EHAP works to assess and prevent human exposure to toxics found at Superfund and other contaminated sites in Oregon by working with the nearby communities, a variety of agency partners and several programs within the Public Health Division.
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).
What We Do
EHAP is part of Environmental Public Health in the Center for Health Protection. Search the Public Health Program Directory to see all programs in the Oregon Public Health Division.