The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the availability of 12 toxicological profiles. ATSDR is directed by Congress to produce toxicological profiles for hazardous substances found at National Priorities List (NPL) sites. Each toxicological profile examines, summarizes, and interprets available toxicologic information and epidemiologic evaluations on a given hazardous substance. Toxicological profiles are reviewed periodically and updated as significant new information becomes available.
"Each profile identifies and reviews the key peer-reviewed literature that describes a hazardous substance's toxicological properties," said Dr. Christopher De Rosa, director of ATSDR's Division of Toxicology. "The profiles also provide readers with references for more comprehensive sources."
As part of the ATSDR Child Health Initiative, Ms. Olivia Harris, environmental health scientist/child health coordinator, stated that "additional information has been added to each profile in Set 12 to specifically address the effects of toxic substances on the developing immune, nervous, and reproductive systems of children. The new sections provide information on how the substance can affect children, how families can reduce the risk for exposure, the particular ways children are susceptible to the effects of the substance, and how children are likely to be exposed to it."
Dr. Ed Murray, environmental health scientist, stated that "the toxicological profiles also contain a public health statement that provides, in layman's terms, a basic overall description of the substance and the health effects associated with the hazardous compound."
The 12 publications include 6 new profiles requested by the Department of Defense (DoD) and 1 new and 5 updated profiles that come under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The toxicological profiles just released include:
- CERCLA Set 12 (Draft)
- Arsenic (updated)
- Chromium (updated)
- Endosulfan (updated)
- Ethion (new)
- Methylene Chloride (updated)
- Toluene (updated)
DoD (Final)
- 2-Butoxyethanol and 2-Butoxyethanol Acetate
- Diisopropyl Methylphosphonate
- Hexamethylene Diisocyanate
- Jet Fuels (JP-5 and JP-8)
- Methylenedianiline
DoD (Draft)
- Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH)
The newest profile developed under CERCLA is ethion. Ethion is a pesticide used primarily on citrus crops. It is in the same class of pesticides as methyl parathion, a pesticide for which ATSDR issued an alert in 1996 after serious contamination of homes and businesses was discovered. Methyl parathion had been improperly used for indoor spraying by unlicensed pest control operators in several states including Ohio, Michigan, and Mississippi.
ATSDR's Division of Toxicology receives almost 500 requests per month for copies of toxicological profiles. In addition to the toxicological profiles, ATSDR also publishes a series of chemical fact sheets that answer frequently asked questions in easy-to-understand language. These ToxFAQs are available on the ATSDR Internet site at or by calling the Information Center.
Nonprofit organizations and private citizens can obtain individual copies of the 12 most recently released or any of the agency's other toxicological profiles by calling the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-42 ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Others can order copies of these and other ATSDR toxicological profiles from the following address:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 1-800-553-6847
URL: http://www.ntis.gov
Release Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear from the scientists who conducted public health activities to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. A Community Assistance Panel (CAP) meeting will be held virtually on May 27, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
Release Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2020
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear from the scientists who conducted public health activities to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. A Community Assistance Panel (CAP) business meeting will take place on February 13, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia.
Release Date: Monday, December 17, 2018
(Atlanta)-- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear from the scientists who conducted public health activities to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. A Community Assistance Panel (CAP) business meeting, which is open to the public, will take place on January 30, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia.
Release Date: Wednesday, July 18, 2018
(Atlanta)-- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear from the scientists who conducted public health activities to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. A Community Assistance Panel (CAP) business meeting, which is open to the public, will take place on August 8, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia.
Release Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2018
(Atlanta) - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear updates of ongoing public health activities from the scientists who conducted public health studies to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Release Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010
In a groundbreaking step to learn more about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has launched the National ALS Registry.
Release Date: Monday, March 09, 2009
The updated edition of ToxProfilesTM, a two-CD ROM set featuring updated information on more than 180 chemicals and hazardous substances as well as an improved search engine, is now available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Release Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has released its updated ToxProfilesTM 2007 two-CD ROM set featuring information on more than 180 hazardous substances as well as an improved search engine. ToxProfilesTM 2007 is a useful resource for health professionals, researchers, students, media and others interested in the health effects from exposure to hazardous substances.
Release Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2005
A Toxicology Curriculum for Communities Training Manual, a guide that offers educational training tactics to communities affected by hazardous exposures, was released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Release Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Community and Tribal Subcommittee of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): Teleconference
Release Date: Friday, October 22, 2004
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released the ATSDR ToxProfiles 2004 and accompanying ToxFAQsTM CD-ROM, featuring updated toxicologic and epidemiologic information, interaction between chemical mixtures and chemical-specific fact sheets.
Release Date: Friday, August 27, 2004
No on-site contaminants or dust releases from the Atlantic Station Redevelopment Project are at levels that would cause adverse health effects, according to the public health consultation the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is releasing today. The project is under multiphase construction near downtown Atlanta.
Release Date: Friday, February 27, 2004
A case study on Iodine 131 (I-131) is now available on the ATSDR internet site http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HEC/CSEM/iodine/index.html. This case study discusses the ways in which people were exposed to I-131 in the environment, the physical effects, and thyroid tumors of past I-131 exposures.
Release Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2004
ATSDR today announced the release of the ATSDR ToxFAQs and ToxFAQ en Español 2003 CD-ROM, which features a series of chemical-specific fact sheets summarizing hazardous substances. ToxFAQs are accessible in both English and Español on the ATSDR Web site.
Release Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2003
A public health consultation on the Atlantic Station Redevelopment site in Atlanta, Ga., has been issued by ATSDR for public review and comment. The agency categorized the site as no apparent public health hazard and has extended the public comment period through Nov. 30.
Release Date: Friday, August 01, 2003
The health consultation for Atlanta's Atlantic Station redevelopment project finds there is no apparent public health hazard from contamination on the site. The document is available for public review and comment through Sept. 2.
Release Date: Friday, January 10, 2003
ATSDR released seven updated toxicological profiles for hazardous substances found at EPA National Priorities List sites. Five other profiles have been updated and are released for public comment through Feb 24. These will be released as final after ATSDR's review of comments received from the public.
Release Date: Wednesday, January 08, 2003
ATSDR's Voluntary Research Program Works with Industry Groups To Fill Priority Research Needs on Hazardous Substances: Recent Computer Modeling Study Predicts No Effects of Methylene Chloride on Human Immune System
Release Date: Monday, February 25, 2002
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will host a meeting of its Community and Tribal Subcommittee. The primary agenda items for the meeting include: an update on ATSDR's Mission; ATSDR's Fiscal Year 2002 Annual Plan of Work at Department of Defense facilities; ATSDR's Strategic Plan; ATSDR's Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual Overview; and ATSDR Environmental Justice Update. Meetings are open to the public, limited by available space.
Release Date: Thursday, November 08, 2001
ATSDR will host two meetings of its Community and Tribal Subcommittee (CTS) on Tuesday, November 13, and Wednesday, November 14, 2001, at the Sheraton, Colony Square Hotel, 188 14th Street, Atlanta, Georgia.
Release Date: Thursday, November 08, 2001
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of U.S. Department Health and Human Services, today announced the availability of the final version of its public health assessment for the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant in Joliet, Illinois.
Release Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2000
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the availability of seven toxicological profiles. The toxicological profiles just released are those for aldrin/dieldrin (update), beryllium (update), creosote (update), DDT/DDD/DDE (update), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (update), hexachlorobenzene (update), and methoxychlor (update).
Release Date: Friday, October 20, 2000
ATSDR announced today the release of its draft health consultation for the Bulk Distribution Center in Atlanta, Georgia. ATSDR prepared the health consultation in response to a request from residents living near the site who expressed concerns about operations at the center and potential human health effects. ATSDR visited the site and reviewed available environmental data related to the site. This health consultation summarizes ATSDR activities and findings.
Release Date: Sunday, February 27, 2000
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will host a meeting of its Community and Tribal Subcommittee on Tuesday, May 2, and Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at the Holiday Inn Select Hotel, 130 Clairmont Road, Decatur, Georgia.
Release Date: Monday, June 07, 1999
The Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the release of its latest Trichloroethylene (TCE) Subregistry Registrant Report.
Release Date: Monday, April 19, 1999
ATSDR announced today its updated Toxicological Profile for Mercury. This document replaces an earlier profile that was released in 1994.
Release Date: Wednesday, February 17, 1999
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.
Release Date: Tuesday, February 16, 1999
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the establishment of its Office of Tribal Affairs. The office is intended to better serve the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.