CDC - Chemical Weapons Elimination

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides independent oversight to the U.S. chemical weapons elimination program and serves as an important element in ensuring the safe destruction of chemical warfare material for protection of public health. The CDC program is part of the National Center for Environmental Health’s Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice.

CDC focuses on human health for both the worker and the community, particularly related to potential exposure to chemical agents. For example, CDC

Extensively examines exposure prevention measures. These measures include chemical agent monitoring systems and associated quality assurance, personnel protective equipment selection and use, special air handling provisions, and chemical agent control/capture techniques.
Examines actual and theoretical chemical agent exposure events for human health risk significance. This could involve chemical agent release air dispersion modeling or reviewing worker exposure information, such as cholinesterase depression data or actual symptoms.
Develops air exposure criteria with a margin of safety to protect workers and the nearby community.
Provides a health-based resource to support state and local health professionals on chemical agent-related issues.
Is available to help assess facility and community readiness for possible chemical agent release events.