Utah APPLETREE Program

Document Types

• EI: Exposure InvestigationSometimes, critical data needed for a health assessment are missing or not available. Exposure investigations involve the collection and analysis of environmental contamination data and biologic tests (when appropriate). The goal is to determine whether people have been exposed to hazardous substances.
• HC: Health ConsultationIf a specific health question or issue arises about a potential environmental hazard, ATSDR can conduct a public health consultation. A consultation differs from a public health assessment in that the consultation focuses on a specific question and provides a more rapid response. A consultation can address public health issues such as a chemical or radiological contamination, epidemiology, or provide technical advice on sampling and remediation plans. Public health consultations are not medical examinations, community health studies, or public health assessments.
• LHC: Letter Health ConsultationA letter health consultation is a health consultation addressed to a specific audience using an abbreviated letter format. They are used in response to a specific public health issue or question (usually a single exposure pathway) and provide a timely and more focused response.
• PHA: Public Health AssessmentA public health assessment is generally conducted when there are multiple contaminants and potential pathways of exposure. In a PHA, ATSDR examines past, present, and future exposure scenarios to evaluate whether people were, are, or may in the future be exposed to hazardous substances and, if so, whether that exposure is harmful, or potentially harmful, and in what ways. ATSDR scientists generally analyze existing environmental and health data—provided by EPA, other government agencies, businesses, and the public—and make recommendations.
• SR: Statistical ReviewA statistical review is a type of study that links health outcome data with population data and evaluates trends. The most common health outcome studied in these documents is cancer, but other outcomes have also been assessed (e.g., adverse birth outcomes). The primary focus is to determine if a particular community or area is experiencing higher rates of the adverse outcome under investigation than would be expected. Other important goals include building awareness, identifying community needs, health education, and informing policy and health care services.
• TA: Technical AssistA Technical Assist is a brief document that answers a specific, narrow question. Because it does not require extensive background research and data analysis, it is generally completed more rapidly than more detailed reports. Technical Assists do not draw public health conclusions (e.g., health hazard, no health hazard, etc.).

NPL: National Priorities List (aka Superfund) status

• Y: Site is on the NPL
• P: Site has been proposed for the NPL
• D: Site was on the NPL, but has been deleted
• N: Site is not on the NPL