When Is a Health Outcome Data Evaluation Conducted?

Considerations

Before recommending a review of health outcome data, a health assessor should confer with the site team and review the criteria as described in the Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual, Section 8.6 and in the ATSDR Guidance for Conducting a Review of Health Outcome Data. PDF [75 KB]. During these deliberations, the site team may consult with epidemiologists, toxicologists, community involvement specialists, statisticians, health educators, and other health professionals, as needed.

Click on each drop-down below to see the issues a health assessment team should consider when making the determination of whether to conduct a health outcome data review.

Completed or potential exposure pathway

Time of exposure

Quantified exposed population

Exposure levels and duration

Similar geographic units

Data available for outcomes or diseases of interest

Are there one or more current (or past) potential or completed exposure pathways at the site.

Can you determine the time period of exposure?

Can you quantify the population that was, or is being exposed?

Are the estimated exposure dose(s) and the duration of exposure sufficient for a plausible, reasonable expectation of health effects?

Are health outcome available at a geographic level or with enough specificity (i.e., census tract or census block) to allow it to be correlated to the exposed population?

Do the validated data sources or databases have information on the specific health outcomes or disease(s) of interest likely to occur from exposure to the site contaminants and the data accessible?

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