The Chemical Hazards Program (CHP) provides a resource for public health issues related to hazardous chemicals in the environment, and helps to prevent and evaluate the potential and/or actual adverse health effects from exposure.
The Chemical Hazards Program has three main goals:
Goal 1 - To identify people at risk for health problems as a result of exposure to hazardous substances in the environment.
Goal 2 - To determine relationships between exposure to hazardous substances in the environment and human diseases.
Goal 3 - To eliminate exposures of health concern and prevent negative human health outcomes related to hazardous substances in the environment.
To meet these goals there are things we can and cannot do.
To Help People That May Be Exposed, We Can:
Determine whether actual or potential exposure to hazardous chemicals had occurred, is occurring, or might occur
Document and address health concerns
Educate about potential health hazards from environmental contamination
Assist local and district health departments
Provide referrals for medical testing
Work as a liaison between the local community and government agencies
To Help People That May Be Exposed, We Can Not:
Provide medical care
Provide funds to relocate the community
Perform environmental sampling and testing
Close down a plant or business
Focus:
Residents
District and local health departments
State and federal agencies
Community leaders
Healthcare professionals
Environmental activists
Educators
Developers (brownfields redevelopment)
Approach:
Public Health Assessments and Consultations
Provide a thorough review of all available information and data on a site, evaluates the health implications of exposure, and gives recommendations to federal, state, and local agencies, and residents, on what actions may be needed to protect human health.
Provide advice on a specific public health issue related to real or possible human exposure. A health consultation is a way to respond quickly to a need for health information and make recommendations for immediate actions to protect public health, including health advisories.
Health Studies and Health Advisories
Investigations, surveillance, and analytic epidemiological studies that evaluate exposed persons and explores the relationship between exposure and adverse health outcomes.
Technical Assistance
Provide a brief written or oral response to requests for specific technical information; usually a review of and comment on environmental agency documents or data to answer a specific question.
Community Education
Develop, provide, and evaluate community education programs by identifying the education needs of residents, and receive and respond to requests for information from the public.
Training
Enhance Georgia's environmental health resources by training district and local health department staff and other professionals in understanding how hazardous chemicals in the environment may affect human health, and how to better communicate the risks of actual or potential exposures.
