Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
open-in-new
<p>The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is a federal public health <a href="/facts/List_of_United_States_federal_agencies/j052fc07">agency</a> within the <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Health_and_Human_Services/eS90vYmd">United States Department of Health and Human Services</a>' <a href="/facts/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention/NmoJNDV5">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. The agency focuses on minimizing human health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances. It works closely with other federal, state, and local agencies; tribal governments; local communities; and healthcare providers. Its mission is to "Serve the public through responsive <a href="/facts/Public_health/4563Kre9">public health</a> actions to promote healthy and safe environments and prevent harmful exposures." ATSDR was created as an advisory, nonregulatory agency by the <a href="/facts/Superfund/FFJJqmmu">Superfund</a> legislation and was formally organized in 1985. </p><p>Although ATSDR is an independent operating agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, the <a href="/facts/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention/NmoJNDV5">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC) performs many of its administrative functions. The <a href="/facts/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention/NmoJNDV5">CDC director</a> also serves as the ATSDR administrator, and ATSDR has a joint Office of the Director with the <a href="/facts/National_Center_for_Environmental_Health/NmoJNDV5">National Center for Environmental Health</a> (NCEH). The ATSDR headquarters are located in <a href="/facts/Atlanta/8hPVGb78">Atlanta</a>, Georgia, at the CDC Chamblee campus. In fiscal year 2010, ATSDR had an operating budget of $76.8 million and had roughly 300 full-time employees (not including contractors). </p><p>The ATSDR is formally and administratively overseen by the Director of the <a href="/facts/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention/NmoJNDV5">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC), currently <a href="/facts/Mandy_Cohen/Dry5yxCW">Mandy Cohen</a> since July 10, 2023 Direction is provided by ATSDR's Director, currently Patrick N. Breysse, who ranks below the Administrator, and ATSDR's Associate Director, currently Christopher M. Reh. </p>