ATTACHMENT C
ATSDR Public-Health Conclusion Categories
Category 1: Urgent Public Health Hazard
This category is used for sites where short-term exposures (<1 year) to hazardous substances or conditions could result in adverse health effect that require rapid intervention.
This determination represents a professional judgment based on critical data which ATSDR has judged sufficient to support a decision. The assignment of this category does not necessarily imply that the available data are complete; in some cases additional data may be required to confirm or further support the decision made.
Criteria
Evaluation of available relevant informationa indicates that site-specific conditions or likely exposures have had, are having, or are likely to have in the future, an adverse impact on human health that requires immediate action or intervention. Such site-specific conditions or exposure may include the presence of serious physical or safety hazards, such as open mine shafts, poorly stored or maintained flammable/explosive substances, or medical devices, which upon rupture, could release radioactive materials.
Category 2: Public Health Hazard
This category is used for sites that pose a public health hazard due to the existence of long-term exposures (>1 year) to hazardous substances or conditions that could result in adverse health effects.
This determination represents a professional judgment based on critical data which ATSDR has judged sufficient to support a decision. The assignment of this category does not necessarily imply that the available data are complete; in some cases additional data may be required to confirm or further support the decision made.
Criteria
Evaluation of available relevant informationa indicates that, under site-specific conditions of exposure, long-term exposures to site-specific contaminants have had, are having, or are likely to have in the future, an adverse impact on human health that requires one or more public health interventions. Such site-specific exposures may include the presence of serious physical, such as open mine shafts, poorly stored or maintained flammable/explosive substances, or medical devices, which upon rupture, could release radioactive materials.
Category 3: Indeterminate Public Health Hazard
This category is used for sites when a professional judgment on the level of health hazard cannot be made because information critical to such a decision is lacking.
Criteria
This category is used for sites in which critical data are insufficient with regard to extent of exposure and/or toxicologic properties at estimated exposure levels. The health assessor must determine, using professional judgment, the “criticality” of such data and the likelihood that the data can be obtained and will be obtained in a timely manner. Where some data are available, even limited data, the health assessor is encouraged to the extent possible to select other hazard categories and to support their decision with clear narrative that explains the limits of the data and the rationale for the decision.
Category 4: No Apparent Public Health Hazard
This category is used for sites where human exposure to contaminated media may be occurring, may have occurred in the past, and/or may occur in the future, but the exposure is not expected to cause adverse health effects.
This determination represents a professional judgment based on critical data which ATSDR has judged sufficient to support a decision. The assignment of this category does not necessarily imply that the available data are complete; in some cases additional data may be required to confirm or further support the decision made.
Criteria
Evaluation of available relevant informationb indicates that, under site-specific conditions of exposure, exposures to site-specific contaminants in the past, present, or future are not likely to result in adverse impact to human health.
Category 5: No Public Health Hazard
This category is used for sites that, because of the absence of exposure, do NOT pose a public health hazard.
Criteria
Sufficient evidence indicates that no human exposures to contaminated media have occurred, no exposures are currently occurring, and exposures are not likely to occur in the future.
aSuch as environmental and demographic data; health outcome data; exposure data; community health concerns information; toxicologic, medical, and epidemiologic data.
bSuch as environmental and demographic data; health outcome data; exposure data; community health concerns information; toxicologic, medical, and epidemiologic data; monitoring and medical management plans. Source: ATSDR 2005.
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