1. What is the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)? -- 2. Where is ATSDR located? How big is it? -- 3. What does ATSDR do? -- 4. What are some of the things ATSDR does to help a community that may be exposed to hazardous substances? -- 5. What are some of the things ATSDR cannot do to help a community? -- 6. How is ATSDR’s role in helping communities different from EPA’s role? -- 7. How does ATSDR become involved with a site? How can I get ATSDR involved with a site? -- 8. How does ATSDR work with states and local health departments? -- 9. Does ATSDR assist communities located near hazardous waste sites that are not on the NPL? -- 10. What information does ATSDR provide through its Internet web site? -- 11. Who can I call at ATSDR for more information?

ATSDR is the principal federal public health agency involved with hazardous waste issues. The agency is responsible for preventing or reducing the harmful effects of exposure to hazardous substances on human health and quality of

life. ATSDR is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency was created by the Superfund law in 1980. That law started a program to find and clean up the most dangerous hazardous waste sites. ATSDR was formally organized in 1985 and is responsible for carrying out the health-related parts of the Superfund law and of other laws that protect the public from hazardous wastes and environmental spills of hazardous substances. It is responsible for determining, as best as possible, whether people have harmful health effects from their exposure to hazardous substances.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection