EH Nexus Academic Reference Guide

Foodborne illness—also known as food poisoning—is common and costly. But it’s also preventable! Food safety best practices and systems can help protect people from foodborne illness.

Food safety is one of the most common program areas environmental health professionals work in. CDC helps government food safety programs address environmental causes of foodborne illnesses in retail settings like restaurants, banquet facilities, and schools.

Use these resources to support retail food safety.

Food Safety Basics

These CDC resources explain how to prevent illness and outbreaks in retail settings:

• Preventing Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Infographic—Help prevent foodborne illness outbreaks by learning about environmental factors that may contribute to an outbreak.
• Preventable Causes of Foodborne Illness Infographic—Identify contributing factors during outbreak investigations.
• Can Restaurant Managers Talk With Sick Workers? Three Things Restaurant Managers Need to Know—Learn what the Food Code, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act say about how managers can decide if sick workers should handle food.
• Outbreak Rates and Restaurant Inspection Practices—Learn how restaurant inspection practices are linked to foodborne outbreaks.

Tools to Promote Food Safety

These CDC tools can help prevent environmental causes of foodborne illnesses and outbreaks:

• From Inspector to Investigator—Check out our short training video on finding the contributing factors to outbreaks.
• Environmental Assessment Training Series (EATS)—Practice skills in an interactive virtual environment and learn to conduct environmental assessments as part of outbreak investigations.
• National Environmental Assessment Reporting System (NEARS)—Capture environmental assessment data from foodborne illness outbreak investigations to improve food safety programs.
• Restaurant Food Safety Findings—Read food safety study findings on policies and practices to reduce foodborne illness in restaurants, banquet facilities, schools, and other institutions.

Related Resources

Here are some other resources related to food safety promotion and foodborne illness management for state and local food programs:

• Kitchen Manager Certification Infographic—Learn about the importance of food safety certification for kitchen managers.
• Adoption of Food Code Provisions Is Linked to Lower Rates of Foodborne Norovirus Outbreaks—Learn about key provisions that help lower rates of foodborne norovirus outbreaks. Provisions are from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Code.
• Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net)—Learn more about a collaborative forum of environmental health specialists. The specialists research food safety policies and practices for restaurants.
• Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence (CoEs)—Find peer assistance and training to help state and local health departments build their capacity to track and investigate enteric diseases.
• Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaborative—Find tools and resources to help improve food safety and investigations at retail food facilities. This collaborative was funded by FDA.

Public health pests and vectors (disease-carrying organisms) can spread pathogens, like West Nile virus. CDC provides expertise in integrated pest management to help government vector control programs address public health pests and vectors in their jurisdictions.

Use these resources to support vector control work.

Vector Control Basics

Explore CDC resources that explain vector control and integrated pest management:

• What Is Integrated Pest Management? [PDF – 356 KB]—Learn how to use a science-based integrated pest management (IPM) approach to reduce populations of disease vectors and public health pests.
• Integrated Pest Management Training Manual: Conducting Urban Rodent Surveys [PDF – 1 MB]—Use this training manual for community-based rodent IPM programs, survey techniques, and report and map preparation.

Vector Control Tools

Use these CDC tools to help control vectors in your jurisdiction:

• Vector Control for Environmental Health Professionals (VCEHP)—Educate yourself with this training that emphasizes using integrated pest management to address public health pests and vectors that spread pathogens.
• Vector Control Toolkit—Locate vector tools and resources for program improvement activities that align with CDC’s 10 Essential Public Health Services.
• Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response (EHTER)—Address the environmental health impacts of vectors and pests in and after emergencies and disasters.
• Environmental Public Health Online Courses (EPHOC)—Explore training on vector control roles and responsibilities of environmental public health personnel.

Related Resources

Here is another vector control resource:

• Vector Control Resources—Explore more resources on vector control, integrated pest management, rodents, ticks, mosquitoes, and more.

To stay healthy, people need access to water that’s safe to drink. About 1 in 8 American residents get their drinking water from a private well. According to a CDC study, about 1 in 5 sampled private wells were found to be contaminated at levels that could affect health. CDC helps health departments reduce harmful exposures from wells. Malfunctioning septic systems (onsite wastewater systems) can contaminate groundwater and surface water, potentially affecting individuals and the environment.

Explore these CDC resources on private wells and septic systems.

Private Wells and Public Health

Learn about how contamination in private wells can affect public health:

• Private Drinking Water and Public Health—Learn about potential contaminants, their effects on health, and CDC’s role in this work.
• Groundwater Corrosivity and Lead in Private Wells—Learn about corrosive groundwater and what to do when private well owners find lead in their drinking water.
• Private Wells After a Wildfire—Learn how wildfires can affect well water and check out CDC’s rapid assessment form.

Making Private Wells Safer

Learn how health departments can help make private wells a safe source of drinking water:

• Starting a Private Well Program—Learn how to start a drinking water program to protect community members who get water from private wells.
• Success Stories for Private Well Projects—Read success stories from health departments working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their safe drinking water programs.
• Tools and Promotional Materials for Private Wells—Explore videos, stories, publications, and tools that health departments have developed in partnership with CDC’s Safe Water Program.
• Safe Water Program Improvement e-Learning Series (SWPI)—Take this course to learn how public health programs can make well water safer by strengthening public health programs.
• Tribal Drinking Water Improvement Program—Learn about a project to build tribal capacity to ensure the safety of unregulated drinking water.

Wastewater Tools and Guidance

Explore these onsite (decentralized) wastewater resources from CDC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH):

• Papers by the Decentralized Wastewater Management MOU Partnership—Read information for state, local, and tribal governments addressing economic, environmental, and public health aspects of decentralized wastewater treatment.
• Septic Systems Outreach Toolkit—Find materials, case studies, and resources to help promote homeowner education on the importance of septic system maintenance.
• Local Board of Health Guide to Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems [PDF – 1 MB]—Learn about the role of local boards of health in effective onsite wastewater treatment programs.
• Wastewater Management—Learn how land use decisions related to wastewater management affect water quality and public health.

Wastewater Training Resources

Here is a more comprehensive training on wastewater:

• Environmental Public Health Online Courses (EPHOC)—Access a comprehensive package of online courses for environmental public health practitioners, including a module on wastewater.

Wastewater Publications

Learn more about wastewater in these publications:

• Healthy Housing Reference Manual—Learn how housing affects health and safety and check out the chapter on onsite wastewater treatment.
• Wastewater Publications—Click on “Wastewater” to explore relevant scientific publications from CDC Environmental Health Services (EHS).

Regulated recreational water venues provide fun ways for people to relax, stay physically active, or spend time with family and friends. These venues include

• Public swimming pools
• Pools, hot tubs, and spas in hotels, apartment complexes, and neighborhoods
• Water parks and playgrounds
• Spray fountains and splash pads

While these venues can be great community resources, they also pose health risks. Environmental health programs work to identify potential health hazards through permitting and inspecting recreational water venues. CDC provides funding, tools, and training to help public health officials and aquatic staff members strengthen health and safety programs. Government agencies and aquatics organizations can use CDC tools like the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) to make swimming and other water activities healthier and safer.

Use these resources to help prevent injuries and illnesses associated with recreational water venues.

Basics of Recreational Water Venues

Follow this guidance to design, maintain, inspect, and operate recreational water venues:

• MAHC Summary—Review the Model Aquatic Health Code fact sheet to make swimming and other water activities healthy and safe.
• Information for Aquatics Staff Members—Learn best practices for operating and managing safe and healthy swimming environments

Tools to Prevent Injury and Illness in Recreational Water Venues

Keep recreational venues safe for the public:

• Pool Inspection Training for Environmental Health Professionals—Improve inspection skills by learning about aquatic facility systems and walking through a pool inspection using CDC’s MAHC inspection form.
• Recreational Water Illness Outbreak Response Tools—Respond to disease outbreaks related to recreational water venues.
• CDC’s MAHC—Access the latest MAHC guidance and other tools to reduce risk for outbreaks, drowning, and pool chemical exposures and injuries.
  • Mini-MAHCs—Find aggregated code and annex language on a specific public health issue.
  • MAHC Aquatic Facility Inspection Report [PDF – 80 KB]—Learn about the most critical aspects of an inspection to help safeguard a pool.
  • Other MAHC Resources—Make using MAHC recommendations easier with tools like investigating and reporting forms and response protocols.
• Information About Pools, Hot Tubs, and Splash Pads by State—Find state-specific resources such as pool code information, aquatic operator training guidance, facts on recreational water illnesses, and contacts for local public health authorities.

Related Resources

Here are other resources related to regulated recreational water venues:

• Healthy Swimming and Recreational Water—Get tips on healthy and safe swimming.
• Swimming-Related Illnesses—Find information about preventing swimming-related illnesses.
• Animals and Pools—Keep your pool safe from germs that animals carry.
• Drowning Prevention—Learn about drowning facts and safety tips.
• Sun Safety—Protect yourself from the sun when you spend time outside.

Legionella, a type of bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, is often found in water systems. CDC investigations found that 9 in 10 outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease could have been prevented with more effective water system management. CDC helps build capacity in health departments for Legionnaires’ disease response and prevention.

Explore these resources to learn about the connection between building water systems and Legionnaires’ disease and find out how to prevent Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.

Building Water Systems and Legionnaires’ Disease Resources

Learn how you can improve the safety of building water systems and protect your community from Legionnaires’ disease:

• PreventLD Training: A Training on Legionella Water Management Programs—Take this training to learn how to create a water management program to reduce risk for Legionnaires’ disease.
• Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation—Ensure the safety of building water systems and devices to protect employees, visitors, and community members.
• Hot Tub Displays and Legionella Risk—Learn how to minimize risk for Legionella exposure from hot tub displays at temporary events like fairs, conventions, and home and garden shows.

Environmental Assessment and Investigation Tools

Use these tools to prevent or address Legionnaires’ disease:

• Legionella Environmental Assessment Form and Marking Guide—Document a facility’s water systems, determine whether to conduct Legionella environmental sampling, and develop a sampling plan.
• Legionella Control Toolkit—Focus and improve Legionella control efforts in common sources of exposure.
• Environmental Investigation Videos—Watch instructional videos that explain Legionella ecology, environmental assessments, and sampling techniques.
• Procedures for Identifying Cooling Towers—Read about steps and strategies to locate cooling towers. Cooling towers remove heat from a building by bringing air and water into direct contact with each other to reduce the water’s temperature.

Environmental health practice is critical to the public health delivery system because environmental health professionals are strategically positioned to assess, control, and prevent public health or environment-related threats.

CDC offers resources to help health departments build environmental health program capacity to address environmental hazards, improve services, and develop the workforce.

Environmental Health Capacity (EHC) Program

Learn about CDC’s EHC program, an initiative to detect, prevent, and control environmental health hazards through data-driven, evidence-based approaches:

• About EHC—Read this overview of the program.
• EHC Projects—Learn about the types of projects recipients work on.
• EHC Recipients—Find out who receives funding.

Building Capacity: Data and Informatics in Environmental Health

Learn how CDC is working to improve environmental health practice by modernizing data:

• Using Informatics to Improve Environmental Health Practice—Learn how environmental health practitioners use data and informatics.
• Environmental Health Data Modernization—Learn how DEHSP is working to modernize environmental health data.
• Open Data Standard—Find out how CDC is working with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) to design an open data standard to improve health and safety in aquatic facilities.
• Environmental Health Informatics Projects—Read about projects to create connected, resilient, adaptable, and sustainable data systems.
• Public Health 101: Introduction to Public Health Informatics—Learn more about informatics in public health.

Assessing the Workforce: UNCOVER EH

Learn about our Understanding the Needs, Challenges, Opportunities, Vision, and Emerging Roles in Environmental Health (UNCOVER EH) initiative to assess the current state of and future trends in environmental health:

• UNCOVER EH—Explore articles and resources from CDC’s assessment of data from more than 1,700 environmental health professionals.
• Key Findings Infographic—Explore key findings about the environmental health workforce and practice, including demographic information, common program areas, and education.
• Uncovering Environmental Health: An Initial Assessment of the Profession’s Health Department Workforce and Practice—Read this article to learn about demographics, characteristics, practice areas, leadership, and job satisfaction in environmental health.

Developing the Workforce: National Environmental Public Health Internship Program (NEPHIP)

Find out how NEPHIP can help environmental health students gain experience—and how NEPHIP connects health departments with high-quality assistance:

• NEPHIP—Find out how students and health departments can benefit from NEPHIP.
• NEPHIP Program Details and Application—Get the details about NEPHIP and apply to the program.
• Exploring the Benefits and Value of Public Health Department Internships for Environmental Health Students—Read about past NEPHIP interns’ experiences.

Training the Workforce: Free Resources

Explore our free training and workforce development resources:

• Safe Water Program Improvement e-Learning Series (SWPI)—Take CDC’s training for safer well water.
• Vector Control for Environmental Health Professionals (VCEHP)—Learn about using integrated pest management to address public health pests and vectors that spread pathogens, including Zika virus and others.
• Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response—Address environmental health impacts of emergencies and disasters. Topics include building assessment, drinking water, food safety, shelters, vectors and pests, wastewater, and more.
• Environmental Public Health Online Courses—Access 15 e-learning courses on environmental health topics including disaster sanitation, food protection, general environmental health, housing sanitation and safety, institutions and licensed establishments, potable water, solid and hazardous waste, swimming pools and recreational facilities, and more.

Supporting Program Improvement: 10 Essential Public Health Services

Explore these services and their links to environmental public health:

• Environmental Public Health and the 10 Essential Services—Learn how environmental health programs help deliver the 10 Essential Public Health Services in their communities and support broader public health initiatives such as public health accreditation.
• Environmental Public Health Performance Standards (EnvPHPS)—Use EnvPHPS to help make your environmental public health program more effective.
• Safe Water Program Improvement e-Learning Series (SWPI)—Take this course to learn how public health programs can make well water safer by strengthening public health programs.

Tribal Drinking Water Improvement Program—Learn about a project to build tribal capacity to ensure the safety of unregulated drinking water.

CDC’s National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program uses a broad network of experts, data, and tools to connect environmental and public health information. CDC uses this information to develop innovative programs and solutions that protect and improve the health of communities across the country. At the local, state, and national levels, the Tracking Program uses a network of people and information systems to deliver a core set of health, exposure, and hazards data, information summaries, and tools to enable analysis, visualization, and reporting of insights drawn from data.

Use these resources to learn more about the Tracking Program and find data and tools to support your work.

About the Tracking Program

Learn about the mission, goals, and activities of CDC’s Tracking Program:

• About the Program—Read a brief overview and history of the Tracking Program.
• Better Information for Better Health Video—Watch this video to learn more about the Tracking Program’s activities and resources.
• Celebrating 20 Years of CDC’s Environmental Public Health Tracking—Check out this timeline of the Tracking Program’s history and key milestones.
• Tracking Terminology—Learn key terms related to environmental public health tracking and CDC’s tracking work.
• National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program Strategic Plan, 2022–2026 [PDF – 6.7 MB]—Read the Tracking Program’s strategic plan to learn more about the program’s goals and objectives.
• Publications—Read scientific publications related to the Tracking Program.
• Resources—Explore additional Tracking Program resources for environmental health professionals and other public health practitioners.

National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network

The National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network is a dynamic, web-based data system that’s managed by the Tracking Program. The Tracking Network brings together health data and environmental data from national, state, and city sources. It also provides supporting information to make the data easier to understand. Explore the Tracking Network and its resources:

• National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network—Learn about the Tracking Network and find resources to support your work in environmental health.
• Data Explorer Tool—Search, customize, and download a variety of data in maps, charts, and tables.
• Tracking Dashboards—Explore topic-specific dashboards for a more complete, detailed picture of important environmental health topics.
• Tracking Network Topics—Use this alphabetical list of topics on the Tracking Network to find data on specific public health issues.
• Tracking: Better Information for Better Health Infographics—View these infographics to learn more about how the Tracking Network delivers better information to improve public health.
• Environmental Health Nexus Webinar—Watch this recorded webinar to learn how the Tracking Network helps to improve community health with data, visualizations, and interactive tools.

Local Tracking Programs and National Partners

Learn about state and local tracking programs and national organizations that work with the Tracking Program:

• State and Local Tracking Programs—View CDC-funded health departments that build and implement local tracking programs and data networks.
• Tracking in Action Videos—See how Tracking grant recipients are improving public health.
• Tracking Success Stories—Check out these success stories from state and local tracking programs.
• Tracking Partnerships—Learn about national organizations that partner with the Tracking Program.

Indoor air quality refers to air quality inside buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health of building occupants. Health effects from indoor air pollutants—like carbon monoxide, cleaning supplies, and household chemicals—can happen soon after exposure or even years later. CDC educates people about sources of indoor air pollutants and supports public health programs to achieve indoor air quality suitable for good health.

Use these resources to support your work in promoting good indoor air quality.

Indoor Air Quality Basics

Learn what affects indoor air quality:

• Introduction to Indoor Air Quality—Learn about the causes and health effects of indoor air pollutants.
• Indoor Environmental Quality—Understand the factors that affect indoor air quality in the workplace.

Tools to Understand the Impact of Indoor Air Pollution

Use these tools to learn about how indoor air pollution affects public health:

• Asthma Call-back Survey—Use data sets from this survey to help understand the sources and impact of indoor air pollution among people with asthma.
• Air Sensor Toolbox—Get the latest science on the performance, operation, and use of air sensor monitoring systems.

Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Learn how healthcare professionals can support patients affected by indoor air pollutants:

• Particle Pollution and Your Patients’ Health— Learn about health effects associated with particle pollution exposure and educational tools available to help patients protect their health.

Related Resources

Find other resources related to indoor air quality:

• Information About Air Quality Where You Live—Check the Air Quality Index for your area to plan safe and healthy physical activity.
• Asbestos and Your Health—Discover the history and use of asbestos and its impacts on your health.
• Secondhand Smoke in the Home—Protect yourself and those around you from exposure to secondhand smoke.
• List of State Programs—Find state programs dealing with indoor air-related health inquiries.
• Indoor Air Quality Checklist—Use this checklist to address indoor air quality issues in schools.
• Home Characteristics and Asthma Triggers Checklist for Home Visitors [PDF – 930 KB]—Employ this at-home assessment to find and reduce common asthma triggers.

Explore more topics related to indoor air quality:

• Asthma
• Childhood lead poisoning
• CO poisoning
• Mold
• Radon

Outdoor air quality has improved over the past few decades, but there are still outdoor air pollutants that can affect people’s health. Pollutants like ground-level ozone and particulate matter can cause negative health effects when they’re at high levels. CDC educates people about preventing exposure to outdoor air pollutants and supports public health programs to achieve outdoor air quality suitable for good health.

Use these resources to support your work in outdoor air quality education and mitigation.

Outdoor Air Quality Basics

Get basic safety tips related to outdoor air quality:

• Protect Yourself from Air Pollution During Physical Activity—Learn how to safely get physical activity and prevent exposure to air pollution.
• Information about Air Quality Where You Live—Check the Air Quality Index for your area to plan safe and healthy physical activity.

Tools to Understand the Impact of Outdoor Air Pollution

Use these tools to learn about how outdoor air pollution impacts public health:

• Air Quality Tracking System—Access outdoor air monitoring systems across federal, state, local, and tribal air agencies.
• Asthma Call-back Survey—Use data sets from this survey to help understand the sources and impact of indoor air pollution among people with asthma.
• Air Sensor Toolbox—Get the latest science on the performance, operation, and use of air sensor monitoring systems.

Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Learn how healthcare professionals can support patients affected by outdoor air pollutants:

• Particle Pollution and Your Patients’ Health—Learn about health effects associated with particle pollution exposure and educational tools available to help patients protect their health.
• Wildfire Smoke and Your Patients’ Health—Learn about the health effects associated with wildfire smoke and steps to advise patients on reducing smoke exposure.

Related Resources

Find other resources related to outdoor air quality:

• Ozone and Your Health—Get an overview of health considerations related to ozone.
• Particle Pollution—Learn about the types of particle pollution and their health effects.
• Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke—Take safety precautions for wildfire smoke.
• Volcanoes and Air Quality—Find volcano safety tips and key facts about what harmful substances they release.
• Saharan Dust—Learn about Saharan dust and how it affects human health.

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. It causes episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. People who have asthma can manage their symptoms by taking medicine and avoiding triggers—activities or things in the environment that can cause an asthma attack.

Use these resources to support people with asthma and promote effective asthma management.

Resources for Public Health Professionals

Explore resources from CDC’s National Asthma Control Program (NACP) for public health professionals:

• CDC’s National Asthma Control Program (NACP)—Learn how CDC’s NACP works to help Americans with asthma improve their health and quality of life.
• State Contacts and Programs—Learn about the state, territorial, and municipal partners supported by the NACP.
• Data, Statistics, and Surveillance—Find asthma surveillance data, including data at both the national and the state level.
• EXHALE Guide for Public Health Professionals [PDF – 3.7 MB]—Learn how public health professionals can use CDC’s EXHALE strategies to help people with asthma. EXHALE is CDC’s strategic approach to help people with asthma breathe easier.
• EXHALE and Social Determinants of Health—Learn how EXHALE strategies can improve conditions in the places where people live, work, learn, play, and spend time.
• EXHALE Examples from States—Learn how state health departments, collaborating with other state and local partners, have carried out EXHALE-related activities to help children and adults with asthma.
• Controlling Childhood Asthma and Reducing Emergencies (CCARE)—Learn about CCARE, CDC’s objective to prevent emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations among children due to asthma.
• CDC Publications on Asthma—Find CDC publications related to asthma prevention and interventions.

Learn how public health professionals can evaluate the success and impact of asthma programs:

• Practical Evaluation Using the CDC Evaluation Framework—A Webinar Series for Asthma and Other Public Health Programs—Learn how to evaluate the impact of public health asthma programs in this webinar series.
• Evaluation—Learn more about program evaluation with these resources from the NACP.
• Practical Strategies for Culturally Competent Evaluation [PDF – 706 KB]—Learn about opportunities for integrating cultural competence throughout your evaluation.
• Program Evaluation Tip Sheet: Integrating Cultural Competence into Evaluation [PDF – 870 KB]—Learn tips for integrating cultural competence throughout your evaluation.
• Evaluation Standards and Strategies to Increase Cultural Competence [PDF – 320 KB]—Learn standards and strategies to increase cultural competence throughout your evaluation.

Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Use these resources to help patients with asthma:

• EXHALE Guide for Healthcare Professionals [PDF – 2.4 MB]—Learn how healthcare professionals can support people with asthma.
• Information for Clinicians Helping Patients with Asthma, Other Respiratory Conditions, and/or Allergies to Mold after a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm—Learn how to help patients with asthma after a hurricane or other tropical storm.
• Underlying Conditions: Asthma and Severe COVID-19 [PDF – 1.5 MB]—Read about a systematic review on asthma and severe COVID-19.

Resources for People and Families Affected by Asthma

Learn about CDC resources for people and families affected by asthma:

• EXHALE Guide for People with Asthma, Their Families, and Their Caregivers [PDF – 4 MB]—Use this guide to help people with asthma achieve better health.
• Learn How to Control Asthma—Learn more ways to manage asthma symptoms.
• Know How to Use your Asthma Inhaler—Share these videos to educate people with asthma about using an inhaler.
• Asthma Care Before, During, and After a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm—Learn how to care for asthma before, during, and after a hurricane or other tropical storm.

Additional Asthma Resources

Explore these resources from non-CDC agencies and organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the American Lung Association (ALA):

• Asthma Care Quick Reference [PDF – 860 KB]—Find evidence-based clinical guidance in this resource from NIH.
• Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma—Review more detailed diagnostic guidelines from NIH.
• Particle Pollution and Your Patients’ Health—Check out this evidence-based training on particle pollution exposure and the EPA Air Quality Index.
• Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative—Learn more about this initiative to support children with asthma from ALA.
• Managing Asthma: A Guide for Schools [PDF – 6 MB]—Take a deeper dive into controlling asthma at school with this guide from NIH.

Mold can cause many health effects—especially for people who have asthma or who are immunocompromised. Mold is common, especially outdoors, but there are simple steps people can take to prevent mold from growing indoors. CDC educates the public on how to spot mold and prevent its health effects.

Use these resources to support your work in preventing and managing mold.

Mold Basics

Use these CDC resources to learn about the basics of mold:

• Mold and Dampness—Discover the basic facts about mold, where it commonly grows, and how it affects people’s health.
• Mold Myths and Facts—Learn how to protect yourself from mold.

Information for Mold Cleanup and Remediation

Use these resources from CDC and partners to educate people on what to do if they encounter mold:

• How to Control Mold—Understand how you can prevent, clean up, and control mold in your home.
• How to Reduce Exposure to Mold—Take steps to reduce your exposure to mold in your home.
• What to Wear When Dealing with Mold—Protect yourself by wearing protective gear before entering a building or home with mold.
• Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters—Follow this guidance to safely clean up mold after a hurricane or other natural disasters.
• 8 Tips to Clean Up Mold—Use these tips to safely clean up mold.
• Shopping List for Cleaning Up Mold—Review this checklist of essential tools for cleaning up mold in your home.

Other Resources

Find other resources related to mold management and prevention:

• CDC Information for Clinicians Helping Patients at Risk of Mold Health Effects—Learn how to help patients who are at risk of negative health effects related to mold.
• CDC Dampness and Mold Remediation Information for Workers—Find out what causes dampness and mold growth in buildings and learn how mold can affect workers’ health.
• EPA Resources for Public Health Professionals—Find resources to gain more technical knowledge and answer questions from the public about mold and indoor air quality.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless and colorless gas that’s produced after burning fuel for things like cars, stoves, or furnaces. If CO builds up indoors, it can cause sudden illness and death. CDC helps partners at the national, state, and local levels raise awareness about CO poisoning and monitor data on CO-related illness and death.

Use these resources to support your work in preventing CO poisoning.

CO Basics

These resources explain how to check CO levels and prevent CO poisoning indoors:

• CO Poisoning Fact Sheet [PDF – 180 KB]—Take these steps to help prevent CO poisoning.
• CO Prevention Guidance—Follow this guidance to limit CO exposure.
• Frequently Asked Questions About CO Poisoning—Find out what CO is, how to check for it, and what you can do to prevent CO poisoning.

Tools to Prevent CO Poisoning

These tools track relevant CO poisoning data:

• National Environmental Public Health Tracking System—Capture state and local data about emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths related to CO poisoning.
• Routine Surveillance Framework—Use this framework to adapt data sources to estimate CO poisoning surveillance on a national level.
• Disaster Surveillance Framework—Identify and describe who is at greatest risk for CO poisoning after a disaster.

Resources for Healthcare Professionals

These resources provide guidance for healthcare professionals interacting with patients who have CO poisoning and those at risk of CO poisoning:

• CO Poisoning Prevention Clinical Education Video—Enhance recognition and treatment of CO poisoning in both emergency and non-emergency situations.
• Clinical Guidance for CO Poisoning—Follow this guidance when diagnosing and prescribing treatment for patients with suspected CO poisoning.
• Brief on COVID-19 Similarities with CO Poisoning—Learn how to differentiate between symptoms of CO poisoning and COVID-19.

Related Resources

Find other resources related to preventing CO poisoning:

• Guidance For Preventing CO Poisoning On Your Boat—Follow this guidance to operate a boat safely and prevent CO poisoning.
• Generator Safety Fact Sheet—Learn how to use a generator safely to prevent CO poisoning.
• Furnace Safety Fact Sheet—Take these steps regularly to prevent CO poisoning from your furnace.

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can cause negative health effects. Children are exposed to lead when they touch, swallow, or breathe in lead or lead dust. Children less than 6 years of age are more likely to be exposed to lead because they tend to put their fingers and small objects that may be contaminated with lead in their mouths.

Children are primarily exposed to lead from lead-based paint and dust in homes built before 1978, lead-contaminated soil, and lead-contaminated drinking water. Lead can also be found in some consumer products, foods, cosmetics, and medicines. Additionally, children can be exposed to lead from their caregivers’ jobs or hobbies.

Learn how to prevent and treat childhood lead poisoning with the following CDC resources.

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Learn about CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) and other government efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning:

• Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)—Find out how the CLPPP is working to strengthen blood lead testing, reporting, surveillance, and linkages to services.
• News and Features—Get the latest updates about the CLPPP.
• Lead Exposure and Prevention Advisory Committee (LEPAC)—Learn how LEPAC is working to address childhood lead poisoning.
• State and Local Programs—Find local resources related to childhood lead poisoning.

Lead Exposure Basics

Get the basics about lead exposure and lead poisoning:

• Overview of Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention—Learn about risk factors, testing, and ways to prevent childhood lead exposure in this easy-to-read summary.
• Populations at Higher Risk—Learn who’s most likely to experience lead poisoning.
• Sources of Lead Exposure—Find out where and how children may be exposed to lead.
• All Children Can Be Exposed to Lead—Learn more about places where children may come into contact with lead.
• Health Effects of Lead Exposure—Find out how lead exposure may affect children’s health.
• Lead FAQs—Get answers to frequently asked questions about lead exposure and lead poisoning.

Lead Poisoning Prevention Resources

Find resources to support lead poisoning prevention work:

• How to Prevent Lead Poisoning in Children—Discover effective strategies to prevent lead poisoning.
• Data and Statistics—Find out how CDC uses data to track childhood lead exposure and inform prevention efforts.
• Guidelines and Recommendations—Check out CDC’s guidelines and recommendations to support effective childhood lead poisoning prevention programs.
• Scientific Publications—Review scientific research and data about childhood lead poisoning prevention.
• Policy Resources—Find policy resources and tools to support effective childhood lead poisoning prevention programs.
• Communication Resources—Find lead poisoning prevention resources to share with parents and caregivers, healthcare providers, public health professionals, and others.
• Tools and Trainings—Explore lead poisoning prevention trainings and other resources to share with parents and caregivers, healthcare providers, public health professionals, and others.

Lead Poisoning Testing and Treatment

Learn how to test for and treat lead poisoning:

• Testing Children for Lead Poisoning—Learn more about blood lead testing for children.
• Mission Unleaded: How to Test Children for Lead with Maximum Accuracy—Learn how to test for childhood lead poisoning.
• Laboratory Considerations—Learn about analytical methods used in blood lead testing.
• Blood Lead Levels in Children—Find out how to test children’s blood lead levels and provide treatment based on test results.
• Recommended Actions Based on Blood Lead Level—Get detailed treatment recommendations based on blood lead level.
• CDC’s Recommended Terminology When Discussing Children’s Blood Lead Levels [PDF – 343 KB]—Learn how to discuss and interpret children’s blood lead levels.

Radiation comes from natural and manmade sources. Many people come into contact with radiation every day at work, at school, or at home. But too much radiation exposure can cause negative health effects.

CDC has developed many resources to help local and state health departments build their capacity to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure and to plan for and respond to radiation emergencies. Together, we work to protect our communities from environmental and manmade sources of radiation.

Use these resources to support your work in preventing radiation exposure.

Radiation Basics

These CDC resources explain common sources of radiation and how they affect the body:

• Radiation and Your Health—Learn about radiation and how to protect yourself from the possible health effects of too much radiation exposure.
• Get the Facts on Radon—Learn about radon’s physical characteristics, its impact on health, and steps you can take to measure and reduce radon levels.
• Cigarette Smoking and Radiation—Understand the dangers of cigarette smoking and radiation and how they can cause direct and immediate damage to the cells and tissues.
• Ultraviolet Radiation—Learn about the benefits, harms, protection methods, and property characteristics of UV radiation.
• Health Effects of Radiation—Understand the health effects of radiation, how it interacts with living tissue, and its effect on the body.

Resources for Radiation Emergencies

These resources provide guidance on radiation emergencies and how to respond to emergency situations:

• Radiation Emergencies Video—Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones in a radiation emergency.
• Where to Go in a Radiation Emergency Video—Watch this video to find out what to do in case of a radiation emergency.
• How to Self-Decontaminate After a Radiation Emergency—Learn how to get radioactive material off your body as soon as possible to lower your risk of harm.
• Medical Countermeasures (Treatments) for Radiation Exposure and Contamination—Explore the medication and medical countermeasures that can help limit and or treat the health effects of certain types of radiation in radiological or nuclear emergencies.
• Radiation Emergencies: What to Expect at a Community Reception Center (CRC)—Review this infographic to find out what services are provided at community reception centers (CRC) during a radiation emergency.
• Contamination vs. Exposure—Understand the difference between radioactive contamination and radiation exposure.
• Types of Radiation Emergencies—Recognize the various types of radiation and radiation emergencies.

Related Resources

Here are more resources about radiation exposure and prevention:

• Radiation Response Briefing Manual: A Guide for Key Leaders and Public Health Decision Makers [PDF – 20 MB]—Enhance your awareness of radiation hazards, types of emergencies, response assets and phrases, and planning and guidance documents.
• Population Monitoring, Community Reception Centers (CRC), and Shelter Resources for a Radiation Emergency—Explore resources related to population monitoring (assessing and monitoring people who may have been exposed to radiation) and sheltering displaced people after a radiation emergency.
• Radiation Risk Communication for Public Health—Discover the Radiation Risk Communication for Public Health training to understand basic radiation concepts and access communication resources.
• Success Stories in Radiation Emergency Preparedness—Find out how state and local partners have used CDC training, tools, and resources to prepare communities for radiation emergencies.
• Radiation Hazard Scale—Use this scaleto communicate about radiation hazards during emergency situations, when exact radiation exposure parameters for specific individuals are not available.
• Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation [PDF – 12.5 MB]—Read these planning guidelines that describe the considerations, planning factors, and available resources to craft a successful nuclear detonation response plan.
• Guide for Handling Decedents Contaminated with Radioactive Materials [PDF – 1.8 MB]—Use these guidelines to assist with planning and response efforts related to mortuary response operations in a radiation emergency.
• This is a T.E.S.T.—Learn about this radiation emergency community reception center tabletop simulation tool.

Radon is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas that isn’t usually harmful when encountered outside. But prolonged exposure to radon indoors can increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

The good news is that radon exposure is preventable. CDC helps local health departments track radon data and inform their communities on how to prevent radon exposure in the home.

Use these resources to support your work in reducing radon exposure.

Radon Basics

Learn how to test for radon and reduce exposure in the home:

• Protect Yourself and Your Family from Radon—Learn the basics about radon and how to prevent radon exposure.
• Test Your Home—Learn how to test for radon in your home.
• Reduce Radon—Get guidance on how to reduce your exposure to radon in your home.
• Webinar for Radon Awareness Week 2022—Watch a presentation from experts in national and state-level radon risk reduction initiatives.

Tools to Find Radon Level Data

Find relevant radon data using the CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking Network):

• Radon Tests from Labs—Access radon testing data at the state and county level for most of the continental United States.
• Radon Tests from States—Access radon testing data at the state and county level for some states that receive funding from the Tracking Network.

Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Learn how healthcare providers can support patients affected by radon exposure:

• Radon Information for Healthcare Providers—Explore resources to help you educate patients on radon exposure and prevention.
• Reducing the Risk from Radon: Information and Interventions [PDF – 1.6 MB]—Use this guide to inform patients about the health risks of radon exposure and the simple steps they can take to reduce their exposure.
• ATSDR Clinician Brief: Radon—Increase your competency in radon exposure recognition, patient management, and exposure reduction counseling.

Related Resources

Find other resources related to raising awareness and reducing radon exposure:

• Radon Communication Materials—Explore a collection of resources that can raise public awareness about radon.
• EPA Radon-Resistant Construction Basics and Techniques—Learn how to build homes that are resistant to radon.
• EPA Reducing Radon in Schools—Get information on radon reduction strategies in schools.

Harmful algal and cyanobacterial blooms are the rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria, which are simple organisms that live in fresh, salt, or brackish water. These blooms can produce toxins that make people and animals sick and can harm the local ecology. CDC works to educate people on how to avoid harmful algal and cyanobacterial blooms and conducts research to study the health effects associated with these blooms.

Use these resources to support your work in preventing illness associated with harmful algal and cyanobacterial blooms.

Harmful Algal and Cyanobacterial Bloom Basics

These resources provide basic information about harmful algal and cyanobacterial blooms:

• General Information—Learn how algal and cyanobacterial blooms are harmful to people, animals, and the environment.
• Causes and Ecosystem Impacts—Find out what causes harmful algal and cyanobacterial blooms how to recognize them, and why they’re a growing concern.
• Cyanobacterial Blooms Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ [PDF – 85 KB])—Check out these frequently asked questions to learn more about cyanobacterial blooms.

Resources for Health Professionals

These resources provide guidance to help health professionals address illnesses related to harmful algal or cyanobacterial blooms:

• Cyanobacterial Blooms: Information for Healthcare Providers—Learn how to care for patients who are experiencing health issues related to cyanobacterial blooms.
• Facts About Cyanobacterial Blooms for Poison Center Professionals—Learn more about cyanobacterial bloom exposures, signs and symptoms, laboratory testing, and illness management.
• Facts About Marine Harmful Algal Blooms for Poison Center Professionals—Find out how people and animals are exposed to marine algal toxins.
• Cyanobacterial Blooms: Information for Veterinarians—Get specific information for veterinarians on cyanobacterial blooms, including risks of exposure and treatment.

Related Resources

Find other resources related to harmful algal and cyanobacterial blooms:

• Harmful Algae and Cyanobacteria Awareness Social Media Toolkit—Use these sample social media messages and graphics to raise awareness about harmful algae and cyanobacteria.
• Avoid Harmful Algae and Cyanobacteria—Learn how to stay safe from harmful algae and cyanobacteria.
• Cyanobacterial Blooms: Information for Animal Owners—Understand the ways in which cyanobacterial blooms can be deadly for animals and livestock.
• Zoonoses and One Health Updates Call: Harmful Algal Bloom Presentation—Get an overview on harmful algal bloom surveillance in the United States.
• One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS)—Access data related to harmful algal blooms.

CDC’s Health Studies program (HS) assesses the extent of human exposure to emerging environmental threats and identifies potential adverse health effects. HS conducts rapid epidemiologic investigations and extended research studies to learn about the relationship between environmental threats and human health. The program also provides technical assistance and expertise to state or local public health agencies.

Check out these resources to learn more about HS and key environmental health topics like environmental epidemiology, chemical and radiation exposure, and disaster epidemiology. You can also use HS training materials to build your organization’s capacity to respond to environmental threats.

About the Health Studies Program

Use these resources to learn about HS, explore success stories, and review HS publications:

• About the Program—Learn about the mission, goals, and activities of HS.
• Success Stories—Check out these success stories to learn about HS work across the United States and around the world.
• HS Publications—Read scientific publications from HS on a variety of environmental health topics.

Investigating Disease Clusters of Environmental Concern

Learn how HS provides technical assistance and conducts rapid epidemiologic investigations in response to disease clusters of unknown or suspected environmental etiology:

• CDC/ATSDR Guidelines for Examining Unusual Patterns of Cancer and Environmental Concerns—Find out about guidelines to help states respond to community cancer and environmental concerns.
• Technical Assistance and Emergency Response—Find out how HS conducts rapid epidemiologic investigations in response to outbreaks of unknown etiology.
• Toxicological Outbreak Investigation Training and Toolkit—Discover practical resources and learning activities for public health practitioners who investigate toxicological outbreaks,

Understanding Chemical and Radiation Exposure

Explore chemical and radiation exposure resources for environmental health professionals and other public health practitioners:

• Radiation Emergency Training—Check out this training designed to help poison center personnel respond to radiation emergencies.
• National Chemical and Radiological Surveillance Program—Learn how CDC works with poison centers to protect the nation from public health threats.
• Poison Center and Public Health Collaborations Community of Practice—Find out how this community of practice is working to develop best practices for poison center and public health collaboration.

Disaster Epidemiology and Response

Explore disaster epidemiology and response resources for environmental health professionals and other public health practitioners:

• Disaster Epidemiology—Learn the basics about CDC’s work in disaster epidemiology.
• Public Health Surveillance During a Disaster—Find out how CDC conducts surveillance to understand the health effects of disasters.
• Overview of Disaster Epidemiology eLearning course—Check out this short course for an overview of disaster epidemiology and the role of disaster epidemiologists.
• Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER)—Learn how to conduct a rapid community needs assessment with the CASPER toolkit.
• Training and Technical Assistance—Learn about technical assistance, in-person training, online courses, and other CDC resources to help environmental health professionals respond to disasters.
• Materials and Resources—Explore more resources related to disaster epidemiology and response.

As climate change affects the environment, natural disasters and severe weather are becoming more common. Building up emergency preparedness and response infrastructure can mitigate damage from these events. CDC provides public health departments with resources to support people’s health and well-being during natural disasters and severe weather.

Use these resources to support your work in planning for and responding to natural disasters and severe weather.

Emergency Preparedness Basics

Plan for natural disasters and severe weather with these basic emergency preparedness steps:

• Take Action—Get ready to respond quickly and constructively in a crisis.
• Create Community—Improve personal preparedness, social connectedness, and community resilience where you live.
• Plan Ahead—Make a plan to maintain and protect your health in a disaster or emergency.

Resources for Emergency Health Professionals

These resources support emergency health professionals in planning and responding to emergencies—including those caused by natural disasters and severe weather:

• Health Alert Network (HAN)—Connect with CDC’s primary method of sharing cleared information about urgent public health incidents.
• Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)—Get relevant, timely information related to disease outbreaks, disasters, terrorism events, and other health alerts.
• Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)—Explore trainings, tools, and resources that can help you communicate effectively during emergencies.
• Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC)—Exchange information with other organizations to help people stay safer and healthier during a public health emergency.
• Emergency Planners and Responders—Learn how families, businesses, healthcare facilities, and government organizations can prepare for disasters and different types of public health emergencies.
• Information for Disaster Evacuation Centers—Keep disaster evacuation centers safe and healthy.
• CDC Disaster Shelter Assessment—Conduct a rapid assessment of shelter conditions during emergencies and disasters.
• Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters—Strengthen your communication plans that address hazards expected from extreme weather involving strong wind and high water.

Resources for Specific Events

Get emergency preparedness and response guidance for specific natural disaster and severe weather events:

• Earthquakes
• Extreme Heat
• Floods
• Hurricanes
• Landslides and Mudslides
• Lightning
• Tornadoes
• Tsunamis
• Volcanoes
• Wildfires
• Winter Weather

Related Resources

Find other resources related to natural disasters and severe weather:

• CDC’s Climate and Health Program—Learn how CDC supports state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies as they prepare for the health impacts of a changing climate.
• Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters—Improve your emergency preparedness by learning about health and safety concerns that can happen during any disaster.
• Information for Specific Groups—Get guidance for preparing specific groups for emergencies.
• Emergency Preparedness for Laboratory Personnel—Prepare for biological agent, chemical agent, and radiological emergencies.

During environmental health emergencies, public health, health care, and emergency response professionals work together to protect the health of people and communities. CDC has created a variety of resources to help these professionals respond to emergency situations safely and effectively.

Use these resources to learn more about environmental health emergency response or build your organization’s capacity to respond to emergencies.

Resources for Emergency Responders

Check out these resources for people who respond to emergency events involving chemicals or radioactive materials:

• ToxFAQs—Find answers to frequently asked questions about exposure and health effects of hazardous substances.
• Chemical Emergencies—Get basic information about how to protect yourself and others during a chemical emergency.
• Emergency Responders—Explore a full suite of resources for emergency responders.

Resources for Healthcare Professionals and Clinicians

Learn how to treat chemical-related illnesses and injuries with these resources:

• Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposures—Learn how to evaluate and treat patients who have been exposed to chemicals, protect yourself and others from contaminants, and communicate effectively with emergency response personnel.
• Toxicological Profiles—Read profiles of toxicological information about hazardous substances.
• Healthcare Professionals and Clinicians—Explore a full suite of resources for healthcare professionals and clinicians.

Resources for Health Departments and Partners

Explore resources to support state, regional, and local health departments, and partners during emergency situations:

• Planning and Preparedness—Learn how to prepare for emergency situations before they occur with these resources and trainings.
• Regional Offices—Learn about the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ATSDR) regional offices and find out how these offices can provide support during emergency situations.
• Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER)—Learn how to conduct a rapid community needs assessment with the CASPER toolkit.
• Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors—Find guidance to help you prepare and train health professionals, establish priorities, and respond quickly in emergency situations.
• Epi Contact Assessment Symptom Exposure (CASE) Toolkit—Use this toolkit to assess how many people were exposed to hazardous substances and document information about their symptoms and needs.
• Health Departments and Partners—Explore a full suite of resources for health departments and partners.

National Response Programs

Learn about national teams and programs that can support local, regional, and state organizations during environmental health emergencies:

• ATSDR Emergency Response Teams—Contact ATSDR’s teams of toxicologists, physicians, and other scientists who are available 24 hours a day to assist with environmental health emergencies.
• Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) Program—Find out how the ACE program helps state and local health departments conduct rapid epidemiological assessments during chemical emergencies.
• Rapid Response Registry (RRR)—Learn how RRR helps state and local health agencies quickly collect data during chemical emergencies.
• U.S. National Response Team (NRT)—Find out how NRT provides technical assistance, resources, and coordination during emergency situations.

More Emergency Response Tools

Discover more tools and resources related to environmental health emergencies:

• Comprehensive Disaster Assessment and Readiness Tools (CDART)—Use these scenario-based tools to evaluate whether public health and healthcare facilities are prepared for emergency situations.
• Toxic Substances Portal—Learn more about toxic substances and associated health effects.
• Environmental Health Emergency Response Resources—Explore more CDC resources related to environmental health emergencies.

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. This makes sure everyone has equal access to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

CDC provides public health departments with resources to support the environmental health of all people and communities—especially communities with limited access to resources and those most likely to be affected by harmful substances in the environment. Consider using these resources to support environmental justice projects and initiatives.

Environmental Justice Basics

These resources explain the basics of environmental justice:

• Working for Environmental Justice—Watch a webinar that summarizes environmental justice resources from CDC’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Network.
• Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in Climate Adaptation Planning—Supplement your public health work and climate adaption planning with a step-by-step playbook, frameworks, and strategies.
• Climate Change and Health Playbook: Adaption Planning for JEDI—Explore this playbook to learn how to advance equity and justice in climate and health adaptation.

Tools to Advance Environmental Justice

Use these tools to access data related to environmental justice:

• Environmental Justice Dashboard—Explore data on environmental exposures, community characteristics, and health burdens.
• Environmental Justice Index—Access data based on the United States census that ranks the cumulative impacts of environmental injustice on health.

Related Resources

Find other resources related to environmental justice:

• CDC’s Climate and Health Program—Learn how CDC supports state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies as they prepare for the health impacts of a changing climate.
• Environmental Justice Resource Inventory—Find publicly available environmental justice resources developed by various agencies across the United States.

Public Health Assessment Process

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) protects communities from exposures to hazardous substances. ATSDR does this with a public health assessment (PHA) process. As part of the PHA, ATSDR evaluates whether communities living near a hazardous waste site can be harmed by hazardous substances or radiation. ATSDR also addresses communities’ concerns related to the hazardous waste site and educates the public on how to prevent, reduce, or stop exposure.

ATSDR PHA Training

ATSDR helps health assessors obtain and maintain professional competencies needed to conduct the PHA. PHA training provides a CDC-accredited environmental health curriculum that teaches assessors how to evaluate and communicate the public health impact of exposures to environmental hazardous substances.

The following are training and tools to teach health assessors about the PHA process.

The Online PHA Training (PHAT)

• The ATSDR Online PHA Training (PHAT) provides the basics training on the PHA process.

• PHAT is a series of eight interactive web-based modules based on a realistic environmental health case study. Each module can be completed independently.

• The modules cover the following topics:
  • ATSDR and Its Method
  • Public Health Assessment Overview
  • Site Information and Data Gathering
  • Exposure Pathway Evaluation
  • Selection of Sampling Data
  • Data Screening Analysis
  • Health Effects Evaluation
  • How to Write Clear Environmental Health Information
• Once you click on each module, you’ll be taken to the CDC TRAIN website, where you can register and complete each course. At the end, you can obtain a continuing education certificate by completing an evaluation and a post-test. 

The Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (PHAGM)

• The Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (PHAGM) is ATSDR’s recently released guidance manual on a PHA. It explains in detail how to perform ATSDR’s PHA process to identify and address potential public health hazards associated with an industrial facility, commercial facility, or hazardous waste site.

• PHAGM is an update to ATSDR’s 2005 PHA manual. PHAGM uses a dynamic web-based format, which enhances navigation and readability.

• PHAGM reflects ATSDR’s most recent scientific approaches and provides links to useful tools and resources to aid health assessors with the various PHA process steps.

ATSDR’s Shower and Household Water-Use Exposure Model (SHOWER Model)

• ATSDR’s SHOWER Model is an exposure assessment tool.

• The model includes guidance and training to evaluate breathing and skin contact with vapor-releasing chemicals associated with contaminated water in a person’s home.

• The following webinars explain the purpose of the SHOWER Model and how to use it as part of a PHA:
• ATSDR Shower and Household Water Use Exposure (SHOWER) Model v3.0
• ATSDR PHAST SHOWER Model Exposure Calculator

• Anyone can request a copy of the SHOWER Model by emailing showermodel@cdc.gov.

ATSDR’s Resources for Health Professionals

ATSDR – Resources for Health Professionals provide creditable, fact-based resources to learn more about the environment’s impact on health and how to respond to patient concerns.