About National Center for Environmental Health

At a glance

CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health plans, directs, and coordinates a program to protect the American people from environmental hazards. We promote a healthy environment and prevent premature death, avoidable illness and disability caused by non-infectious, non-occupational environmental and related factors.

Senior hands giving small planet earth to a child

Our mission

To protect people’s health from environmental hazards that can be present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the world that sustains us by investigating relationships between environmental factors and health, developing guidance, and building partnerships.

Values

We are especially committed to protecting the health of vulnerable populations — children, older adults, and people with disabilities – from certain environmental hazards.

Focus

No matter where and how we work, we are committed to protecting the health of all people, not only in the U.S.

Goals

  • Conduct research in the laboratory and in the field
  • Investigate the effects of the environment on health
  • Track and evaluate environment-related health problems through surveillance systems
  • Help US and international agencies and organizations prepare for and respond to: natural, technologic, humanitarian, and terrorism-related environmental emergencies

Our impact

Our impact ranges from:

  • responding to emergencies,
  • educating and training various audiences,
  • developing new standards and guidelines,
  • and helping formulate public policy

Our work

The scope of our work is worldwide. We protect health during emergencies both in the U.S. and internationally.

Leadership

Head and shoulders photo with American flag in the background
Aaron (Ari) Bernstein, MD, MPH
NCEH/ATSDR
Aaron (Ari) Bernstein, MD, MPH, Director for the National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR)

Prior to joining NCEH/ATSDR, Dr. Bernstein led the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE) and practiced pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital for nearly 20 years.

Resources

NCEH Organizational Chart

Printable version

Contact NCEH

CDC/National Center for Environmental Health
4770 Buford Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717 USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), TTY: 888-232-6348
Email CDC-INFO

Contact CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), TTY: 888-232-6348
Email CDC-INFO

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Content Source:
National Center for Environmental Health