Program Objectives

The ATSDR research program is designed to investigate and characterize the association between the consumption of contaminated Great Lakes fish and short- and long-term harmful health effects. The six objectives of this research program are to:

1. Build upon and extend the results from past and ongoing research.
2. Develop information databases and/or research methodology that will provide long-term benefits to the human health effects research efforts in the Great Lakes basin.
3. Provide direction for future health effects research.
4. Provide health information to state/local health officials, the concerned public, and their medical health care professionals.
5. Increase public awareness regarding the potential health implications of toxic pollution in Great Lakes basin. This effort is in concert with state and local health officials.
6. Coordinate as necessary with relevant U.S. Department of Health and Human Services research programs and activities, including those of FDA, CDC, NIH, and IHS, as well as the EPA and state and local health departments to ameliorate adverse public health impacts of persistent toxic substances in the Great Lakes basin.

These Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program objectives are subject to change as additional research needs become evident or when new information indicates a change is necessary.