Chemical Mixtures Program

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has been mandated to determine the health impact of exposure to combinations of chemicals. Exposure to two or more chemicals occurs at numerous hazardous waste sites (HWS), sometimes by way of more than one exposure route. Meanwhile, the majority of current toxicological research focuses on the health effects of exposure to a single substance.

In order to fulfill its mandate, ATSDR is engaged in a multi-faceted course of investigation into the human health effects of chemical mixtures, including: (1) identification of the mixtures of highest concern to public health, (2) estimation of the joint toxic action of these chemicals through assessment and laboratory methods, and (3) development of new methodologies for evaluating the health effects of mixtures.

Page last reviewed: February 18, 2010