Letter from Our ATSDR Director and Associate Director

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Letter from the ATSDR Director and Associate Director for the 2021 ATSDR Annual Report. This report features stories of collaboration to show how ATSDR listens to our communities.

Headshots of Dr. Patrick Breysse, PhD, CIH Director of NCEH/ATSDR and Christopher M. Reh, PhD, Associate Director of ATSDR

Greetings

Greetings,

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is pleased to announce the release of its 2021 annual report. The report's theme, Listening, Responding, & Taking Action, mirrors ATSDR's commitment to protecting communities from harmful health effects related to exposure to natural and man-made hazardous substances.

Photo of Patrick Breysse, PhD, CIH, Director, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Patrick Breysse, PhD, CIH Director Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

This report features stories of collaboration to show how ATSDR listens to our communities. For instance, we worked with South Dakota Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) partners to protect children from various environmental hazards. You'll learn how ATSDR responds to communities with its petition process, which gives communities a voice in addressing environmental health concerns.

Photo of Christopher M. Reh, PhD Associate Director Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Christopher M. Reh, PhD Associate Director Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Then, there's our story about how the National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry is expanding its reach. The report's section on emergency response collaboration shows ATSDR taking action with stories about a unique initiative for COVID-19 testing at Alabama's historic Talladega Superspeedway and training state partners to conduct an Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) investigation in response to a chemical fire emergency in Illinois. This year, we also finalized our PFAS Toxicological Profile and fully launched our Community Engagement Playbook.

In 2021, we fully stood up the three new offices that now make up ATSDR, including a new community engagement section. We are looking to the future with emerging initiatives such as data modernization and deepening our longtime environmental justice and health equity work.

Lastly, we must thank our ATSDR staff. We are proud of our staff and appreciate their steadfastness.

We hope you take the time to learn more about our achievements in this ATSDR 2021 annual report. ATSDR is, and will always be, committed to protecting the health of the American public.

Sincerely,

Patrick Breysse, PhD, CIH

Director, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Christopher M. Reh, PhD

Associate Director, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry