Division of Environmental Hazards & Health Effects

1 Water, Air, and FoodEHHE works with laboratory partners to determinewhether human exposure to Environmental pollutants inwater, air, or food has occurred; to measure the extent ofexposure to chemicals or toxins; and to assess groundand surface water contamination. Radiation StudiesEHHE identifies potentially harmful envi-ronmental exposures to ionizing radiationand associated toxicants, conducts energy-related Health research, and responds toprotect the public s Health in the event of an emergencyinvolving radiation or radioactive to contact the Division :Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNational Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) Division of Environmental Hazards & Health EffectsCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNCEH/EHHE, MS F524770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA 30341800-CDC-INFO 2006 NCEH Pub.

2 No. 02-0750 Environmental Hazards & Health Effects We must be able to breathe, drink, eat, and live in the environment without fear for our Health . Environmental PublicHealth TrackingThe environment plays a signifi-cant role in human developmentand Health . Some links betweenenvironmental exposures and dis-ease, such as lead and impairedcognitive development in children,are well documented. Others, suchas a possible link between disin-fectant byproducts and bladdercancer are suspected but not defines Environmental pub-lic Health tracking as the ongoingcollection, integration, analysis,and interpretation ofdata on environmen-tal Hazards , exposureto environmentalhazards, and healtheffects potentiallyrelated to exposureto Environmental Hazards .

3 EHHEis leading creation of the NationalEnvironmental Public HealthTracking Network. The standards-based network will allow directelectronic data reporting and link-age within and across healtheffect, exposure, and hazard dataand will interoperate with otherpublic Health systems. EHHE alsodevelops innovative methods andtools for tracking environmentalhazards and associated healtheffects, disseminates environmen-tal public Health information todiverse audiences, and studies thelinks between Environmental haz-ards, exposures, and Health StudiesEHHE investigates the humanhealth Effects of exposure to envi-ronmental Hazards ranging fromchemical pollutants to natural,technologic, or terrorist results are used to develop,implement, and evaluate strategiesfor preventing or reducing harmfulexposures.

4 The following areexamples of current Health studysubject areas: Cancer ClustersA cancer cluster is a greater-than-expected number of cancer casesthat occurs within a group of peo-ple in a geographic area over aperiod of time. EHHE providescancer cluster information andresources through its Web site,responds to inquiries about cancerclusters, and works with statehealth departments to address pub-lic Health concerns about potentialcancer Animal FeedingOperationsEHHE is working with states todefine routes of exposure andpotential human Health effectsfrom exposures to wastes andresidues from concentrated animalfeeding operations. DisastersEHHE conducts research relatedto acute and chronic Health effectsfrom exposures to extreme heatand cold and to Hazards related tonatural ( , earthquakes, floods,hurricanes, tornadoes) and other( , industrial chemical acci-dents, terrorism) disasters.

5 PesticidesEHHE evaluates thepublic Health impact of nonwork-relatedexposures to pesticides,investigates outbreaks,and conducts prevention Algal BloomsEHHE is supporting surveillanceprograms, epidemiologic studies,and laboratory research to furtherdefine the relation between expo-sure to organisms involved in harmful algal blooms, such as Pfiesteria piscicida, and human illness. Health EffectsPrograms dedicated to investigating therelation between human Health and theenvironment. Division of Environmental Hazards Air Pollution and Respiratory Health EHHE researches and investigates the Effects of air borne Environmental agents on respiratory diseases.

6 Focus areas include asthma and mold. Asthma Despite some evidence of stabilizing death rates and declining hospitalization rates, asthma remains an important cause of illness and death in the United States. Rates of emergency department visits have continued to slowly increase and large disparities persist, with African Americans having rates of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and death three times higher than those for whites. Through its National Asthma Control Program, EHHE works with state grantees to reduce the number of Investigate the relation between human Health and the environment Our Mission: Our Goals: Our Tools: Research Education Partnership Increase knowledge Develop, implement, and evaluate policies and programs to prevent and control disease CDC s Division of Environmental Hazards & Health Effects (EHHE) focuses primarily on the following: & deaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, school days or workdays missed, and limitations on activity due to asthma.

7 The program has three compo nents: (1) tracking: collecting and analyzing data on an ongoing basis to understand when, where, and in whom asthma occurs; (2) interventions: ensuring that scientific information is translated into public Health practices and programs to reduce the burden of asthma; and (3) part nerships: ensuring that all stakeholders have the oppor tunity to be involved in developing, implementing, and evaluating local asthma control programs. Mold Mold exposure does not always present a Health problem indoors; however, people who are allergic to mold may commonly experience allergic symptoms when exposed to it. Certain people with chronic respiratory disease may have trouble breathing, although mold does not appear to represent a major public Health burden in terms of illness and death.

8 Because we know that mold can cause illness in some persons, EHHE is developing an agenda for research, service, and education related to mold. EHHE has funded the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study on the relation between damp or moldy indoor environments and the manifestation of adverse Health Effects . EHHE also is working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to develop an inventory of state indoor air quality programs. Chemical and Radiologic Terrorism EHHE is developing guidelines for emergency depart ment management of casualties following a radiologic event. EHHE participates regularly in emergency response drills, working closely with other federal, state, and local agencies to develop, test, and implement extensive national radiologic emergency response plans.

9 EHHE will coordinate federal, state and local partners in assessing human Health risks from chemical threats to water, air, and food. Air Pollution and Respiratory HealthEHHE researches and investigates the Effects of air-borne Environmental agents on respiratory areas include asthma and some evidence of stabilizingdeath rates and declining hospitalizationrates, asthma remains an important causeof illness and death in the United of emergency department visitshave continued to slowly increase andlarge disparities persist, with AfricanAmericans having rates of emergency department visits,hospitalizations, and death three times higher than thosefor whites.

10 Through its National Asthma Control Program, EHHE works with state grantees to reduce the number ofdeaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits,school days or workdays missed, and limitations onactivity due to asthma. The program has three compo-nents: (1) tracking: collecting and analyzing data on anongoing basis to understand when, where, and in whomasthma occurs; (2) interventions: ensuring that scientificinformation is translated into public Health practices andprograms to reduce the burden of asthma; and (3) part-nerships: ensuring that all stakeholders have the oppor-tunity to be involved in developing, implementing, andevaluating local asthma control programs.