Uncontrolled hazardous waste sites are a significant environmental and public health concern, and there are many hazardous waste sites that affect communities in Oregon and the United States.

EHAP's staff - a program coordinator, a toxicologist, an epidemiologist and a community health educator - conduct Public Health Assessments (PHAs) and Consultations (PHCs) to examine hazardous substances, health outcomes and community concerns at a hazardous waste site to determine whether people could be harmed from coming into contact with those substances.

The PHA also lists actions that need to be taken to protect public health. PHCs are similar to PHAs but they usually focus on one specific, site-related public health question. Health consultations can also address certain requests, such as if an organization or citizen has a specific health concern related to a site.

EHAP works closely with a variety of partners, including:

• Communities affected by contamination at hazardous waste sites
• Local health departments
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry
• Non-profit agencies
• Many programs within the Public Health Division

View the EHAP brochure (pdf).