The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has released its latest update of the Superfund-mandated Substance-Specific Applied Research Program (SSARP). The update, which was published in the Federal Register on January 15, 1999, provides information on the agency's progress to identify and fill research needs for the most hazardous substances found at waste sites.

ATSDR's mission is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment.

ATSDR, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was tasked under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund legislation) to develop and set priorities for a list of hazardous substances found at National Priorities List (NPL) sites. ATSDR is responsible for preparing toxicological profiles for each of these substances, setting substance-specific research priorities, and, in cooperation with the National Toxicology Program (NTP), assuring a program of research to satisfy this agenda.

In November 1992, ATSDR published its first list of priority data needs for hazardous substances frequently found at waste sites. The 38 substances included on that list were aldrin/dieldrin, arsenic, benzene, beryllium, cadmium, carbon tetrachloride, chloroethane, chloroform, chromium, cyanide, p,p'-DDT,DDE, DDD, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, lead, mercury, methylene chloride, nickel, polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs - includes 15 substances), selenium, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and zinc.

In 1997, ATSDR added priority data needs for an additional 12 hazardous substances: chlordane, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, di-n-butyl phthalate, disulfoton, endrin (includes endrin aldehyde), endosulfan (alpha-, beta-, and endosulfan sulfate), heptachlor (includes heptachlor epoxide), hexachlorobutadiene, hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gamma-), manganese, methoxychlor, and toxaphene.

To date, 124 priority data needs have been identified for the first set of 38 hazardous substances, and 64 priority data needs have been identified for the second set of 12 hazardous substances. ATSDR fills data needs through a program of research and testing involving regulatory mechanisms (test rules), private-sector voluntarism, and the direct use of CERCLA funds. Additional data needs are addressed through an interagency agreement with the National Toxicology Program, by ATSDR's Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program, and through other agency programs. Currently, 79 priority data needs associated with the first set of 38 priority substances and 23 priority data needs associated with the second set of 12 priority substances are being addressed via these mechanisms.

Significant progress has been made in filling these key research needs since the program's inception. On the basis of criteria developed by ATSDR, 16 research needs have been filled, 26 research needs have been reclassified from priority data needs to data needs, and 3 additional research needs are considered conditionally filled pending ATSDR's peer review and acceptance of the final reports. The data obtained from the research program are used for updating ATSDR's toxicological profiles, and for developing health guidance values for use in ATSDR's public health assessments at waste sites.

The success of the SSARP depends strongly on the partnerships ATSDR has established with other federal agencies, academia, and private-sector organizations under its voluntary research program. An EPA/ATSDR test rule, under development, addresses 15 research needs for 7 organic substances, and an interagency task force on metals will address 22 research needs associated with 7 metals. One research need was filled and 5 other research needs are being addressed through an interagency agreement with NTP. Thirty-one research needs were addressed during the first 5-year project period of the Minority Health Professions Foundation Research Program; and 18 additional research needs are being addressed during the second 5-year project period. Furthermore, 14 research needs are being addressed by the ATSDR Great Lakes Human Health Research Program.

Currently, the agency has memoranda of understanding with the Chemical Manufacturers Association, the General Electric Company, and the Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance, Inc. Through the voluntary research efforts of these organizations, 12 research needs associated with 5 substances are being addressed. Private-sector organizations interested in volunteering to conduct research can contact Dr. William Cibulas, ATSDR Division of Toxicology, at (404) 639-6307.