- What is a Public Health Advisory?
- What Happens After the Public Health Advisory?
- Related Information
on the ATSDR Home Page Web Site
What is a Public Health Advisory?
A Public Health Advisory is a way for ATSDR to respond quickly when hazardous substances released into the environment pose an immediate and significant danger to people's health. It is a notice sent directly from ATSDR's administrator to EPA's administrator that alerts EPA to a public health threat. Other government agencies-such as state and local health and environmental agencies-are also notified about the problem. ATSDR works with all these agencies to take action to protect the public.
A Public Health Advisory reports information available about a release of toxic material, whether people might be exposed to it, and what harm exposure might cause. Public Health Advisories consider-
- what the levels (or "concentrations") of hazardous substances are
- whether people might be exposed to contamination and how (through "exposure pathways" such as breathing air, drinking or contacting water, contacting or eating soil, or eating food)
- what harm the substances might cause to people (or the contaminants' "toxicity")
- whether working or living nearby might affect people's health
- other dangers to people, such as unsafe buildings, abandoned mine shafts, or other physical hazards
Because ATSDR Public Health Advisories address an immediate and significant danger to people's health, they usually result in quick action by regulatory and health agencies.
Recommendations ATSDR makes in Public Health Advisories cover many activities by EPA, state environmental and health agencies, and by ATSDR. Public Health Advisory recommendations can contribute to -
- placing the site on the National Priorities List (or Superfund list)
- relocating exposed people
- site cleanup
- keeping people away from contamination and physical dangers - for example, by fencing the site
- giving residents acceptable drinking water
- community environmental health education for residents and health care providers to inform them about site contamination, harmful health effects, and ways to reduce or prevent health effects
- an ATSDR or state health study
ATSDR Public Health Assessments are like Public Health Advisories, but are more detailed. They rely on three main types of information -
- environmental data, such as information available on the contaminants and how people could come in contact with them
- health data, including available information on communitywide rates of illness, disease, and death compared with national and state rates
- community concerns, such as reports from the public about how the site affects their health or quality of life
Related Information on the ATSDR Home Page Web Site
The ATSDR Home Page Web Site contains links to additional information available from the Agency, including the following which may be of interest to communities:Click on Public Health Advisories to go to a list.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345
CDC Contact Center: 800-CDC-INFO . 888-232-6348 (TTY)
