Environmental Agents
Arsenic
Arsenic and Human Health
A compilation of links to national and international web sites concerning arsenic. Information ranges from policies and regulations to data and research literature. A limited amount of information is available in Spanish.
Asbestos
Asbestos in Your Home
US EPA site dedicated to helping the public understand what asbestos is, its health effects and what to do about it.
Chemicals
CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act requires ATSDR and the EPA to prepare a list, in order of priority, of substances that are most commonly found at waste sites that are determined to pose the most significant potential threat to human health due to their known or suspected toxicity and potential for human exposure.
Second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
Second report in a series that provides an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the US population to environmental chemicals by measuring the chemicals or their metabolites in human specimens, such as blood or urine.
TOXMAP
Toxmap uses interactive mapping software to help users explore the geographic distribution of TRI chemical releases, their amounts, and trends over time. TOXMAP helps users create nationwide or local area maps showing where TRI chemicals are released on-site into the air, water, and ground. Maps also show locations of Superfund sites on the National Priority List (NPL), listing all chemical contaminants present at these sites. Users can search the system by chemical name, chemical name fragment, and/or location (such as city, state, or zip code).
ToxMystery
The National Library of Medicine's new interactive learning site is designed to help children age 7 to 10 find clues about toxic substances that can lurk in the home. ToxMystery provides a fun, game-like experience, while teaching important lessons about potential environmental health hazards. Teacher plans and classroom activities are included. ToxMystery is available in Spanish, including all lesson plans.
Toxtown
An interactive guide to toxic chemicals and environmental health risks you might encounter in everyday life, in everyday places.
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
DES Action
A consumer organization dedicated to informing the public about DES and helping DES-exposed individuals. Besides a quarterly newsletter, DES Action Voice, the group provides a physician and attorney referral list.
DES Cancer Network
A network for women with clear cell cancer. Provides a forum for information exchange, education, and mutual support. Includes a good list of helpful resources.
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and Cancer Factsheet
This NCI FAQ address questions pertaining to what is DES, what are the health affects associated with DES exposure, and what research is being done.
DES Update
Published by the CDC, this Web site has sections geared towards consumers (DES self-assessment, understanding its impact on health) and healthcare providers (pharmacology, managing DES patients, etc).
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)
Electric & Magnetic Fields
A list of NIEHS-compiled resources on EMF.
EMF in the Workplace
A fact sheet from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) explaining the hazards of exposure to electromagnetic fields in the work environment.
Hazardous Waste
ToxFaqs
Explains what substance is, methods of exposure to the substance and how it affects the environment and human health.
Household Products
Household Products Database
A database of more than 6,000 household products identifying key chemical ingredients and any acute or chronic health effects.
Lead
Lead and Environmental Health
A compilation of links to web sites on lead that provide an overview of the problem, glossaries and dictionaries, data and research, and literatures sources. Spanish language materials are also available.
NIEHS Lead Resources
NIEHS consumer education about lead in the environment
Lead Poisoning: Fact Sheet Library
(51KB)
National Safety Council fact sheet on prevalence of lead exposure, known health effects, testing for lead in the home and reducing lead exposure.
Pesticides
Pesticide Action Network North America
Seeks to reduce the use of pesticides through more economically viable alternatives. Publishes reports on pesticide use, health effects, occupational safety, etc. Also offers a Pesticide Database
that allows you to search by chemical or product.
Pesticide Exposure
A new web page that addresses the relationship between pesticides and human health has been added to the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Enviro-Health Links. The page provides links to selected websites on pesticide exposure, as well as on the treatment and prevention of pesticide poisoning.
Poison
American Association of Poison Control Centers
Network of poison control centers designed to disseminate useful information on poison prevention and poisoning statistics. In case of a poison emergency, call (800) 222-1222.
Tobacco
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke
This 2006 Surgeon General report reveals that nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25-30% and lung cancer by 20-30%.
