What to know
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) developed the Public Health Assessment Training Curriculum to help you, as an environmental health assessor or as an environmental health professional, understand and navigate the public health assessment (PHA) process. The PHA is ATSDR’s method to evaluate communities’ possible exposures to contaminants at hazardous waste sites.
Overview
This training curriculum is based on the ATSDR Environmental Health Assessor Professional Competencies and the ATSDR Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual. It explains how to perform all the tasks involved in the PHA process, from learning about the environmental site and the community, to conducting the PHA's scientific evaluations, and developing a public health action plan.
Here you can find training courses and materials, guidance documents, and tools by the following categories:
- Introductory Training
- Professional PHA Competencies
- Training and Education by Topic
- Continuing Education
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Learn about Important Resources for the Public Health Assessment Process
Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual
This ATSDR’s guidance provides you with methods and resources to evaluate environmental exposures associated with industrial facilities, commercial facilities, or hazardous waste sites.
Online Public Health Assessment Training (PHAT)
In the PHAT course, you will learn the fundamentals of the PHA process. PHAT consists of interactive modules that are based on a realistic environmental health case study, problem-solving exercises to enhance your skills, and many helpful resources and references.
Public Health Assessment System Tool (PHAST)
The online PHAST application will help you evaluate environmental data and perform complex dose calculations. PHAST contains multiple modules and resources, including PHA webinars, tools, and guidance.
To request access to PHAST, send an e-mail to PHAST@CDC.gov.
SHOWER Model
(ATSDR Shower and Household Water Use Exposure Model)
The SHOWER model is a standalone application that you can install on your computer. It simulates inhalation and dermal exposure to volatile chemicals from using contaminated water at home. The model also simulates inhalation and dermal exposures at gyms, schools, and offices. To request the SHOWER model along with a user's guide, send an email to showermodel@cdc.gov
ATSDR Petition Program
People who are worried about an environmental issue in their community can ask ATSDR to look into the issue by submitting a petition. A petition is a written request asking ATSDR to investigate specific environmental health concerns in a community. Any person or community organization can submit a petition. You do not need anyone else to sign your petition to submit it to ATSDR.
Environmental Medicine Education Resources
ATSDR provides educational resources for healthcare professionals to enhance their competency in the recognition, management, and counseling of patients exposed to environmental hazards. All products are free of charge. Some offer continuing education (CE) credits. Topics include
- Clinician Briefs and Overviews
- Taking an Exposure History
- Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU)
Land Reuse Health Program
The ATSDR’s Land Reuse Health Program provides you with free resources and technical assistance to engage communities in the local redevelopment of potentially contaminated properties, such as brownfields. A star of the program is the Environmental Health and Land Reuse (EHLR) Certificate course, which takes a holistic approach to community revitalization. By completing the EHLR Certificate course, you can earn a certificate and continuing education credits.