health effects of environmental contamination.

Two teams make up EMB, the Environmental Medicine Team and the Educational Services Team. These teams work together to develop and produce many eLearning materials that are available online. Completing medical education courses online provides continuing education units to physicians, nurses, educators, and other health professionals. Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) are self-instructional, continuing-education modules designed to increase primary care providers’ knowledge of hazardous substances and help them evaluate patients potentially exposed to hazardous substances.

Using CSEM enhances a primary care provider’s professional practice. Over 92,000 CSEMs have been downloaded since 2009. “I have used the (CSEMs) as a core teaching tool in our curriculum.” says Brent W. Morgan, MD, Director of the Emory/CDC/Georgia Poison Center Medical Toxicology Fellowship. “They are the most clinically useful resource on environmental toxins available. I feel strongly this is one of the reasons the medical toxicology board pass rate of our fellows is higher than the national average.”

The National Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) Program brings together environmental and pediatric professionals across the country. PEHSUs provide pediatric and environmental health consultation to health care professionals, parents and others regarding environmental health exposures in children as well as referrals to specialized medical resources when necessary. The program includes not only pediatricians but primary care providers such as family medicine physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners. PEHSUs are located at leading academic medical centers and serve every region of the country. The PEHSUs provide over 1,600 consultations and educate more than 30,000 health professional and 20,000 community members throughout the U.S. each year.

Environment al Toxicology Develops and maint ains CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Subst ances Toxicological Profiles Provide detailed information about possible health effects from exposure to hazardous substances Minimal Risk Levels ToxFAQsTM Toxic Substances Portal

2016-08-18 18:02:21 The Environmental Toxicology Branch (ETB) develops and maintains the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Priority List of Hazardous Substances (SPL). ETB develops toxicological profiles for substances on the SPL, identifying data needs, and generating minimal risk levels (MRLs) that are used as screening health guidance values. ETB is composed of two teams, the Scientific Evaluation Team and the Scientific Assessment Team. The multidisciplinary staff of ETB assesses the potential for adverse health effects resulting from chemical exposures and provides subject matter expertise to internal and external partners. ETB

Provides scientific expertise to develop and disseminate toxicological information, and provides subject matter expertise to the public;

Coordinates toxicological information and research activities with the Environmental Protection Agency; the National Toxicology Program; the Interagency Testing Committee; other federal, tribal, state and local programs; and other public and private concerns; Applies computational toxicology modeling tools and techniques to evaluate exposure risks;

Coordinates the Minimal Risk Level (MRL) Workshop which verifies MRLs which are used to identify potential health effects from exposure; and Maintains the CERCLA mandated Substance Priority List (SPL).

Toxic Substances Portal Allows researchers and citizens to find information about toxic substances and related health effects and exposure risks Contains 24 case studies for medical professionals who want to know more about clinical effects of specific chemicals in people Allows scientists and researchers to search for chemicals and their effects on organ systems and human health

Geospat ial Research, Analysis and Services Program Provides leadership and expert ise in applicat ion of concepts, methods, and tools of geography and geospatial information science to public health research and practice Analysis, research, and training GIS technology Public health emergencies

2016-08-18 18:02:22 The Geospatial Research, Analysis and Services Program (GRASP) provides leadership and expertise in the application of concepts, methods, and tools of geography and geospatial information science to public health research and practice. GRASP provides the following services:

Researches and analyzes geospatial trends and patterns associated with environmental health, emergency preparedness and response, chronic and infectious disease, and injury. Provides CDC/ATSDR scientists and systems with geospatial data, expertise, technology, and training.

Partners with ATSDR’s Division of Community Health Investigations and CDC’s Emergency Operations Center to provide site-specific GIS services.

Collaborates with scientists and researchers at CDC/ATSDR and among our public health partners to examine the geographic patterns and trends in public health data. Analysis, research, and training GRASP applies geospatial concepts, methods, and tools to public health challenges. GIS technology GRASP uses GIS technology to support GIS applications, services, and GIS data sharing. Public health emergencies GRASP GIS science and technology supports the CDC Emergency Operations Center.

Regist ries Toget her with part ners, est ablishes and maint ains regist ries of persons exposed to toxic subst ances or have cert ain disease, such as National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry Tremolite Asbestos Registry World Trade Center Registry

2016-08-18 18:02:22 DTHHS maintains several registries, which are ongoing, systematic collections of information about people who have been exposed to a specific substance or have a certain disease. DTHHS registries include the World Trade Center Registry (2003-2009*), the Tremolite Asbestos Registry (2003-present), and the National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry (2010-present). Registries address the relationship between toxic substance exposures and adverse health outcomes, conditions, or diseases.

National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Registry: Aims to help scientists identify the causes of Lou Gehrig's disease Tremolite Asbestos Registry: Tracked health of former workers, families, and community members who lived and worked in Libby, MT before 1990 World Trade Center Registry: Tracked long-term health effects among workers, residents, and school children who were exposed to smoke, dust, and debris from the disaster image3.jpg image4.png image5.png image6.png image7.png image8.png image9.png image10.png image11.png image1.jpg