1. Environmental & Injury Epidemiology and Toxicology Unit Environmental Epidemiology and Disease Registries Section Prevention and Preparedness Division John F. Villanacci, Ph.D., NREMTI, Director

2. Environmental & Injury Epidemiology and Toxicology Unit Mission Statement: The Unit uses the principles of epidemiology, toxicology, and surveillance to identify populations at risk, to develop evidence-based actions to protect and promote the health of the people of Texas.

3. The Unit Prevention and Preparedness Services Division Environmental Epidemiology and Disease Registry Section Environmental & Injury Epidemiology and Toxicology Unit Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch Cancer Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch

4. The Unit PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS SERVICES DIVISION ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE REGISTRIES SECTION BLOOD LEAD SURVEILLANCE GROUP EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT, SURVEILLANCE & TOXICOLOGY GROUP INJURY & EMS/TRAUMA REGISTRY GROUP EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDIES & INITIATIVES BRANCH TOXICOLOGY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND CONSULTATION TEXAS POISON CENTER NETWORK (TPCN) OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE SURVEILLANCE ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY CASE COORDINATION DATA QUALITY AND ASSURANCE EPIDEMIOLOGY OUTREACH COORDINATION TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE (TEHI) INJURY EPIDEMIOLOGY REGISTRY OPERATIONS FLUORIDATION ADMINISTRATION ENMVIRONMENTAL AND INJURY EPIDEMIOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY UNIT

5. Programs and Activities Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology Injury Surveillance – Texas EMS Trauma Registry Silicosis and Asbestosis Surveillance Texas Child Lead Poisoning Prevention (CLPPP) Child Blood Lead Registry Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology & Surveillance (ABLES) Health Assessment and Toxicology (HAT) Texas Poison Center Network (TPCN) Pesticide Exposure Surveillance in Texas (PEST) Texas Environmental Health Institute (TEHI) Texas Fluoridation Project

6. Exposure Assessment and Surveillance Group ( Health Assessment and Toxicology (HAT) Works with Federal and State Partners, communities, and others to determine the potential public health impacts of hazardous waste sites and chemical spills Evaluates environmental information for potential public health impact Recommends actions needed to stop or reduce human exposure to hazardous chemicals Conducts exposure investigations Occupational Disease Surveillance Collects informaiton and conducts investigates on acute occupational pesticide poisonings Conducts surveillance for selected diseases and occupational conditions Provides educational information to reduce exposures

7. Exposure Assessment and Surveillance Group ( Staffing Toxicologists Medical Toxicologist Epidemiologists Environmental Specialists Community Liaison Health Educator

8. Cross Agency Coordination ( Toxic Substances Coordinating Committee Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Texas Railroad Commission Texas Department of Agriculture Texas Parks and Wildlife

9. Cross Agency Cooperation Texas Environmental Health Institute Established as a joint venture between DSHS and TCEQ to examine ways to identify, treat, manage, prevent, and reduce health problems associated with environmental contamination. Funds research projects to identify health conditions, related or potentially related to environmental contamination Works through HAT staff to prevent or reduce health risks from exposure to chemical and biological contaminants, radioactive materials, and other hazards in the environment and the workplace Works through HAT staff to inform and educate citizens about identified health risks and ways to prevent or reduce exposure

10. Recent DISH Exposure Investigation Contacted by Mayor Tillman Requested community testing Contacted TCEQ and TRC TCEQ sent their evaluation of the Wolf Eagle Environmental data Determined that if the levels were representative of actual exposures an investigation was warranted

11. Recent DISH Exposure Investigation Identified funds for the investigation Obtained approval from Institutional Review Board (IRB) to obtain biological samples Coordinated with CDC/NCEH laboratory to conduct sample analysis Randomly selected 65 homes and requested participation

12. Recent DISH Exposure Investigation Collected biological and environmental samples from 28 people and residences January 22-24 Samples sent to CDC laboratory Awaiting results

13. Recent DISH Exposure Investigation Next Steps Notify participants of their individual results Prepare a report of findings Present the report to the community Provide the report to our sister Agencies

14. Contact Information Environmental and Injury Epidemiology & Toxicology Unit Health Assessment and Toxicology We can be reached at: epitox@dshs.state.tx.us 1.800.588.1248 http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/epitox