Environmental Public Health: NCEH/ATSDR Programs in Action, Who We Are and What We Do

The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), both housed within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are the leading voice of environmental health practice. NCEH plans, directs, and coordinates a national programs to maintain and improve the health of the American people by promoting a healthy environment and by preventing premature death and avoidable illness and disability caused by, non-occupational environmental factors. NCEH research scientists guide and advise government, industry, and community partners on saving lives and protecting the public’s health. ATSDR responds to communities where people might be exposed to hazardous substances in the environment, determines the extent and degree of the hazards, recommends actions to safeguard the health of community members, and ensures that public health protection and environmental regulation align with each. In a coordinated effort, NCEH/ATSDR, through its’ strategic planning effort has identified four topical priority areas: asthma, children’s health, safe drinking water, and innovative laboratory methods. Between the two agencies, there are five Divisions: 1) Emergency & Environmental Health Services; 2) Environmental Hazards & Health Effects; 3) Laboratory Sciences; 4) Community Health Investigations; and 5) Toxicology & Human Health Sciences. Each Division has developed and is currently implementing unique programs and services designed to address the four priority areas and a wide array of environmental public health issues including, but not limited to: 1) Asthma Control; 2) Built Environment; 3) Climate and Health; 4) Environmental Public Health Tracking; 5) Healthy Homes/Lead Poisoning Prevention; 6) Radiation Studies; 7) Safe Water; 8) Environmental Health Laboratory services; 9) Core Environmental Health Services; 10) Environmental Medicine and 11) Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs). Through these programs and services, NCEH/ATSDR work hand in hand to assess the impact of hazardous substances on human health and the environment and are committed to protecting the health of populations that are particularly vulnerable to certain environmental hazards - children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. During this panel presentation, Dr. Patrick Breysse, Director of NCEH/ATSDR, will discuss the: 1) importance of environmental public health in protecting the health of Americans; 2) history of NCEH/ATSDR; 3) key NCEH/ATSDR programs and services and 4) examples of recent activities and programs where NCEH/ATSDR were involved in addressing various environmental public health crises on a state and national level.