Response Teams

State and local health departments can request help when responding to large-scale toxic substance spills. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) can provide resources through its Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) teams. Health departments can get data collection tools from ACE. ACE scientists can quickly report to a site to help:

• record the contact information of people who may have been exposed to a toxic substance,
• interview these people to get detailed information on their exposure, health effects, and needs resulting from the spill,
• collect and test samples that will measure the level of the toxic substance in people and the environment.

In an emergency, state and local officials can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100.

For more information on ACE you may contact ATSDRACE@cdc.gov.