Research Program for Neurotoxic Disorders and Other Adverse Health Outcomes at Hazardous Chemical Sites in the United States of America

There are approximately 32,000 hazardous-waste sites in the US; estimates place approximately 6,000 individuals living near or working close enough to each site to suffer adverse health effects from exposure to toxic substances. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has embarked on a program to identify the neurotoxic agents at hazardous-waste sites. The ATSDR program includes epidemiologic studies, health investigations, the surveillance of health statistics, and the review of toxic exposure registries. ATSDR personnel have administered neurobehavioral test batteries to target populations on a trial basis. ATSDR has already implemented or planned more than 40 studies and is currently developing multisite study protocols.