Content area
Full Text
Editor's Note: As part of our continuing effort to highlight innovative approaches to improving the health and environment of communities, the Journal is pleased to bring back the bimonthly column from the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The ATSDR, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and shares a common office of the Director with the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ATSDR serves the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances.
The purpose of this column is to inform readers of ATSDR's activities and initiatives to better understand the relationship between exposure to hazardous substances in the environment and their impact on human health and how to protect public health. We believe that the column will provide a valuable resource to our readership by helping to make known the considerable resources and expertise that ATSDR has available to assist communities, states, and others to assure good environmental health practice for all is served.
The conclusions of this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of ATSDR, CDC, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Katherine (Katie) Pugh is an environmental health scientist with ATSDR. She has been with ATSDR since June 2001. Katie has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science degree in environmental economics from the University of Georgia. Gregory Zarus has been an environmental health scientist with ATSDR since April 1997. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from Millersville University and a Master of Science degree in atmospheric science and geophysics from Texas Tech University. Greg currently leads the team that assesses the health impact of environmental contamination near federal sites.
Introduction
The U.S. spends the most of any nation on health - over $2 trillion every year - yet ranks 37th in overall health among nations of the world (Healthiest Nation Alliance, 2011). Over 17% of the U.S. gross domestic product was spent on health expenditures in...