ATSDR is releasing 12 toxicological profiles

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Search | Index | Home | Glossary | Contact Us

ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR releases 12 toxicological profiles
Public comment period for five profiles ends February 24, 2003

For Immediate Release: January 10, 2003

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is releasing today 12 toxicological profiles. Seven of the profiles are final versions of updated profiles and five are profiles being released as drafts for public comment.

The final updated toxicological profiles are for aldrin/dieldrin (update), beryllium (update), creosote (update), DDT/DDE/DDD (update), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (update), hexachlorobenzene (update), and methoxychlor (update). The profiles released as drafts for public comment are for ammonia (update), chlorine dioxide and chlorite, copper (update), polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (update), and synthetic vitreous fibers. The public comment period for these five profiles ends Feb. 24, 2003.

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), ATSDR is directed by Congress to produce toxicological profiles for hazardous substances found at National Priorities List (NPL) sites. Each toxicological profile examines, summarizes and interprets available toxicologic information and epidemiologic evaluations on a given hazardous substance. Toxicological profiles are reviewed periodically and updated when significant new information becomes available.

Each profile identifies and reviews the key peer-reviewed literature that describes the toxicological properties of a specific hazardous substance. In addition, the profiles provide readers with references for more comprehensive sources about the substance.

The toxicological profiles also contain a public health statement that provides, in layperson's terms, a basic overall description of the substance and the health effects associated with the hazardous compound. Additional information has been added to each profile specifically to address the effects of toxic substances on the developing immune, nervous and reproductive systems of children. These sections provide information on how the substance can affect children, how families can reduce the risk for exposure, the particular ways children are susceptible to the effects of the substance and how children are likely to be exposed to it.

Toxicological profiles focus on the neurological, reproductive and developmental effects of the chemical on the human body. In addition, the profiles address the ability of these chemicals to interact with the endocrine system. The DDT profile goes further, and includes the estrogenic and anti-androgenic action of the various DDT isomers and metabolites as they relate to the disruption of normal endocrine function. Endocrine effects also are discussed in the toxicological profiles for aldrin/dieldrin and
di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.

The profiles released as drafts for public comment are available for public review and comment now through Feb. 24, 2003 on the ATSDR Internet site at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov or by calling the ATSDR Information Center, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737).

Written comments may be sent to:

Lori Miller, ATSDR
1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Mailstop E-29
Atlanta, Ga. 30333

ATSDR's Division of Toxicology receives about 500 requests per month for copies of toxicological profiles. In addition to the toxicological profiles, ATSDR publishes a series of ToxFAQ chemical fact sheets that answer frequently asked questions about chemicals in easy-to-understand language. The toxicological profiles and ToxFAQs are available on the ATSDR Internet site at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov or by calling the ATSDR Information Center, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737).

Members of the news media are requested to make an appointment to interview ATSDR staff. Contact Elaine McEachern or John Florence, ATSDR Office of Policy and External Affairs, at 770-488-0700.

Back to Media Center

Back to ATSDR Home page

This page updated January 23, 2003
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
770-488-0700 or e-mail (news media)