Depending on the specific properties of the contaminant, the exposure situations, and the health status of individuals, a public health hazard may occur. Using data from public health assesments, sites are classified using one of the following public health hazard categories:
Category 1: Urgent Public Health Hazard
Sites that pose a serious risk to the publics health as the result of short-term exposures to hazardous substances.
Category 2: Public Health Hazard
Sites that pose a public health hazard as the result of long-term exposures to hazardous substances.
Category 3: Indeterminate Public Health Hazard
Sites for which no conclusions about public health hazard can be made because data are lacking.
Category 4: No Apparent Public Health Hazard
Sites where human exposure to contaminated media is occurring or has occurred in the past, but the exposure is below a level of health hazard.
Category 5: No Public Health Hazard
Sites for which data indicate no current or past exposure or no potential for exposure and therefore no health hazard.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345
Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348
