Health Assessments

Abstract

Health assessment can be in many forms. It can be individual, community, or group based; all are equally important. Therefore, federal, state, city, and local governments have made multipronged approach to ensure wellness and health among all living organisms. For example, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was established by Congress in 1980 under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as the Superfund law. Since 1986, ATSDR has been required by law to conduct a public health assessment at each of the sites on the US Environmental Protection Agency National Priorities List. The aim of these evaluations is to find out if people are being exposed to hazardous substances and, if so, whether that exposure is harmful and should be stopped or reduced. A public health assessment determines if people have been or are likely to be exposed to a toxic substance and, usually, how and when they were exposed. Second, it tells whether the exposures are likely to lead to illness. Third, it recommends ways to protect public health. For example, recommendations might be made for the elimination or reduction of harmful exposures, or that some critical but missing data be obtained to assist the evaluation. It could also recommend a more rigorous health investigation – such as a health study – be conducted. If appropriate, ATSDR also conducts public health assessments when petitioned by concerned individuals. Public health assessments are carried out by environmental and health scientists from ATSDR and from the states with which ATSDR have cooperative agreements.