ENVIRON MENTAL HAZARDS RESOURCE BOOKLET prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health with funding from the I .. , „ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry T?J. s 3?Ti» ; I u ept5l uuty Q y | UMASS/AMHERST rjiJuly£ 1997 Argeo Paul Cellucci Governor Howard K. Koh Commissioner Department of Public Health Suzanne K. Condon Director Bureau ofEnvironmental Health Assessment Index About This Booklet 1 About the Environmental Health Education Program 1 Massachusetts Governmental Agencies Department of Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment 2 Bureau of Health Statistics, Research and Evaluation Cancer Registry 3 Occupational Health Surveillance Program 3 Bureau of Health Quality Management Division of Food and Drug 4 Radiation Control 4 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program 4 Department of Food and Agriculture Pesticide Bureau 5 Department of Environmental Protection 5 Department of Labor and Workforce Development Division of Occupational Safety 6 Poison Control Center 6 Other Agencies and Organizations Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 7 United States Environmental Protection Agency 7 U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration 8 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 8 Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics 8 Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health 9 National Cancer Institute 9 Massachusetts Chapter of the American Cancer Society 9 American Lung Association 9 New York Foundation for the Arts 1 81 Hotlines Office Technology Education Project (OTEP) 1 Center for Hazardous Materials Research 10 Pregnancy/Environmental Hotline 1 National Pesticides Telecommunications Network 1 Cancer Information Service 12 Lung Line 12 American Cancer Society 12 American Cancer Information 13 Air Risk Information Hotline 13 Occupational and Environmental Clinics Occupational and Environmental Health Center/ Cambridge Hospital 14 University of Massachusetts Medical Center 14 Massachusetts Respiratory Hospital - Occupational and Environmental Clinic 14 University of Massachusetts Medical Center - Occupational and Environmental Reproductive Hazards Clinic 15 Massachusetts General Hospital - Occupational Medicine Clinic 15 Federal, State, and County contacts for the Massachusetts Military Reservation/Cape Cod Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment The Environmental Public Health Center 16 Installation Restoration Program 16 Cape Cod Commission 16 USEPA Remedial Project Manager 17 MDEP Federal Facilities Remediation Section 17 Local Boards of Health on Upper Cape Cod 1 Massachusetts NPL Superfund Sites Map and List inside back cover About This Booklet Physicians, health care professionals, public health officials, and citizens are often unsure where to get information regarding environmental hazards and potential exposures. Numerous public and private agencies can respond to inquiries, provide basic information on environmental hazards, and provide referrals to specialists. The purpose of this Resource Booklet is to provide a list of such agencies, along with general information about each organization. The user may then decide which contact is the most appropriate. About the Environmental Health Education Program (EHEP) The EHEP is one of six programs at the Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment that receives funding from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. For several years, the EHEP has educated physicians and health professionals regarding environmental health hazards by sponsoring Grand Rounds and educational seminars. If you would like information on this program, please call 617-624-5757. The Department of Public Health (DPH) acknowledges Susan Bernstein, who was instrumental in the original planning and implementation of the EHEP. This Resource Booklet was supported in part by funds from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act trust fund through a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 1 Massachusetts Governmental Agencies Massachusetts Department of Public Health 250 Washington Street Boston MA 02108-4619 617-624-6000 Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment 617-624-5757 The Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment (BEHA) has the mission of protecting public health from a variety of multi-media exposures. This includes investigating potential problems identified by the Massachusetts Cancer Registry. Staff includes a physician, epidemiologists, toxicologists, computer programmers, environmental scientists, health educators, and a variety of public health researchers. BEHA comprises six major program areas: • Community Assessment responds to inquiries regarding environmental health issues, performs preliminary analysis of suspected elevations in disease related to the environment, and completes hazardous-waste-site health assessments • Environmental Epidemiology provides follow-up and research through environmental health studies • Environmental Toxicology provides assessments of environmental data and supports pesticide and fish toxins and indoor air-quality programs • Emergency Response/Indoor Air Quality maintains the Massachusetts Substance List and provides information regarding emergency response, indoor air quality, and health hazard evaluation. • Environmental Health Education provides information, education, and services to health professionals and citizens on the effects of non-workplace environmental health hazards 2 • The Environmental Public Health Center (EPHC), Massachusetts Military Reservation/Otis Air Base is a newly created office located on the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) and has a primary purpose of developing a better sense of public health watchfulness with respect to the base. The United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has also assigned a full-time senior environmental scientist to this office. The EPHC will coordinate all public health activities and assign priorities to the most pressing issues related to MMR. Bureau of Health Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Massachusetts Cancer Registry (MCR) 617-624-5645 The MCR is population-based, providing the public with information and statistical analysis of cancer incidence in the Commonwealth's 351 communities. Data generated by age, sex, and other demographic variables are submitted from 104 hospitals. These, as well as occupational health and smoking status data, serve as resources for the DPH and as a research tool for epidemiological investigations. Occupational Health Surveillance Program (OHSP) 617-624-5600 The OHSP uses data collected by DPH and other state agencies to document the extent and distribution of work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the Commonwealth. Much of this work has been funded through a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The program also provides information to health care providers and the public on occupational health/medicine issues. 3 Bureau of Health Quality Management Division of Food and Drug 617-983-6712 The Division's goal is to protect the consumer from unsafe, fraudulent, or deceptive practices in the food, drug, medical device, cosmetic, pesticide, and other consumer product industries. Primary program objectives are to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply, control abuse and diversion of pharmaceutical drugs, and reduce exposure to pesticides and chemicals that occurs via food consumption. Radiation Control 305 South Street Jamaica Plain MA 02130 617-727-6214 Radiation Control responds to worker or management requests for radiation exposure hazard evaluation. The Division has the right to enter a site, and to survey and enforce standards for all users of radiation equipment. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Massachusetts State Laboratory Institute 470 Atlantic Ave., Second Floor Boston MA 02210 617-753-8400 1-800-532-9571 This program provides general information and counseling on lead poisoning prevention and reproductive effects; analyzes blood, paint, soil, and water samples; and inspects properties where children six years and under reside. It also provides medical intervention and environmental investigations and enforces lead poisoning prevention. 4 Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture Pesticide Bureau 100 Cambridge Street Boston MA 02202 617-727-2863 617-727-3000 The Bureau provides information related to pesticides and their use in Massachusetts. Its Right-to-Know Division answers questions regarding the use and control of pesticides and their effects on health and the environment. The education division distributes informational literature and conducts lectures for interested groups and associations on the use and handling of pesticides. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) One Winter Street Boston MA 02108 617-292-5500 Central 508-792-7650 Northeast 78 1-932-7600 Southeast 508-946-2714 Western 413-784-1100 The MDEP administers the Commonwealth's environmental regulatory programs. It is responsible for ensuring the timely clean up of hazardous waste sites, providing emergency response to hazardous material spills, implementing strategies for preserving wetlands, and ensuring clean air and water in Massachusetts. 5 Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development Division of Occupational Safety 1001 Watertown Street West Newton MA 02165 617-969-7177 617-727-3982